Canada beats Honduras 1-0 in World Cup Qualifier

Canada 1 (Johnson) – Honduras 0

Canada used a first half goal that was officially credited to Will Johnson but seemed to come off the back of Cyle Larin last to get past Honduras in an entertaining 1-0 win in FIFA World Cup Qualifying for Russia 2018. Johnson had directed a Junior Hoilett header towards goal when the ball would bounce off Larin and a Honduran defender before going into the net late in the first half. Johnson would almost double the lead in the 2^nd half when his free kick effort was tipped onto the bar by Honduran keeper Noel Valladares, that would be the closest anyone would come to scoring in the 2^nd half. 

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BC Place played host to the Canadian Men's National Team World Cup Qualifier against Honduras as they continued their road to Russia 2018. Head Coach Benito Floro went with Milan Borjan in goal, with Marcel De Jong, Dejan Jakovic, Adam Straith and Karl Ouimette in the back. The midfield trio consisted of Captain Julian de Guzman, Will Johnson and Atiba Hutchinson. Longtime national team holdout Junior Hoilett officially was cap tied to Canada with this start, and along with Tosaint Ricketts on the other wing looked to feed MLS Rookie of the Year Cyle Larin up front.

Junior Hoilett got his official welcome to Concacaf in the 18^th minute, as he was booked for a foul near the Canadian bench. The referee would even up the cards a couple minutes later as Will Johnson was taken down in the centre circle, with the card going to Bryan Acosta.

Honduras would ge a chance on goal off a Canadian turnover in the 27^th minute as Carlos Discua tried to curl a shot towards the far post but his effort would go wide of goal. Discua would then get a yellow a couple minutes later as he interfered with an Atiba Hutchinson free kick in midfield.

A minute later Hutchinson played provider for Julian de Guzman, who's rising shot was parried by Honduran keeper Noel Valladares over the bar.

In the 38^th minute Canada would get on the board. Junior Hoilett would intercept a pass in midfield, and would sprint to the right of the Honduran goal before corssing for Will Johnson, who's header went off a body and into the net for the 1-0 lead. Replays would show that Larin would get the final touch but Johnson got credit for the goal to put Canada ahead.

Canada would head into the half up 1-0, but needed to tighten up at the back as Honduras started to push the Canadian back line.

Both teams would trade chances early in the first half before Honduras would make its first substitution. Romell Quioto, who was injured in this very stadium playing for CD Olympia against the Vancouver Whitecaps, came in for Erick Andino on 55 minutes.

In the 62^nd minute Luis Garrido earned a yellow card for a foul on Hoilett in a dangerousspot. The resulting free kick would be taken by Will Johnson, who struck a shot that nearly beat Valladares, but the Honduran keeper managed to get his fingertips on it to push it onto the post and out to keep the match at 1-0.

Honduras would make their 2^nd substitution in the 65^th minute as Mario Martinez would come on for Bryan Acosta. Soon after that Honduras would get their own free kick chance as Atiba Hutchinson was called for a foul, with the free kick eventually going out for a corner.

Honduras would make their final substitution moments later with Angel Tejada coming on for Carlos Discua in the 69^th minute.

In the 73^rd minute Marcus Haber would come on for Cyle Larin as Canada made its first substitution.

In the 76^th minute Milan Borjan had to be sharp as Mario Martinez's long range shot almost handcuffed the Canadian keeper but he managed to push the shot over the bar. A minute later Julian de Guzman would come off for Samuel Piette, getting a standing ovation as he left the pitch.

In the 80^th minute Tesho Akindele would come on for Junior Hoilett, which meant that no Canadian Whitecaps player would enter the match tonight.

In the 82^nd minute Borjan had to be sharp as he spilled a shot from distance before recollecting it, but not before taking a knock from a Honduran player. After a minute of treatment Borjan would be alright and play resumed.

Borjan would be called on late to punch out a chance from a free kick, and Canada would effectively kill of the match as they beat Honduras by a 1-0 score, and excise some of the ghosts of the 8-1 defeat from 2012. An estimated 20,108 people were in attendance to watch the victory, which surprisingly is a record for the Canadian Men's National Team, which now prepares to get ready to face El Salvador on the road on Tuesday.

Post Match Quotes:

Will Johnson – On the Goal:

"It's just a great play, you know with Junior he's such a special player, there's a good chances that he's gonna get that ball in the box, so when you play with one striker you need another guy, the opposite side winger or a midfielder to make the run also and Cyle went to the middle of the goal so I went far post, it went a bit over Cyle's head and I was able to get it on target and then it just kinda rolled into the goal."

Adam Straith – Playing at Home:

"It's the most fun I've ever had in a football match, playing in front of friends and family and also the way that the game went added to it, and it was a lot of fun."

Julian de Guzman – Important Victory:

"I've been waiting years for this, I remember 2008, at home against Jamaica, we were in the lead, that was an important match for us and we didn't win that and the rest is history, then in 2012 we ended up tying against Honduras, but we dominated that game and didn't get the win that we needed and that affected the end result for us at the end of everything so, this win at home, its very special, I think a lot of the guys, something I was talking to Atiba about just before the game, its a different feeling that we had going into this game, a lot more confident, the right players involved, and everyone finally believed in us, we had a great turnout, a record and I think its something we're hoping to look forward to in the future with this success behind us."

Atiba Hutchinson – Overall Team Performance:

"It was a good start for us, we controlled the game, started off with a lot of confidence, played the way we wanted to, didn't give up many chances and we put them under a lot of pressure and we deserved the three points."

Junior Hoilett – On his first home match for Canada:

"It was great, it was a great result, the fans, they helped us as the 12^th man, I'm pleased to get that result and I know they are as well."

Whitecaps bow out of MLS Playoffs with 2-0 loss to Portland

Vancouver 0 – Portland 2 (Adi, Chara)

The Vancouver Whitecaps fell to the Portland Timbers 2-0 in front of 27,837 at BC Place, with Portland scoring a goal in each half to seal the deal. The Whitecaps started out strongly with Kekuta Manneh testing the Timbers early in the first half before succumbing to an ankle injury. After Manneh's removal the Whitecaps looked lifeless and the Timbers would take the advantage. Fanendo Adi struck on 30 minutes as the Whitecaps defense fell asleep on a throw in, while Diego Chara would seal the deal in 2^nd half stoppage time as the Timbers move on to face FC Dallas in the MLS Western Conference Semi-Final.

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The Vancouver Whitecaps opened up the entire lower bowl at BC Place, allowing 27,000 plus fans to take in the 2^nd leg of the MLS Western Conference Semi-Final between the Whitecaps and Portland Timbers Sunday evening. The match was pushed back to a 7:30pm start time as the other MLS Western Conference Semi-Final match between Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas went into extra time.

Vancouver Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson started David Ousted in goal, with Steven Beitashour, Tim Parker, Kendall Waston and Jordan Harvey in defense. Gershon Koffie moved back into his traditional defensive midfield role alongside Matias Laba, while Whitecaps captain Pedro Morales drew back into the starting lineup for the first time since early October. Cristian Techera and Kekuta Manneh were out on the wings and Octavio Rivero was the lone striker up front.

Just before the match started FC Dallas beat Seattle on penalties, meaning that the winner of this match would host Dallas in two weeks' time.

Kekuta Manneh had the first good chance of the match five minutes in as his low shot fizzed past the post and out. A few minute later Manneh has a dazzling run down the middle of the pitch before hitting the post from distance, with the ball bouncing off the post, off the back of Timbers keeper Adam Kwarasey and out for a corner kick.

In the 16^th minute Kendall Waston just missed a header on a ball played toward him by Cristian Techera off a scramble in the Portland box, the ball just going over the head of the unmarked Waston at the far post.

Kekuta Manneh had to be subbed off after 25 minutes after taking a knock, he tried to continue but barely made it back to the center circle before having to be subbed off for Mauro Rosales. Manneh's ankle would be shown to have an ice bag on it later in the match.

Vancouver was caught napping in the 30^th minute as Diego Valeri passed to Fanendo Adi in the box, who roofed it past David Ousted to give Portland a 1-0 lead. Portland would take that 1-0 lead into the first half, as the Whitecaps looked to extend their season past the next 45 minutes.

Portland started strong in the 2^nd half, with Valeri testing Ousted with a shot from just outside the box just after the restart, with Ousted making the save.

In the 55^th minute Octavio Rivero earned a yellow card for a shove on Jorge Villafana by the Portland bench as he let his emotions get the better of him.

Rodney Wallace would then go into the book, earning a yellow for persistant infringement, with a foul on Gershon Koffie finally getting him the card. Valeri would also get a yellow card for fouling Techera a moment later, while Darren Mattocks would come on for Gershon Koffie as the Whitecaps 2^nd substitution.

In the 67^th minute Jorge Villafana would come off for Norberto Paparatto, after looking to have sustained an injury from earlier in the match, possibly from the Rivero foul from the first half.

In the 72^nd minute Steven Beitashour would get a yellow card for a foul on Diego Valeri in the Portland end.

In the 80^th minute Portland would take out Rodney Wallace for Lucas Melano, before Ousted had to make another save on Diego Valeri on a swerving free kick.

The Whitecaps would bring on Robert Earnshaw for Steven Beitashour on 82 minutes, and Earnshaw's first touch would be a bicycle kick that just went over the bar. Portland would bring on Jack Jewsbury for Diego Valeri in response as they tried to see out the match.

Robert Earshaw would score a goal but would get it called back as he interfered with the Timbers' keeper Adam Kwarasey's kick on restarting play. Earnshaw would get a yellow card for his efforts.

The Whitecaps would get five minutes of stoppage time, but Portland would seal the deal in stoppage time, with Diego Chara getting the last kick on a counter attack to make it 2-0 Portland. The Timbers would go on to win the match and will now face FC Dallas in the MLS Western Conference Finals.

Head Coach Carl Robinson - On Kekuta coming off and the game changing after that:

"First off I want to congratulate Portland, credit to them for winning the game today, winning the two leg series so congratulations to them. It changed, it changed dramatically, the kid started out like a house on fire and put us in the acendency with playing front foot football and hit the post and had one or two half chances, but when its not your day its not your day so it wasn't our day, we didn't score a goal after two legs; when you don't score a goal after two legs, unless you're lucky and go onto penalties and win you're not going to win a game of football, that's what happened."

Mauro Rosales – Taking a playoff loss at home:

"Tough, tough, disappointed for everybody, obviously we didn't expect this result, but also I think we didn't perform as well as we played the last couple games. It was a crucial game for us, this kind of game you have to step up with a different mentality, a different approach to the game and just do your 110% every time, there's a few opportunities that we're going to have just being in this situation, semi-finals, good run during the season, and when we should perform at higher levels we didn't so, disappointed, but obviously proud of the team, how hard they worked through the year, how hard its been this season, a lot of positive things, a lot of positive players coming up doing a very good job, high level this season from many of our players and just wait for next year now."

Tim Parker – On the team's game plan:

"I think our game plan was solid, I think we knew what we had to do I think, maybe just executing a little better obviously, would have been a better result."

*Note: Canada takes on Honduras in a World Cup Qualifier Friday, November 13th at 7pm at BC Place.

Whitecaps, Timbers battle to 0-0 draw in MLS Playoffs

Portland 0 – Vancouver 0

The Vancouver Whitecaps battled to a 0-0 draw in Portland Sunday afternoon in the first leg of their MLS Western Conference semi-final. Portland had the better chances, especially in the 2^nd half as David Ousted was forced to stop a goal bound free kick from Diego Valeri in the 71^st minute, while Portland substitute Maximilliano Urruti hit the post two minutes from time keeping the game scoreless. The 2^nd leg will take place next Sunday at BC Place.

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The Vancouver Whitecaps travelled down the I-5 to Portland to take on the Timbers in the first leg of their MLS Western Conference semi-final matchup. Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson went with the same lineup that started the 3-0 victory against Houston last week. David Ousted started in goal, with Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker and Jordan Harvey in defence. Matias Laba and Russell Teibert held defensive midfield duties, while Gershon Koffie was pushed up into attacking midfield alongside Cristian Techera and Kekuta Manneh supporting Octavio Rivero up front.

Both teams traded half chances through the first half, and at the end of the half Timbers forward Lucas Melano and Whitecaps midfielder Gershon Koffie traded yellow cards on two separate fouls, with both free kicks going nowhere and both teams going into the half 0-0.

It was Portland who started to push in the 2^nd half as they controlled possesion of the ball while generating more half chances. Vancouver looked to generate more offense of its own as Mauro Rosales came on for Gershon Koffie in the 64^th minute. A few minutes later Portland would bring on Maximilliano Urruti for Fenando Adi.

In the 71^st minute David Ousted was forced to make a great save off a free kick from Diego Valeri, Ousted diving to his left to push the goal bound effort out for a corner.

On 77 minutes it was #77 for the Whitecaps Pedro Morales getting his first minutes since early october, replacing the ineffective Kekuta Manneh for the Whitecaps' 2^nd substitution.

Darren Mattocks would come on for Octavio Rivero late, but Portland would have the best chance of the match as Urruti would hit the far post from a shot from Ousted's right, the score remaining 0-0. Portland looked to get a corner kick in stoppage time but the referee blew the whistle to end the first leg scoreless. The two teams will head to Vancouver as the Whitecaps will host the 2^nd leg of the semi-final tie next Sunday, needing to win to advance to the next round of the playoffs.

Whitecaps earn bye in MLS Playoffs with 3-0 win

Vancouver 3 (Manneh, Waston, Earnshaw) - Houston 0

The Vancouver Whitecaps used three second half goals from Kekuta Manneh, Kendall Waston and Robert Earnshaw to take 2nd spot in the MLS Western Conference and a bye into the Semi-Final round.  Manneh scored early in the 2nd half from 20 yards out, his shot just beating Dynamo keeper Joe Willis low to the right, while Waston used his head to double the lead off a corner on 72 minutes. Robert Earnshaw made his minute on the pitch count as his stoppage time header sealed the deal on the Whitecaps victory.

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The Vancouver Whitecaps played host to the Houston Dynamo in the MLS regular season finale at BC Place Sunday afternoon. Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson was forced to make a few changes due to injury but still put out a fairly regular starting 11. David Ousted started in goal, with Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker and Jordan Harvey in defence. Matias Laba and Russell Teibert held defensive midfield duties, while Gershon Koffie was pushed up into attacking midfield alongside Cristian Techera and Kekuta Manneh supporting Octavio Rivero up front.

Octavio Rivero had a chance to score early on, his header catching Dynamo keeper Joe Willis out of position but Willis managed to tip it past the post for a corner. On the resulting 2^nd chance from the corner Matias Laba struck a shot from outside the box that Willis managed to get his hands on as well

In the 13^th minute Cristian Techera struck a shot from distance that beat Willis but not the crossbar, the ball bouncing just in front of the goal line after coming down from the crossbar before Willis collected the ball.

Houston finally got a chance on goal on 20 minutes as Giles Barnes struck a free kick on goal but Ousted was able to make the save. Barnes would test Ousted again later in the half on the run of play but Ousted kept his low shot from going in the net.

Early in the 2^nd half Luis Garrido would earn a yellow card for a foul on Cristian Techera just outside the box to the left of Joe Willis. The Whitecaps however would squander the free kick chance just after the restart.

On 58 minutes Kekuta Manneh would put Vancouver up in front, as he found himself with time and space 20 yards out and slotted home his shot low to the right of Willis to make it 1-0.

Houston took out Erick Torres for Mauro Manotas, and a minute later Leonel Miranda for Boniek Garcia as they looked to respond to the Manneh effort.

Vancouver would double their lead on 73 minutes as Kendall Waston headed home a Techera corner to make it 2-0. Techera would come off soon after for Mauro Rosales.

82^nd minute garrido foul on manneh missed by reff. Manneh would get a yellow card for diving on the play, replays showed that Garrido clearly fouled him on the ankle. Manneh would be subbed off after that for Jordan Smith.

Houston would counter late with Giles Barnes off for Rob Lovejoy.

Robert Earnshaw would come on for Octavio Rivero in stoppage time for a cameo appearance, and would make the most of his cameo, heading home a Mauro Rosales pass to make it 3-0. Earnshaw would then celebrate by sticking the landing on his front flip, then do a little dancing to seal the deal on a 3-0 win against Houston. With other results going their way the Vancouver Whitecaps finished in 2^nd place in the MLS Western Conference on 53 points, tied with the Portland Timbers but having more wins as the tiebreaker, earning the Whitecaps a by into the Conference Semi-Finals and their first ever MLS home playoff match.

Carl Robinson – Thoughts on the match:

“Obviously we're happy, we got what we deserved, I'm a big believer in this game if you put the hard work in and do things right you get your rewards and I think we got our rewards today, I think we deserved to win the game against a very good team, I know Coyley (Owen Coyle) very well and he'll get Houston firing without a doubt. We knew it would be difficult, they have good players in their team, but from the first whistle we went at them, I think at halftime maybe we weren't going to score when their keeper Joe (Willis) made a couple of good saves, but if you keep working hard, eventually it comes.”

Kekuta Manneh – On his goal:

It's a work in progress, we've been working on it in training and it finally paid off. We've had games where we've had chances and we've been unfortunate, but today things went our way.

Kendall Waston – On finally getting another headed goal:

“I was relieved, in the first half I had two chances, but the third one went in so hopefully a lot of them go in for me in the playoffs.”

David Ousted – On getting the bye to the MLS Western Conference Semi-Finals:

“It's huge, it gives us a break Wednesday, that one off game, and that gets us into a two-legged game which I think our chances are a little bit better than the one-off.”

The Whitecaps will face either Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders or LA Galaxy in a two-legged playoff, the first leg taking place Sunday, November 1st and the 2nd leg at BC Place Sunday, November 8th.

Whitecaps Lose 2-1 Thriller to New York City

Vancouver 1 (Morales) – New York City 2 (Lampard, Villa)

A thrilling match at BC Place turned into the Ricardo Salazar show at the end as the referee for the match gave two dubious penalty calls, one for each side late in match as New York City escaped Vancouver with a 2-1 win. Frank Lampard scored for New York in the first half as a young Whitecaps team often looked starstruck with Lampard, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo in the lineup. Both teams ramped up the intensity in the 2^nd half which lead to a free flowing, back and forth match. Vancouver was awarded a penalty late in the match which Pedro Morales would convert, before failing to convert a number of chances after as the game headed into added time. Vancouver would rue their missed chances as late in added time NYC was awarded a penalty as Matias Laba was judged to have fouled Frank Lampard inside the 18 yard box, and David Villa would convert to steal the three points for NYC.

Match Recap

The Vancouver Whitecaps hoped to put the past couple matches behind them as they hosted a star-studded New York City FC Saturday evening at BC Place. NYC had all of their DP's including Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa in their starting lineup, while Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson was forced to make a couple of changes as a few of his starters were dealing with slight knocks including Octavio Rivero and Pedro Morales, who were both on the bench, and Steven Beitashour who did not feature in the match.

Robinson's eleven included David Ousted in goal, Jordan Smith, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker and Jordan Harvey in defense, Gershon Koffie alongside Matias Laba in defensive midfield, with Kekuta Manneh, Mauro Rosales and Cristian Techera supporting Darren Mattocks up front.

In the 12^th minute NYC's Shay Facey earned a yellow card for a foul on Darren Mattocks just outside the box to the right of Josh Saunders'goal. Mauro Rosales would step up and take the free kick and just miss the top corner, the ball curling just wide of the target.

A couple minutes later Kekuta Manneh would get a shot on goal from close range which Saunders just managed to keep out of the net before Mattocks tumbled over him trying to get to the loose ball.

In the 29^th minute Frank Lampard went unmarked between a sea of Whitecaps in the box and put the Angelino pass into the net to give NYC a 1-0 lead.

The rest of the first half would fizzle out as NYC went into the break up 1-0.

The Whitecaps had the first chance of the 2^nd half off of a Mauro Rosales free kick as he put the ball onto the head of Kendall Waston who struck goalward, but Saunders managed to make the save.

The Whitecaps started to push the intensity and create more chances, as a result the match opened up for both teams and to the benefit of the sellout crowd in attendance.

Andrea Pirlo would get a yellow card in the 62^nd minute for not letting the Whitecaps play on after a foul was called. Pirlo would get a free kick of his own a couple minutes later, slipping it under the wall but not past David Ousted.

On 66 minutes Pedro Morales would come on for Gershon Koffie as the Whitecaps looked to add some offensive spark. Octavio Rivero would come on for Darren Mattocks a minute later.

On 70 minutes the Whitecaps had a golden opportunity to tie the match as Kekuta Manneh's passed was stopped by Mauro Rosales on the edge of the six yard box. Jordan Harvey came in with time and space but chipped his effort over the bar.

NYC would make their first substitution on 75 minutes as Ned Grabavoy would come off for Khiry Shelton.

On 80 minutes Robert Earnshaw would come on for Mauro Rosales as the Whitecaps continued to press for their equalizer. Pedro Morales would then get a yellow card for a foul on Andrea Pirlo soon after. Techera would then join Morales in the book for a push on Angelino by the NYC bench.

On 87 minutes, Jordan Smith took a shot from distance on a second chance from a corner kick with Saunders parrying the shot into Kendall Waston's path, Waston would get tripped up by Angelino and the referee would point to the spot for a penalty kick. Pedro Morales would step up and put it low to the right of Josh Saunders to tie the match late.

NYC would bring on Kwadno Poku for Mix Diskerud right after, and the Whitecaps would generate a number of chances on goal in stoppage time but would be unable to put away the match before Matias Laba fouled Frank Lampard just inside the box three minutes into added time. The referee pointed to the spot to the derision of the fans at BC Place, David Villa would convert the penalty and NYC would escape Vancouver with a 2-1 victory.

Post Match Quotes

Carl Robinson – On the New York Penalty:

"He's (Laba) got the ball, I think everyone in the stadium could see it, I don't know whether he's (referee) felt it was a make up call or whatever, the game is about tackling, the game's about contact, Mati Laba is one of the best players in that position, he's clearly won the ball."

On his players being Star-struck against Lampard, Pirlo, Villa:

"I thought we played as poorly as we played all season in the first half , I think we made wrong decisions, I think we were hesitant, and when you do that against a very good team then, you know, you're always going to give yourself problems and stuff like that and they played a very high line and credit to them, and we turned down opportunities to play in behind them. We have a lot of pacy guys in our team but we made wrong passes, wrong decisions and mis-controlled the ball, I just said tidy up, keep your mind free and go out, we can't be as bad as we were in the first half, we weren't we were better in the 2^nd, but that's no consolation cause we got nothing out of the game."

David Ousted – Thoughts on the match:

"Not good enough. That first half is the poorest I've seen us play, and we weren't at it so, all in all we can't complain too much. We went at it in the 2^nd half and we had our chances, but again, its a tale of if you don't take your chances, you don't win games."

New York City Head Coach Jason Kreis – On the last part of the match:

"Mania, pure mania. I honestly felt that both penalty kicks, decisions were very poor, that game should've ended 1-0."

On the performance of his star players:

"Yeah, I think they put on a good show. I think both teams really went after it. It was a great game, it was a great game to watch, a great game to be a part of."

Frank Lampard – Thoughts on the match:

"We're happy to win here, obviously, its a difficult place to come, Vancouver have had a strong season, its big for us, it keeps our hopes alive. We're in a must win situation now for the rest of the season, if we had lost those points when they had scored that penalty it would have been disappointing."

Whitecaps bow out of Concacaf Champions League with 3-0 Loss

Vancouver 0 – Seattle 3 (Neagle 2, Valdez)

The kids were not alright as they fell to the Seattle Sounders 3-0 in Concacaf Champions League Group F action. Lamar Neagle got Seattle on the board as he tapped in from close range on 32 minutes, before Nelson Valdez headed in a Marco Pappa free kick to make it 2-0 just before halftime. Neagle would add his 2^nd of the match just after the restart as he took advantage of a Whitecaps mistake in the defensive end, as Seattle easily beat a young Whitecaps team playing eight players 24 years of age or younger 3-0. With the loss Seattle advances to the knockout round of the Concacaf Champions League while the now eliminated Whitecaps still have a match to go in their group against CD Olimpia on October 22^nd.

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Match Recap

The Vancouver Whitecaps travelled down the I-5 to take on the Seattle Sounders in Group F Concacaf Champions League action with a chance to clinch passage to the next round of the competition. Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson made numerous changes to the starting lineup, with Paolo Tornaghi in goal, Tim Parker, Pa-Modou Kah, Diego Rodriguez and Christian Dean in defense, with Deybi Flores and Matias Laba taking on defensive midfield duties. Kianz Froese, Nicolas Mezquida and Sam Adekugbe supported Robert Earnshaw up front.

Seattle would have the first good chance on goal 17 minutes as Chad Barrett found himself six yards in front of goal but could only head the ball straight at Paolo Tornaghi to squander the chance.

A few minutes later Matias Laba would try a long distance effort on goal, with his rising shot going straight into the hands of Stefan Frei.

Scary moment in the 26^th minute as Nicolas Mezquida caught an elbow from Cristian Roldan and went to ground bleeding, but would manage to walkoff on his own and get back in the match.

Seattle would go up in front in the 32^nd minute as Lamar Neagle tapped in a Chad Barrett pass to make it 1-0 in a match that up to that point had looked like mostly one way traffic for the Sounders.

In the 39^th minute Chad Barrett would make up for his earlier effort by heading in a Marco Pappa free kick to make it 2-0 Seattle as Paolo Tornaghi came out late to try and get a fist on it but Barrett's head would get to it first.

Seattle would go into the half with a comfortable 2-0 lead with the Whitecaps rarely threatening the Sounders goal.

Seattle would add another goal soon after the restart as a poor pass by Pa-Modou Kah would eventually end up on the foot of Lamar Neagle who had time and space to put it past Tornaghi to make it 3-0 on 47 minutes.

On 55 minutes Kekuta Manneh would come on for Nicolas Mezquida as the Whitecaps hoped an injection of pace would help restore some parity to the match.

On 63 minutes both teams would make substitutions as Seattle brought on Michael Azira for Eric Friberg, and the Whitecaps brought on Russell Teibert for Matias Laba.

On 74 minutes Seattle would bring on Aaron Kovar for Nelson Valdez to get fresh legs as they looked to preserve the shutout. A few minutes later the Whitecaps would bring on Marco Bustos for Sam Adekugbe. Seattle would bring on Oniel Fisher for Chad Barrett a minute later as their final substitution.

Seattle had a stroll this evening and advance to the knockout stages of the Concacaf Champions League with a 3-0 win. The Whitecaps have one more match to play against CD Olimpia in a mean nothing match on October 22^nd, but before that though they resume their MLS campaign this weekend as expansion team New York City FC come to town Saturday evening at BC Place.

Post Match Quotes

Sigi Schmid – Thoughts on the match:

"Obviously we're happy with the result it gets us into the next round, it's nice to have a lot more players healthy so that options and choices were a lot better so we've got a starting team that we play seven fresh guys tonight out of the 11, those guys acquitted themselves well, its always easier when a Roldan is next to an experienced player rather than have two young guys next to each other, it makes the game a little bit eaiser."

Carl Robinson – Thoughts on the match:

"Our first team that played on Saturday against Seattle we're young, and we knew that we were going to be even younger, we're banged up at the moment but we're not going to use that as an excuse, I made changes based on energy levels in the team, I picked a team that I thought was going to get a result today, and we've given away a couple of bad goals. Look at their lineup, very strong lineup, they've made a couple changes as well, their changes are experienced players, mine our young players, we've got to take that experience on the chin."

Tim Parker – Learning Experience in Champions League:

"It's our first time in the competition as a club and we have a lot to learn from it, looking forward to next year we have some things that we can take and strive from, getting wins at home, especially in this competition getting the first two home games and getting the most out of them is definitly important."

Russell Teibert – How going down to Honduras may help Canadian National Team:

" I can't wait to go down there, we as Canadians we know about the history in the past but, it seems like it's coming to be a new era, a lot of young talent that's coming through, a lot of young guys on the national team, its going to be a team that, a lot of guys weren't there in Honduras in the past, that's the national team and this is the Whitecaps and they two don't really go together, but for a lot of the Canadian guys I think, we've all played Honduras and all the other youth teams growing up and we show no fear."

Whitecaps lose to Sounders 3-0 in Cascadia Cup Clash

Vancouver 0 – Seattle 3 (Ivanschitz, Pineda, Martins)

The Vancouver Whitecaps gave up a late first half goal, then were hit on the counter twice in the 2^nd half as the Seattle Sounders won 3-0 to win the 2015 edition of the Cascadia Cup and move to within three points of the Whitecaps in the MLS Western Conference playoff chase. Andreas Ivanschitz scored his first MLS goal as he beat Jordan Smith and then went five-hole on David Ousted to make it 1-0 right before the half. In the 71^st minute Gonzalo Pineda made it 2-0 as he took the Clint Dempsey pass and put his shot post and in. Dempsey would provide again late in the 88^th minute as he ran past Russell Teibert in the box and then passed to an open Obafemi Martins who sealed the deal to make it 3-0.

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Match Recap

The Vancouver Whitecaps played host to the Seattle Sounders Saturday afternoon at BC Place in a Cascadia Cup match that also had implications in the MLS Western Conference playoff chase. Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson was forced into a couple of changes as Steven Beitashour was a late injury concern and Pedro Morales had a hamstring problem. Matias Laba was suspended for the match as well. Robinson went with David Ousted in goal, Jordan Smith, Kendall Waston, Pa-Modou Kah and Jordan Harvey in defense, Gershon Koffie and Russell Teibert in defensive midfield, and Kekuta Manneh, Mauro Rosales and Cristian Techera supporting Octavio Rivero up front.

Seattle would get the first good chance on goal five minutes in as Brad Evans rose to meet a header and send it goalbound but David Ousted tipped over the bar to make the save.

Ten minutes later Octavio Rivero had a chance at the other end as he found himself in open space just inside the box, but his curling shot would go just wide of goal. A few minutes later Cristian Techera would find Rivero behind the Seattle defence but Rivero's shot would be saved by the onrushing Stefan Frei.

In the 22^nd minute Russel Teibert would earn a yellow card for a foul on Clint Dempsey in midfield, Teibert would argue that was only his first challenge but to no avail. The referee would even up the cards a few minutes later as Brad Evans was booked for a challenge on Mauro Rosales in midfield.

Techera would have a chance on goal late in the first half as Pa-Modou Kah found him streaking down the right side but his low shot would be saved by Stefan Frei.

Just before the half Seattle would open the scoring as Obefemi Martins would find Andreas Ivanschitz behind Jordan Smith, and Ivanschitz would go 5-hole on David Ousted to give Seattle the 1-0 lead.

Early in the 2^nd half there was a shout for handball as the Whitecaps went on the offensive. Replays showed that the ball did indeed hit the Seattle player's hand, but his hand was protecting his area.

The Whitecaps would start to pepper more long distance efforts on Stefan Frei, Kekuta Manneh in particular but Frei was able to save from distance.

On 63 minutes Jordan Smith would go into the book for a foul on Obafemi Martins. Seattle would send the resulting wide before pumping it into the box but David Ousted would collect the ball.

A few minutes later Nelson Valdez would come on for Seattle's goal scorer Ivanschitz for the Sounders first substitution.

In the 71^st minute Gonzalo Pineda would make it 2-0 as he took the Clint Dempsey pass and put his shot post and in to double Seattle's advantage. Both teams would make substitutions after that as Brad Evans would come off for Cristian Roldan for Seattle, and Vancouver would bring on Nicolas Mezquida for Mauro Rosales.

In the 80^th minute Osvaldo Alonso had to be taken off after an injury in which the stretcher originally came out but Alsons managed to walk off. In the interim Kendall Waston earned a yellow card for a foul on Clint Dempsey which brought all the players to the center circle as there was some pushing and shoving involved.

Alonso would eventually come off for Leonardo Gonzalez, and the Sounders would eventually put the match to bed in the 87^th minute, as Dempsey ran past Russell Teibert in the box before passing to an open Obafemi Martins to make it 3-0.

Carl Robinson would bring on Sam Adekugbe and Kianz Froese for a cameo appearance as the Whitecaps got it all wrong on this night and lost 3-0. Seattle's win puts the only three points back of the Whitecaps in the MLS Western Conference and Seattle also becomes the 2015 Cascadia Cup Champions.

The Whitecaps will get a chance at redemption Wednesday as they travel down the I-5 to take on the Sounders in a Concacaf Champions League match in which they have a chance to clinch progression to the next round.

Note: For those of you travelling to the match, allow extra travel time as the Chinese President is on an official state visit to the Seattle area Wednesday.

Post Match Quotes

Carl Robinson - Thoughts on the match:

"I can't fault my boys today, they were fantastic, its easy for me to say that but we lost 3-nil. But I'm proud of 'em because of the way they went out, it was a sucker punch, we had two or three good chances and didn't take them and they had one and they took theirs, they're a good team so that happens. In the 2^nd half I thought we played on the front foot, I could throw out how many shots and chances we had in the final third, but we lost."

Jordan Harvey - Match could have gone either way:

"It's difficult man, because I thought we did play well, we were organized that first half, we created some good chances, it's a tale of two games I feel like, whoever scores first had the upper hand, and the other team pushes, then the other team gets three goals, I mean we go into their place we do this to them, so I really feel like it was a game of whomever scores first."

David Ousted - Overall thoughts on the match:

"I thought in periods of the game, we did well, we got at them, but at the end of the day the scoreboard doesn't lie, they were better than us at what's important in this game and that's scoring goals."