VANCOUVER, BC – An added-time penalty call overturned by video review capped off a tense and dramatic clash between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Seattle Sounders FC, resulting in a scoreless draw at BC Place on Saturday evening.
The ‘Caps looked ready to snatch the full three points at the death, when Sounders centre back Kim Kee-hee was whistled for a foul upon taking down fellow South Korean international Inbeom Hwang inside the box on a rebound attempt, but the decision was overturned by referee Robert Sibiga after consulting video review.
Despite the controversial ending, Whitecaps FC came away with their first point of the season behind a brilliant defensive effort, while ruining the Sounders’ previously-perfect record.
New acquisition Ali Adnan made his MLS debut on the evening and showed his quality right from the onset. The Iraqi international left back helped keep Seattle wingers Jordan Morris and Víctor Rodríguez silent, after the Sounders duo had combined for four goals and three assists in their 3W-0L-0D start.
More staunch defending came from the ‘Caps through centre backs Doneil Henry and Érik Godoy, who combined for 15 clearances, and denied Chad Marshall and Raúl Ruidíaz at the goalline shortly after halftime. Henry was especially imposing, shutting the door on the Sounders again in the 78th minute when Ruidíaz came knocking up close.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau made three saves to register his first MLS clean sheet. The Canadian international made a leaping save in the 64th minute, stopping a dangerous long-distance dart from Gustav Svensson, and punched away a curling direct free kick from Rodríguez in the closing minutes.
Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei collected three saves of his own, including getting his fingertips on a Victor “PC” Giro backheel late, plus one on a counterattacking Joaquín Ardaiz that resulted in the Hwang rebound that led to the late-match controversy.
Whitecaps FC look to earn another result when they host LA Galaxy next Friday night. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT live on TSN1 and TSN Radio 1040. Visit whitecapsfc.com for ticket information.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Russell Teibert made his season debut after missing the start of the year due to injury… The matchup between Hwang and Kim marked the first time two South Koreans faced each other in MLS history.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Attendance: 24,803
WFC Man of the Match: Ali Adnan
Scoring Summary
None
Statistics
Possession: VAN 42.9% – SEA 57.1%
Shots: VAN 12 – SEA 14
Shots on Goal: VAN 3 – SEA 3
Saves: VAN 3 – SEA 3
Fouls: VAN 12 – SEA 11
Offsides: VAN 0 – SEA 1
Corners: VAN 5 – SEA 7
Duels won: VAN 45 – SEA 54
Tackles won: VAN 10 – SEA 14
Caution
90’+1’ – VAN – Felipe Martins
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 22.Érik Godoy, 2.Doneil Henry, 53.Ali Adnan; 8.Felipe Martins, 6.Jon Erice ©, 31.Russell Teibert (4.Inbeom Hwang, 72’); 19.Lass Bangoura (7.Lucas Venuto 61’), 12.Fredy Montero (9.Joaquín Ardaiz 87’), 94.Victor “PC” Giro
Substitutes not used
18.Zac MacMath, 23.Scott Sutter, 29.Yordy Reyna, 46.Brett Levis
Seattle Sounders FC
24.Stefan Frei; 18.Kelvin Leerdam, 20.Kim Kee-hee, 14.Chad Marshall, 11.Brad Smith; 4.Gustav Svensson (70.Handwalla Bwana 83‘), 7.Cristian Roldan; 13.Jordan Morris, 10.Nicolás Lodeiro ©, 8.Víctor Rodríguez; 9.Raúl Ruidíaz (17.Will Bruin 87’)
Substitutes not used
35.Bryan Meredith, 5.Nouhou Tolo, 16.Alex Roldan, 21.Jordy Delem, 29.Román Torres
