2008 Sep 20

Seattle Sounders  2 - 3  Vancouver Whitecaps
Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, WA

Seattle: Chris Eylander; Danny Jackson, Michael Rodríguez, Kevin Sakuda, Zach Scott; Kenji Treschuk (Kevin Forrest 75'), Youssouf Kante (Sanna Nyassi 66'), Josh Gardner (Jason Cascio 89'), Leighton O'Brien; Roger Levesque, Sébastien Le Toux. Substitutes not used: Ben Dragavon, Noah Merl, John Fishbaugher, Nik Besagno.

Vancouver: Jay Nolly; Wesley Charles, Lyle Martin (Luca Bellisomo 79'), Steve Kindel, Jeff Clarke; Martin Nash, Ethan Gage (Mason Trafford 81'), Alfredo Valente (Takashi Hirano 62'), Justin Moose; Nicholas Addlery (Charles Gbeke 74'), Eduardo Sebrango (Jason Jordan 89'). Substitutes not used: Tyler Baldock, Vicente Arze.

Goals:
10' SEA: Le Toux (Levesque)
54' VAN: Sebrango (Addlery)
57' VAN: Moose (Nash)
67' VAN: Clarke (Moose)
69' SEA: Sakuda (Nyassi)

Additional match reports: Whitecaps, Seattle Times, GOALSeattle.com, Prost Amerika, Seattle Soccer Show ratings, Vancouver Province.

Match report from the Sounders:

Another meaningful match in the storied rivalry between the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps had the Cascadia Cup up for grabs in the 2008 regular season finale with the winner taking home the trophy.

Seattle, looking for momentum in their final regular season game in the United Soccer Leagues after securing a playoff spot in last week's 1-1 draw with Atlanta, came out determined to expel doubts in their search of back-to-back titles, 5th since 1995, but instead came up short 3-2 in front of 4,401 fans at Starfire Sports Complex.

The Sounders got things rolling early. Ten minutes in, Roger Levesque sent the ball up the middle from just inside the halfway line, catching the Whitecaps' defense off guard. A sprinting Sébastien Le Toux took advantage of the miscue, slicing through the opposition, and delivered a strike lower-left past Jay Nolly.

The goal was Le Toux's 14th in League play. He also scored five during the Sounders run to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, and two in an exhibition against Juventus in June.

Chris Eylander, leading the USL-1 with 114 saves entering the match, again rose to the challenge by saving four in the first 45' to preserve the 1-0 lead; none better than a diving right stop from a 35-yard Martin Nash free-kick stemming from obstruction on Levesque. Vancouver totaled eight shots in the first half with nothing to show.

The second half read a different story. Reenergized, the Whitecaps were set on finishing what they started. Wesley Charles on the right side of the penalty area saw a gap and passed through the middle of two defenders to Nick Addlery, who struck center in the 54th for the equalizer.

Vancouver then scored the go-ahead on a counterattack three minutes later. In the 56th minute, Josh Gardner sped down the right side, hitting Levesque in front of the goal. Levesque let it go, but Nolly got a hand and quickly sent it deep right. Nash collected and sent it to Justin Moose slipping by the defenders to set up a one-on-one on the right side just beyond the box. Eylander stepped-out, but unable to close the space Moose chipped it over him into an open net.

Seattle saw their chance all but slip away when Moose sent in a corner from the right in the 67th minute; Eduardo Sebrango flicked it to Jeff Clarke, who headed it in the far post.

One last gasp saw newly-acquired speedster midfielder Sanna Nyassi, who came on in the 66th for Youssouf Kante, dribbling past three defenders and dropping off a through-pass to Kevin Sakuda. Sakuda touched toward goal and drilled low far-post for the score, his first of the season, to narrow the lead 3-2. The assist was Nyassi's first point earned after joining the team September 10 against Montreal.

But it proved to be too little, too late, as the game concluded with a dejected Le Toux receiving a yellow for taking a shot from short range at Nolly after being called for offside.

Quick Kicks

Final playoff positions will come to light following Montreal's match tomorrow against Puerto Rico as seeds 3-6 (Charleston, Montreal, Rochester and Seattle) are still to be decided. With their tie against Atlanta, Puerto Rico clinches the Commissioners Cup and a first-round bye. Vancouver takes second place; Minnesota seventh...Halftime at tonight's match honored Sounders legend Craig Tomlinson for his nine years of dedication to the team and the community...After the match, the Sounders players were presented with the Kell's People's Choice Awards. Recipients included: Kevin Forrest for Rookie of the Season, Sébastien LeToux for Offensive Player of the Season, and Chris Eylander for Defensive Player of the Season as well as the Most Valuable Player.

Statistics:
          Seattle   Vancouver
Shots:       15        16
Saves:        5         3
Corners:      3         6
Fouls:        7         7
Offsides:     9         3

Misconduct:
90' SEA: Le Toux cautioned

Referees: Landis Wiley; Mike Rottersman, Levi Rippy; Jeff Hosking

Attendance: 4,401