From 2009 to 2012, Fredy Montero was leading the Seattle Sounders line netting 47 goals with the club in that span. On Friday evening, it was Montero’s two goals that helped put away his old club in a Western Conference showdown.
The Vancouver Whitecaps earned their second victory of the Major League Soccer season, holding off Seattle 2-1 at BC Place.
Montero’s 65th-minute header opened the scoring, after the sides were scoreless for over an hour. Clint Dempsey struck the bar after nine minutes, which was the closest scoring attempt for both sides in the opening half.
Dempsey and Nicolas Lodeiro saw early second-half efforts saved by Whitecaps keeper David Ousted. Montero took advantage from a corner-kick, heading home to the bottom-left corner.
In the 80th minute, Montero doubled his tally and his side’s lead, heading home from close-range. The Colombian international followed up after Kendall Watson’s previous header was blocked after a corner-kick.
Down 2-0, Seattle again saw luck go against them as Dempsey this time struck the post just six minutes later.
In the 89th-minute, Will Bruin cut the lead to 2-1, finishing from the right side of the box. However, that was the closest the Sounders would get as Dempsey’s final kick of the match was saved by Ousted.
Despite a five-to-three edge in shots on goal, the Sounders could not beat Ousted twice, the Danish international making four saves. Montero, 29, now has three goals in his last three MLS matches.
Now with seven points on the year, the Vancouver Whitecaps (2-1-3) now head on a four-match road trip. They next travel to face the Portland Timbers on April 22nd.
The defending MLS Champion Sounders (1-3-2) end their three-match road trip on April 23rd, with a trip to face the LA Galaxy.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Fredy Montero’s two goals proved to be the difference on Friday as Vancouver earned a huge three points at home. The 29-year-old saw a pair of headers find the back of the net, which now gives him three goals in MLS play. After successful seasons with Seattle from 2009-2012, Montero was the man of the match against his former team.
MOMENTS OF THE MATCH
Both Dempsey efforts that struck the bar and post respectively proved to be crucial in the final score. Dempsey’s long-range effort after 86 minutes struck the post which easily could have meant the difference between zero and three points. Say Dempsey’s efforts find the back of the net, we could be talking about Seattle earning their second win of the season, and not their second defeat.
MATCH TO FORGET
With Clint Dempsey shining for Seattle on Friday, fellow striker Jordan Morris had a quiet match for Brian Schmetzer’s side. Despite playing the full match, Morris failed to record a shot on goal, while also losing possession 12 times. After 14 goals in his rookie season a year ago, Morris is finding it tougher to find the back of the net in his sophomore season.