Wednesday, May 30, 2012
TACOMA, Wash. – The Sounders FC U23 and Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 played to a 3-3 draw on Wednesday night, providing a thrilling contest as part of a historic South Sound event that saw a soccer game played a Cheney Stadium for the first time in more than 35 years. The match was what you might expect from a rivalry game. The Whitecaps started strong and finished strong, and the Sounders dominated the middle portion of the 90 minutes before Caleb Clarke and Ben Fisk both scored for Vancouver to earn their side a point.
“That’s a rivalry game for you. It’s up and down all the time,” Sounders forward Sean Okoli said. “Vancouver is a very good team. We had a game plan, it was shaky at first but after a while we got into our groove and started playing, and luckily went two goals up. But once a again, there’s always somehow that someone can come back.”
Vancouver was first to capitalize on an opportunity. In the 15th minute, the Canadians worked a quick counter-attack down the left side and crossed the ball through the penalty area. As Clarke ran to the near post, the Sounders U-23 defenders followed him and Gagandeep Dosanjh was able to beat the rest to tuck away his finish at the back post.
The Whitecaps could have extended their lead just three minutes later as they again had a look from inside the box, but Sounders goalkeeper Doug Herrick was there to make the save.
As the half went on, both teams generated chances. Vancouver controlled more possession, but in the 34th minute, a good pass from Aodhan Quinn found Fernando Monge on the right sideline. After taking a touch to control, Monge drilled a cross in front of the goal that just eluded Okoli’s outstretched head and flew past the goal.
The Sounders would find an equalizer in the 38th minute as Luis Esteves snuck in from his wide left position toward the top of the penalty area. A couple of quick passes between the midfielder and the Sounders attackers left the New Zealander with a chance to shoot, and Esteves drove a low shot from the edge of the box to the goalkeeper’s right to tie the match.
Less than a minute after the Sounders U-23 chance, the Whitecaps countered as Dosanjh got behind the Sounders defense. The diminutive midfielder snuck past Herrick in goal too, but couldn’t pull the ball back enough on his shot and the ball bounced off the outside of the post and behind for a goal kick.
The Sounders U-23 started the second half considerably stronger than they played the first, and they were immediately rewarded. In the 47th minute, Akron product Quinn found enough space outside the top of the penalty box to try a shot and his effort knuckled and evaded Callum Irving in the Vancouver goal to pull the Sounders ahead.
“They took it to us in the first half, after a late start," Sounders coach Darren Sawatzky said. "They were late getting here, so it was a little weird for our guys. In the second half we made some adjustments and were firing, and it looked like we were going to dump a couple more in.”
The Sounders weren’t satisfied with their newly-acquired lead. In the center circle, Monge pick-pocketed the Whitecaps in the 52nd minute, and quickly sighted Okoli up ahead without anyone marking him. Okoli, onside, kept his calm and slotted the ball past Irving to expand the Sounders lead to 3-1.
“Growing up, I was always taught to stay in between the center backs," Okoli said. "The ball just slipped into me and I just stayed calm and collected to just finish it.”
The Whitecaps hit back in the 71st minute, After a scuffle in the penalty area, Clarke found his scoring touch and the back of the net to make the score 3-2. The Whitecaps continued to press for an equalizer, and came close in the 82nd only for Herrick to deny them with one of his nine saves on the night.
But despite Herrick’s great play in the Sounders goal, the Whitecaps were able to tie the game the 86th minute off a Ben Fisk header. The header didn’t beat Herrick with pace or power, but the placement of his glancing header was too far away for the diving goalkeeper. The Sounders tried to press forward in the final minutes to find a game-winner, but honors ended even between the two Cascadia rivals.
“We’re still waiting for our guys to stomp on the gas pedal and they haven’t quite done it yet,” Sawatzky said. “When you look at the overall season, the Vancouver Whitecaps are going to be contending at the end of the season. If you asked me before the season, to get a win up there and a tie here, I’d say that’s great, but I do think we gave a couple points away tonight.”
The Sounders U-23 next match is on Saturday against another Cascadia rival. The Sounders U-23 kick off at 6 p.m. at Tumwater High School Stadium against the Portland Timbers U-23. Tickets are available on SoundersU23.com.