Sound and fury: Three things we learned from Seattle’s group stage finale vs. Vancouver
The Seattle Sounders wrapped up the MLS is Back Tournament group stage matches with their best performance since the opening match of the 2020 regular season.
The Sounders became one of six teams to reach the knockout stage in the soccer tournament held in Orlando with their 3-0 victory over the rival Vancouver Whitecaps. Here’s what we learned after Sunday night’s game.
Seattle ain’t done yet
Entering Sunday night’s game Seattle needed a positive result to help their chances of extending a stay in Orlando. In the first 45 minutes Seattle played with the urgency of a team that had the mindset of not only playing their last game of the tournament but their last game of 2020. That is how intense and focused they were coming out of the gate. The Sounders got a penalty in their favor off a handball in the Vancouver box which led to Nico Lodeiro converting the penalty to give Seattle a 1-0 lead. Two more goals would be punched in and Seattle fans could relax well before the 90 minutes of soccer.
The victory by Seattle means that they’ve punched their ticket for the knockout stages, however it is yet to be determined who their opponent will be. Chicago and Vancouver still need to play the final game of the group on Thursday morning to settle the standings. No matter of Seattle finishes second or third in the group, they’re advancing
Here’s what the standings look like as of Sunday night’s win
Group B Standings
San Jose (7 pts.)
Seattle (4 pts.)
Chicago Fire (3 pts.)
Vancouver (0 pts.)
Jordan Morris, man on a mission
I’m not sure if it was the moment, or the fact that the Sounders were playing a depleted Vancouver team but Sounders forward Jordan Morris pressed the Whitecaps back line long and hard when it came to scoring opportunities. His first shot attempt led to the Whitecaps handball and the converted penalty by Nico Lodeiro. After almost converting on another attempt, he eventually got his goal in the 34th minute of the match.
When effective and, in the words of Brian Schmetzer “goal dangerous” Jordan Morris gives Seattle exactly what they need in a tournament format. Things also play into Seattle’s favor health-wise, Seattle will not play till at least next Sunday or Monday which means whoever Seattle faced will have to deal with a more than healthy Jordan Morris. Not exactly the hand you’d want to be dealt in a knockout stage.
Playing their way into form?
Seattle and slow starts is nothing new, after four months off and some borderline underwhelming performances in Orlando. I’m not sure what was expected of Seattle entering the Group B finale, all that was determined is that it was a win or go home scenario.
In the 90+ minutes of play, this was a Seattle team that was much crisper and more assertive to start the match. Sure, did Vancouver’s lack of depth with some starters out have something to do with that? Seattle had the edge in shots on goal (17-7), shots on target (7-2) and even if there was no possession edge for the Sounders (52-48 pct. edge to Vancouver). It really never felt like Vancouver belonged on the same field as Seattle, the Sounders out-classed the Whitecaps from the jump and may have helped send a message to the rest of the league.
No matter how you slice it, the Sounders came out and played with the mindset of a team that was picked by many soccer experts to make a deep tournament run.
Sunday night’s victory over Vancouver also saw players like Raul Ruidiaz who had struggled to get into a groove the start the tournament and missed on easy sitters in the opening match vs. San Jose. On a corner in the second half, Ruidiaz put one in the back of the net for his second goal of the season and officially slammed the door on the Whitecaps.
Up Next for Seattle: MLS is Back knockout stage match vs. TBD
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
