A packed schedule finally caught up with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.
Playing their sixth game in 18 days, the 91裸聊视频楥aps sputtered, then stalled in a 3-0 loss to the surging Seattle Sounders.
91裸聊视频淔or me, it91裸聊视频檚 not the time to go into the locker room and kick things, kick bottles and that,91裸聊视频� Vancouver head coach Vanni Sartini said after the match. 91裸聊视频淏ecause today, the guys were with no fuel. And when you have no fuel, it91裸聊视频檚 hard to compete in a race.91裸聊视频�
Vancouver (13-10-8) saw it91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频楥aps ranks.
Midfielders Ryan Gauld (knee), Ali Ahmed (quad) and Stuart Armstrong (calf) all missed Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 game. And those who were on the field were sapped of energy, Sartini said.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think we have to put the blame or a lot criticism on the players today,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 more probably on me or on us that we didn91裸聊视频檛 chose the right way to play 91裸聊视频� understanding the condition of the players. Because some of them were probably extremely tired from the last two weeks.91裸聊视频�
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 Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 loss, said defender Ranko Veselinovic.
91裸聊视频淲e didn91裸聊视频檛 have energy, especially in the first half when we were late in the duels. We were all over the field. But they91裸聊视频檙e a good team,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd definitely this tonight was really poor performance.
91裸聊视频淎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.91裸聊视频�
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 Soccer91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e good players, and they just need a little (space). We gave them too much space, we didn91裸聊视频檛 cover behind, and then he made a good dribbling and then I made penalty,91裸聊视频� the Serbian defender said. 91裸聊视频淚t doesn91裸聊视频檛 happen often, but it happens.91裸聊视频�
Rusnak stepped up to the spot and sent a low, rolling shot just past Takaoka91裸聊视频檚 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 Whitecaps91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� his second of the game 91裸聊视频� after a bad tackle on Rusnak at midfield.
91裸聊视频淚f you want to be optimistic for the future, (the loss) is a good wake-up call,91裸聊视频� Sartini said.
NOTES: With Gauld sidelined, Veselinovic wore the captain91裸聊视频檚 armband. 91裸聊视频� Seattle and Vancouver split their three-game season series 1-1-1. 91裸聊视频� 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
