Vancouver Whitecaps v Seattle Sounders – The Story In Pictures
She’s been clearing her voice for weeks, gargling to keep herself ready for her big moment, and then it came along on Sunday. The Sounders beat the Whitecaps 2-1 at BC Place and the fat lady belted out her tune.
It’s realistically been over for weeks. Now it’s just official. There will be no MLS playoffs for Vancouver Whitecaps.
They made a good go at getting the win against Seattle and could easily have been a few up by half time. But that’s been the story of the season really. A season of coulds.
They could have scored more with the chances better. They could have kept tighter defensively. They could have kept their heads in the derby environment. They did neither and they lost to yet another goal in the closing minutes of the game.
Credit to Seattle (hate saying that), but they came north with an understrength team, went a goal behind to a Pedro Morales penalty, but fought back to level through Osvaldo Alonso then grab all three points with Brad Evans’ 81st minute spot kick.
That’s a team with fight, resilience, and ability. That’s also a team heading to the postseason. That’s not the Whitecaps right now.
AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game and here’s his “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.
[Also check out Tom’s website www.residualimagephotography.com for more of his photos and work].
Pretty sure we won’t be talking about these guys at the end of 90 minutes in a Cascadia derby
The Whitecaps starting XI – ready for action, in the first half at least
Did anyone see where Vancouver’s playoff hopes went?
Pedro Morales looks up for this one and crack an 18th minute effort of the left post
Alphonso Davies is giving Seattle sub Oneil Fisher a torrid time up that right wing
Fisher just can’t handle him and brings him down in the box – Penalty!
The ‘Caps captain steps up for the spot kick
And fires home. 1-0 Vancouver. Joy all round!
Davies is up for this one and forces a save from Stefan Frei with a fierce strike
But Seattle fights back and Matias Laba doesn’t track Osvaldo Alonso well enough
And with six minutes go in the half Alonso makes it 1-1
Vancouver keep the pressure on to start the second half and Giles Barnes rises for a header
That goes narrowly over
Then the game changing moment as Ricardo Salazar shows a straight red to Pedro Morales
The ‘Caps captain is off for an elbow on Cristian Roldan and the tide turns
Disgust and disappointment for the ‘Caps
Seattle press and David Ousted comes up big from a Jordan Morris shot
But when Jordan Harvey handles in the box, Brad Evans steps up to fire home an 81st minute penalty and what proved to be Seattle’s winner
Only for Evans to see red himself minutes later for attempting to head butt David Edgar. Both captains sent off in this one!
The final whistle blows, the season is officially over, and it hits David Ousted hard
You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below:
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