Whitecaps 2 - 2 Sounders
Final
  for this game

Seattle, Whitecaps renew Pacific Northwest rivalry

Jun 10, 2011 - 8:05 PM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - The expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders in the first ever MLS meeting between the two Pacific Northwest rivals.

The rivalry dates back over 30 years, but has never materialized at the top division until Saturday at Qwest Field. While it is a huge rivalry, it doesn't compare to the team's main rival, which is the expansion Portland Timbers, also in the Pacific Northwest.

"It's just not the same (with Vancouver), but it's going to be a great rivalry," Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. "In the different places I've played around the world ... you have all those rivalries, but there's always one that's your main one. I think that's what you find with Vancouver and us. Yeah, that's a big game, but the Portland game is the main derby game."

The Sounders (5-4-6) are coming off a scoreless draw with Chicago, the second time in the club's last three league fixtures that it has failed to score a goal.

"We talked about being able to match their intensity at the beginning of the game and I think we did that," Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. "If we could have snagged a goal (early in the game) it would have changed things. But after that they put us on our heels a little bit."

Vancouver (1-6-7) is coming off an 0-2 loss at Real Salt Lake and has yet earn a road win in MLS this season. The club is also on a 13-game winless run overall, third longest such streak in MLS history.

"The errors were phenomenal (against RSL), just uncalled for," Whitecaps FC coach Tom Soehn said. "One of things we did really well [in a midweek draw at Chivas USA] was keeping our shape and being defensively organized. That didn't translate to [Saturday's] game. Salt Lake is a better possession team and we let them dictate the terms of the match and really had to chase the ball. It killed us in terms of energy."

Vancouver will be without the services of midfielder Philippe Davies, forward Atiba Harris and midfielder John Thorrington, while defender Jonathan Leathers is questionable, all with injuries. Terry Dunfield is also unavailable because of international duty.

Seattle will still be without forward O'Brian White midfielder Steve Zakuani with long-term injuries, while Alvaro Fernandez is questionable with a hamstring strain.






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