A packed schedule finally caught up with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.
Playing their sixth game in 18 days, the 香蕉视频直播楥aps sputtered, then stalled in a 3-0 loss to the surging Seattle Sounders.
香蕉视频直播淔or me, it香蕉视频直播檚 not the time to go into the locker room and kick things, kick bottles and that,香蕉视频直播� Vancouver head coach Vanni Sartini said after the match. 香蕉视频直播淏ecause today, the guys were with no fuel. And when you have no fuel, it香蕉视频直播檚 hard to compete in a race.香蕉视频直播�
Vancouver (13-10-8) saw it香蕉视频直播檚 already busy fall schedule further compacted late last month with the Canadian Championship final.
While the club defeated Toronto FC on penalty kicks and hoisted the Voyageurs Cup for the third year in a row, the constant crush of competition has depleted the 香蕉视频直播楥aps ranks.
Midfielders Ryan Gauld (knee), Ali Ahmed (quad) and Stuart Armstrong (calf) all missed Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 game. And those who were on the field were sapped of energy, Sartini said.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think we have to put the blame or a lot criticism on the players today,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 more probably on me or on us that we didn香蕉视频直播檛 chose the right way to play 香蕉视频直播� understanding the condition of the players. Because some of them were probably extremely tired from the last two weeks.香蕉视频直播�
Albert Rusnak figured into all three goals for Seattle (15-9-8), scoring and contributing a pair of assists. Jordan Morris notched a pair of helpers and Georgi Minoungou also found the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Stefan Frei stopped three shots to post his 13th clean sheet of the season.
Yohei Takaoka made two saves for the Whitecaps who were down to 10 men in the 88th minute after striker Fafa Picault was sent off for a red card.
A number of factors added up to Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 loss, said defender Ranko Veselinovic.
香蕉视频直播淲e didn香蕉视频直播檛 have energy, especially in the first half when we were late in the duels. We were all over the field. But they香蕉视频直播檙e a good team,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd definitely this tonight was really poor performance.
香蕉视频直播淎nd we have, in three days, a new game. So we need to find a way to talk about it, think about it tonight, and then to find a way to be better on Saturday.香蕉视频直播�
The surging Sounders extended their unbeaten streak to 4-0-1 in their last five Major League Soccer games.
Both sides have clinched playoff spots, with Seattle sitting third in Major League Soccer香蕉视频直播檚 Western Conference and Vancouver six points behind in seventh.
A corner in the 14th minute gave the Sounders the lead.
Rusnak swung a ball into the six-yard box where Morris headed it down toward the goal. Stationed at the back post, an unmarked Minoungou deflected the ball in for his second goal this season.
Vancouver had a prime chance at an equalizer in the 19th minute when striker Brian White dished to midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who unleashed a right-footed shot that Frei dove to tip away. Picault picked up the rebound at the side of the net, only to see his point-blank shot blocked by Alex Rodan.
Takaoka was tested in the 65th minute when Berhalter and Veselinovic took out Rathrock in the penalty area. Referee Chris Penso immediately signalled for a penalty kick.
Veselinovic said he and his teammate were backtracking and made a mistake.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e good players, and they just need a little (space). We gave them too much space, we didn香蕉视频直播檛 cover behind, and then he made a good dribbling and then I made penalty,香蕉视频直播� the Serbian defender said. 香蕉视频直播淚t doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen often, but it happens.香蕉视频直播�
Rusnak stepped up to the spot and sent a low, rolling shot just past Takaoka香蕉视频直播檚 outstretched hand to give the Sounders a 2-0 cushion in the 65th minute. The goal was his 10th of the season.
Rathrock added to the damage in the 67th when he collected a pass from Rusnak, sliced through the Whitecaps香蕉视频直播� defence and fired the ball in past Takaoka. His sixth goal of the campaign put Seattle up 3-0.
Vancouver went down a man in the 88th minute when Picault was shown the yellow card 香蕉视频直播� his second of the game 香蕉视频直播� after a bad tackle on Rusnak at midfield.
香蕉视频直播淚f you want to be optimistic for the future, (the loss) is a good wake-up call,香蕉视频直播� Sartini said.
NOTES: With Gauld sidelined, Veselinovic wore the captain香蕉视频直播檚 armband. 香蕉视频直播� Seattle and Vancouver split their three-game season series 1-1-1. 香蕉视频直播� An announced crowd of 17,362 attended the game at BC Place.
UP NEXT
Vancouver: Hosts Minnesota United FC at BC Place on Saturday.
Seattle: Visits the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
