The Vancouver Whitecaps played exceptional and managed to overcome a strong game by the defending MLS Champions Seattle Sounders scoring a 2-1 with 22,120 fans watched former Sounder Fredy Montero score twice in the second half breaking a scoreless draw against his former team.

The Sounders came out strong showing why they are the MLS and defending champions controlling play with 65% possession time of the ball creating several scoring chances against David Ousted who played exceptional.

Sounders front line of Jordan Morris Osvaldo Alonso and Christian Roldan tested Ousted on several occasions giving him several “close shaves or chances” beating the Caps defenders early and often forcing Ousted to make some stops.

Sounders midfielder Clint Dempsey was explosive and managed to hit the crossbar with Ousted clearly “shaken but not stirred” in a scoreless opening half of the contest.

Vancouver’s most dangerous players were Fredy Montero who had one shot that was stopped by Sounders “keeper” Stefan Frei who somehow palmed it wide of the post, while Christian Bolanos who had numerous chances testing Frei who again made key saves with both teams taking a scoreless draw to the dressing rooms for the first half.

Seattle controlled the opening 20 minutes of the second half using the ground game and timely crosses testing Caps defenders while Vancouver defenders were forced to clear the ball off the line assisting Ousted.

Cue the “Fredy Montero show” as the Caps caught the Sounders napping on the back end as Christian Techera sent a left footed a cross pass to the penalty area as Sounders defender Gustav Svensson misplayed the ball giving Montero an easy header for a 1 nil Caps lead.

Vancouver continued to find their game in the final 30 minutes adding chances against  the Sounders defense coming close to adding to the lead as Bolanos took a well placed shot from 25 yards out forcing Frei to palm it wide.

Montero got behind the Sounders defense in the 80th minute off a corner kick from Bolanos who curled in it finding defender Kendall Watson who in turn sent a header to Fredy Montero who gave Vancouver a 2 nil lead.

As we have come to expect the defending champions were not done managing a late goal in the last minute with Sounders Will Bruin beating Ousted cutting Vancouver’s lead to 2-1.

The officials added four minutes of extra time and a desperate Seattle team pressed Vancouver for the equalizer and did come close to evening the game.

The Caps defense was under siege forcing Ousted to come up huge and make three world class saves while one saw Kendall Watson clear the ball off the line which might have been the game tying goal while Match Referee Kevin Stott whistled in time.

Vancouver managed to  pull off a 2-1 win in what many were calling it the Caps best match of the season with both teams leaving their best efforts on the field.

To the surprise of no one Fredy Montero was the Budweiser player of the match with two huge goals against his former Seattle Sounders.

Vancouver takes its show on the road for four road games and return to BC Place Stadium May 20th when they host Sporting Kansas City at 4pm.

Upcoming games for the Caps see them visit Portland (April 23rd), followed by games at Montreal, Colorado and Houston.

Vancouver improves to 2-3-1 moving into 6th place in the Western Conference while Seattle falls to 1-2-3 that has them sitting in 9th place in the standings.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 team stunned their northwest rivals with a 1-0 over Portland FC2 improving their record to 2-1-1 on the year having a home match 22nd of April at Thunderbird Stadium with the kickoff set for 3pm.

Submitted by B. Nolte – Formatted By S. Erickson