Report and Reaction: Seattle sound alarm bells for Vancouver Whitecaps in dominant derby display

Vancouver Whitecaps are drained both physically and emotionally. That was the take of head coach Vanni Sartini after a woeful performance in a 3-0 loss to Cascadian rivals Seattle Sounders at BC Place on Wednesday evening.

With the games coming thick and fast, Sartini apologised to the fans for the performance, citing it as an important wake-up call for the team for the season run-in, but there has to be some alarm bells ringing in the Whitecaps camp after a string of poor performances that has them winless in their last three MLS matches, lacking creativity, and all coming at the very worst point of the season.

A first MLS goal from Ivorian Georgi Minoungou had given the Sounders a narrow lead in an uninspiring first half and they doubled their advantage from the spot in the 65th minute from an Albert Rusnak penalty. The outstanding Rusnak then set up Paul Rothrock for a third two minutes later and it was lights out for the ‘Caps.

Vancouver finished the night with 10 men after Fafa Picault picked up a second booking for a tackle on Rusnak and it capped off a very poor night for the home side and one they will need to regroup from very quickly.

With Ryan Gauld and Ali Ahmed still out nursing injuries, and with Stuart Armstrong rested, Sartini made three changes to the team that drew with Portland Timbers on Saturday night. Their absences were sorely missed and a Gauldless Whitecaps side is starting to look like a very toothless one.

It was a cagey opening, with both teams sounding each other out. Seattle had the first shot on goal 12 minutes in when Obed Vargas fired wide.

Two minutes later, however, and the Sounders broke the deadlock. Rusnak sent a corner in from the right. Jordan Morris flicked it on to the back post and Minoungou was on hand to bundle the ball home from a yard out.

The Whitecaps responded well and controlled possession for much of the rest of the half.

Sebastian Berhalter saw his deflected rocket parried away by Stefan Frei in the 19th minute, with Fafa Picault’s shot on the rebound blocked.

Sam Adekugbe had a great chance to level in the 25th minute when a Pedro Vite cross came to him at the back post but his shot cannoned off the ground and over the Sounders bar.

But that was to be it for Vancouver, who managed to muster just one shot on target in the first 45 minutes as they went in trailing at the half. Seattle had also managed just one shot on target, but it was a telling one.

The second half started with Seattle seemingly camped in the Vancouver half, but without creating any real danger.

The Whitecaps almost grabbed the equaliser with a quick counter attack in the 58th minute. Picault sent a cross into the back post that looked like it was going to be claimed by Frei, but his hesitation allowed Adekugbe to nip in and cut the ball back to Vite, who could only look on in anguish as his goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Nouhou.

It was to prove to be a valuable clearance for the visitors, who doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Ranko Veselinovic brought down Rothrock in the box. Rusnak stepped up and dispatched the penalty.

And the Slovakian played an important role in Seattle’s third, playing the ball inside to Rothrock, who ran in on goal and tucked it away past Takaoka to the far corner.

It was almost four for the Sounders in the 75th minute when Morris was played in by Rusnak, but Takaoka was off his line quickly to smother the danger.

Frei denied White two minutes later, as Vancouver still tried to find a way back into the game. Deiber Caicedo then had a chance with four minutes remaining that was deflected wide.

Vancouver’s night then went from bad to worse when Picault picked up a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on Rusnak and his subsequent red will now see him miss Saturday’s crucial playoff positioning match with Minnesota.

It was a horrible performance, with just a few flashes of hope. Some of that can certainly be put on the heavy schedule of matches and the huge emotional importance of having three derby games in a row, including a cup final. The players looked drained. They have no time to recover. Players are having to step up to cover for injuries and now they will have to do so again to cover upcoming international absences and Picault’s looming suspension.

Vancouver aren’t the only team facing this right now of course. What did go in their favour on Wednesday evening was that the two teams directly below them, Minnesota and Portland, dropping points. Points that keep the Whitecaps in that 7th spot in the Western Conference that would see them miss the play-in game.

Considering we were thinking that a top four finish wasn’t just a possibility, but very much in their own hands, just a few weeks ago, shows the dramatic drop-off in form for the ‘Caps and at the worst possible time. They’ve at least clinched their playoff berth already, but finishing in one of the two play-in game spots would be a very disappointing end to the season and a step backwards.

Saturday’s match with Minnesota is massive. The Loons now sit just one point and one place behind Vancouver in the standings and are coming into the match with just one loss in their last six matches, with four of those games victories. A Whitecaps win gives them a four point cushion and guarantees they finish above them, with Minnesota having just one game remaining after that match. A defeat and the subsequent possibilities are far more bleak.

FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 0 – 3 Seattle Sounders

ATT: 17,362

SCORING SUMMARY:
14’ – SEA – Georgi Minoungou (Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnák)
65’ – SEA – Albert Rusnák (penalty kick)
67’ – SEA – Paul Rothrock (Albert Rusnák)

STATS:
Possession: VAN 41.9% – SEA 58.1%
Shots: VAN 10 – SEA 11
Shots on Goal: VAN 4 – SEA 5
Saves: VAN 2 – SEA 3
Fouls: VAN 12 – SEA 7
Offsides: VAN 2 – SEA 2
Corners: VAN 3 – SEA 6

BOOKINGS:
13’ – VAN – Sam Adekugbe
39’ – VAN – Alessandro Schöpf
46’ – VAN – Fafa Picault
88’ – VAN – Fafa Picault
90’+1 – VAN – Ralph Priso

SENDING OFF:
88’ – VAN – Fafa Picault

VANCOUVER: Yohei Takaoka; Mathías Laborda (Édier Ocampo 71’), Ranko Veselinović, Tristan Blackmon (Bjørn Inge Utvik 71’); Sebastian Berhalter, Pedro Vite, Andrés Cubas (Ralph Priso 71’), Alessandro Schöpf (Levonte Johnson 59’), Sam Adekugbe; Brian White (Déiber Caicedo 77’), Fafa Picault [Substitutes not used: Isaac Boehmer, Ryan Raposo, Belal Halbouni, Damir Kreilach]

SEATTLE: Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yéimar Gomez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou (Jon Bell 87’); Cristian Roldan (Josh Atencio 74’), Obed Vargas; Georgi Minoungou (Pedro de la Vega 76’), Albert Rusnák, Paul Rothrock (Reed Baker-Whiting 74’); Jordan Morris (Danny Musovski 76’) [Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Nathan, Danny Leyva, Dylan Teves]

REACTION:

VANNI SARTINI

On the match:

“We didn’t have any energy, we struggled from the start. We weren’t able to cover the distance like normally we do. We were always a little half late. Then we tried, to be honest, we had some chances to score in the first half, even in the second half. At 1-0, they saved the ball on the line. But it was never the impression that we were intense enough. I think the numerous amount of games that we played caught up with us. We hit a wall, mentally, when we conceded the second goal. Then it was over because we did a lot of silly mistakes. This has to be a very good wake-up for the end of the season. We don’t have to put the blame or a lot of criticism on the players. Today, it’s more probably on me. We didn’t choose the right way to play, not because of the game, not because of the Sounders or whatever. The right way to play understanding the condition of the players, because some of them, they were probably extremely tired from the last two weeks, and that caught up with us.”

DEFENDER RANKO VESELINOVIC

On how to bounce back ahead of Minnesota:

“It’s been a tough schedule, so many games, like every three days for the last seven, eight games. But now it’s all about the mental side. We need to find a way, we don’t know how yet, but we’re going to talk tomorrow, we’re going to rest tonight and then we need to push through. We need also our fans to help us on Saturday because they can be a big part and can give us that lift that we need. But we’ll talk to each other. The most important thing is to stay together now, in the locker room. To find what mistakes we did and just be sharper in the duels and wanting to put a better performance.”