Whitecaps 1 - 0 Sounders
Final
  for this game

Plenty at stake in Seattle's meeting with Vancouver

Oct 9, 2014 - 8:42 PM Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - There will be plenty on the line when Seattle Sounders FC welcomes Vancouver Whitecaps FC to CenturyLink Field on Friday.

The Sounders already have a postseason berth secured, but they have been on a roll in league play, scoring four goals in each of its last two games.

Seattle cruised past the Colorado Rapids in a 4-1 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday, putting the club atop the Supporters' Shield standings with its single-season club record 19th win of the season.

"I thought it was a good game for us," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid told the club's official website. "I thought we played well the first 35 minutes. I thought our counter was really dangerous.

"We scored our goals and had some other chances along the way. In the second half I thought we were really professional about what we needed to do. We probably could have scored three or four in the second half and we did a good job of keeping them off the board."

The Cascadia Cup will also be decided on Friday as Seattle needs just a draw to claim its second piece of silverware this term.

"We have a chance to lock up the Cascadia Cup. That's the second piece of silverware that we can win this year," Schmid told Seattle's website. "We got the U.S. Open Cup so now we want to get the Cascadia Cup. And if we get that, that keeps us in the lead moving forward on the Supporters' Shield as well. So that's our objective for this weekend."

Vancouver, though, has a bit more at stake.

The Portland Timbers managed to pick up a 3-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, a result that pushed the 'Caps out of the playoff picture.

Carl Robinson's men still appear to be in good stead ahead of Friday's derby after they topped FC Dallas, 2-0, at BC Place last weekend. Sebastian Fernandez led the way with quick-fire brace in the first half.

"That's what happens when he gets in the box, he scores," Robinson told reporters after the game. "Terrific performance from the kid. He was a threat all game. His little movement patterns, his positional sense and getting into areas and causing problems for them was evident throughout the game."

Robinson also highlighted the play of former Sounder Mauro Rosales, who appears to be hitting top gear at just the right time.

"I thought it was his best game since he's been here, and I think sometimes we're very lucky to have him," Robinson said. "I wanted to get him off a little bit earlier but he was enjoying the game so much. He said 'five minutes,' and I let five minutes go, and he said 'another five minutes,' and then another. He was excellent. His technical ability is second to none and he had a massive influence on the game."






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