GAME ESSENTIALS
THE DEBRIEF
After generating almost nothing offensively in the first hour, the Whitecaps snatched a goal from thin air in the 61st minute when centre-back Tim Parker, pictured, ran to Pedro Morales’ near-post corner and scored with a glancing flick of his right boot. But the Sounders equalized 11 minutes later when Andy Rose got a cross past defender Christian Dean that was turned into the net by unmarked Lamar Neagle. Two glimmers of light on a bleak night for soccer.
LINEUPS (OR LINE DOWNS)
Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson, all-in on everything he does, rested his entire lineup from Saturday’s 3-0 league win in Seattle and started a full second team. With Morales, Russell Teibert and Darren Mattocks, pictured, the team had a smattering of Major League Soccer regulars but less experience than the Sounders. Seattle coach Sigi Schmid retained three starters from Saturday, and his team produced its first goal in five matches.
SANS PEDRO
After scoring off the bench on Saturday, Pedro Morales was largely ineffective in a starting role as he continued his way back from a calf injury. The Whitecaps star should have been the class of the game but, in his defence, had little service and few options when he did get the ball. He was substituted in the 65th minute.
NEXT UP
The 11 Whitecap starters from last weekend should reappear on the pitch Saturday when Real Salt Lake visits BC Place Stadium for a Major League Soccer game that matters. Real Salt Lake is three points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and trail the first-place Whitecaps by 10. It will be Vancouver’s third game in eight days.