2000 May 6
Vancouver 86ers 2 - 4 Seattle Sounders
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC
Note: This match counts as an A-League match and as a US Open Cup qualifier.
23 SEA - Gregor (Howes)
25 VAN - Jordan (Dailly)
38 SEA - Sawatzky
39 SEA - Gregor
59 SEA - Sawatzky
72 VAN - Jordan (Dailly)
Vancouver: Paul Shepherd; Steve McCauley, Rob Hall, Steve MacDonald
(Geordie Lyall 46), Jeff Skinner; Paul Dailly, Kevin Holness, Johnny Sulentic,
Chris Clarke (Chris Franks 58); Alfredo Valente (Dave Morris 58), Jason
Jordan.
Seattle: Preston Burpo; Bernie James, Kieran Barton (Erik Storkson
77), Scott Jenkins, Craig Waibel; Dick McCormick, Andrew Gregor, Ali John
Utush, Greg Howes (Sean Henderson 46); Darren Sawatzky, Viet Nguyen.
Match report by Ron Stickney:
The Seattle Sounders started their 2000 campaign
off with fireworks, winning 4-2 and spoiling the Vancouver 86ers' home
opener. Andrew Gregor scored the Sounders' first goal of the season and
the match winner, and Darren Sawatzky notched two for Seattle. Jason Jordan
got both goals for the 86ers. After Seattle pulled ahead 4-1, they made
the last quarter of the match harder than it needed to be when Gregor,
then Bernie James were sent off. James' infraction gave Vancouver a penalty
kick that would have closed the gap to one goal with ten minutes left,
but goalkeeper Preston Burpo came up big with an outstanding save of Paul
Dailly's PK.
This match doubled as a US Open Cup qualifier, which seems silly since
Canadian teams are ineligible for the US Open Cup. The same two teams will
meet again within 24 hours for Seattle's home opener, which will also double
as a US Open Cup qualifier.
First Half
The match arranged itself into four very different quarters. The first
quarter saw few chances. Vancouver defender Rob Hall took the first shot
in the 6th minute and was well wide from the left corner of the penalty
area. Gregor took Seattle's first shot in the 16th and was well off target
from 18 yards. Player/coach Dick McCormick's well-aimed 20-yarder to the
lower far corner forced the match's first save by Paul Shepherd, who dove
to push the ball wide for a corner. AJ Utush earned a header on the corner
kick play, but was a couple of yards wide.
The gates opened for the rest of the half.
23' Gregor (Howes). Seattle won a ball in the midfield, catching
Vancouver with too many players forward. Seattle went at goal with numbers
and Gregor slid out to the left. Rookie Greg Howes sent a nicely weighted
pass in front of Gregor, who carried the ball into the penalty area and
bent a perfect shot around the advancing Shepherd and into the top far
corner for the 1-0 lead. Gregor had just missed with a dipping shot a minute
earlier, but he now had his boots calibrated.
25' Jordan (Dailly). Vancouver leveled the score just two minutes
later. Dailly sent in a cross from the left and as goalkeeper Burpo went
out after it, the ball dove sharply down to Jordan's head and he nodded
the ball inside the near post before Burpo could recover.
The 86ers had most of the run of the play for the next 12 minutes but
the Sounders defense denied any good scoring chances. Seattle had one long
chance when Sawatzky dropped a pass for a rare shot by James, but James
skied the shot. Scott Jenkins sent in a long cross/shot that was caught
just in front of the bar by Shepherd.
38' Sawatzky. Sawatzky intercepted a poor backpass by Dailly
and immediately advanced toward goal with three to beat. Sawatzky burst
diagonally between the two defenders closest to goal and chipped softly
over the sliding Shepherd to put the Sounders back in the lead 2-1.
39' Gregor. A minute later AJ Utush earned a free kick just
outside the right corner of the penalty area when his shot was knocked
down by his marker's arm. Gregor bent a nice free kick over the wall and
into the top right corner past the outstretched hands of Shepherd. 3-1
Seattle.
Two minutes later 86er Hall fired a rocket from the right side that
just missed the far post. In the final minute Jordan beat a pair of defenders
and shot on goal from 20, but right at Burpo.
Halftime: Vancouver 1 - 3 Seattle
The third quarter saw few chances, but did produce another goal for
Seattle. Nine minutes went by before a good shot was taken when Jenkins
was forward to head a cross wide of the near post. A minute later Gregor
had his first of two pointless yellow cards when he held an opponent in
front of the Vancouver bench, then stood in front of the ball preventing
a quick restart.
59' Sawatzky. Shepherd came out for a long, bending cross but
couldn't hold onto it. Sawatzky was there to head the ball softly towards
the open goal, and it went in off defender Geordie Lyall on the line as
Lyall couldn't reach enough of the ball to clear it. 4-1 Seattle.
The final quarter saw the Sounders come unglued and they were lucky
to give up just one more goal to Vancouver. In the 69th Gregor made an
unwise attempt at the ball near the halfway line and tripped his opponent
from behind, earning Gregor a second yellow and the red card.
72' Jordan (Dailly). Jenkins was cautioned for a foul just to
the right of the penalty area near the goal line. Dailly sent the resulting
free kick chest high across the 6-yard line past a couple of defenders
at the near post and all the way to Jordan at the far post. Burpo started
to come out for the cross and couldn't get to the post in time as Jordan
settled the ball and shot it straight in. 4-2 Seattle.
Two minutes later Vancouver nearly scored again when Steve McCauley's
long cross from the left touch line to the far post was headed sharply
at the top right corner by Jordan. Burpo did well to get a hand on the
shot and knock it wide for a corner.
At 80 minutes with Vancouver threatening the goal, James was sent off
for knocking an opponent down just in front of the arc after the ball had
been sent from the vicinity. This left the Sounders with just nine men
while the 86ers were awarded a penalty kick that could close the gap to
one. Dailly took the PK and shot low at the left corner, but Burpo used
every inch of his 6'3" frame as he dove right and pushed the shot wide
with one hand. Burpo had done well and couldn't resist letting Dailly know
it, earning Burpo a yellow card for taunting.
Two minutes later Dailly earned the lone caution for Vancouver for
tripping McCormick from behind.
Vancouver's last good shot came from Johnny Sulentic, a 35-yard blast
up the middle that was knocked down by Burpo and caught on the bounce.
Final: Vancouver 2 - 4 Seattle
Statistics:
|
Vancouver |
Seattle |
| Shots: |
9 |
9 |
| Saves: |
2 |
4 |
| Corners: |
5 |
4 |
| Fouls: |
12 |
11 |
| Offsides: |
0 |
2 |
Misconduct:
55 Gregor (SEA) cautioned for holding, then standing in front of the
ball to delay the free kick.
69 Gregor (SEA) cautioned again for tripping from behind, sent off
for the second caution.
71 Jenkins (SEA) cautioned for a foul just outside the penalty area.
80 James (SEA) sent off for taking an opponent down in the penalty
area.
81 Burpo (SEA) cautioned for taunting after saving a PK.
83 Dailly (VAN) cautioned for tripping McCormick from behind.
Referee: Gerry Proctor; Asst. Refs: Elvio Chiec, Martin Reid; 4th Official:
Jill Fedirchuk
Attendance: 4,202
