Pro Sports

Sounders clinch playoff spot with 2-0 win over Vancouver

Posted October 28, 2020 7:00 am

By ANNE M. PETERSON

Seattle Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz, left, and midfielder Cristian Roldan celebrate after the Sounders scored during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Raul Ruidiaz had a goal and an assist in his first game back after testing positive for coronavirus while on international duty, and the Seattle Sounders clinched a spot in the playoffs with a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday night.

The defending MLS Cup champion Sounders (10-4-5) secured their 12th straight trip to the postseason. The win also pushed Seattle to the top of the Western Conference standings.

'œEven in the USL days and NASL days this club has always been a winning club. It's something that is within the DNA, the culture of our club,'ť Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said.

Vancouver (8-13-0) went into the match with three wins in its last four games, but has just two games left to try and make the playoffs.

Ruidiaz returned to the starting lineup for the Sounders after contracting COVID-19 while playing with Peru's national team.

Ruidiaz, who leads Seattle with 10 goals, last played for the Sounders on Oct. 4, when he scored in a 3-1 victory over the Whitecaps. The Sounders have won both previous regular-season matchups against Vancouver this season.

'œSeeing him play tonight, it's seemed that he didn't even have coronavirus,'ť said Nicolas Lodeiro, who also scored. 'œHe came with energy, he came scoring goals, and it's great to have him back.'ť

The Whitecaps made seven changes to their starting lineup from the last outing, a 2-1 victory over the San Jose at Portland's Providence Park on Sunday. Vancouver is playing its home matches in Portland because of travel restrictions in Canada.

Whitecaps coach Marc Dos Santos also went to a 3-4-3 and took a defensive stance against Seattle from the start. The teams were scoreless at the half.

'œI think our defensive organization was spot on. We were able to frustrate them. Not giving them space, bring the game to where I wanted the game to go,'ť Dos Santos said.

Initially ruled offside, Ruidiaz's goal in the 54th minute was awarded after video review. Lodeiro scored some six minutes later to double Seattle's lead. Ruidiaz, sporting silver hair, got the assist before Lodeiro's tap in for his sixth goal of the season.

'œHe's happy to be back,'ť Schmetzer said about Ruidiaz. 'œYou know, sometimes when you have some adversity in your life, soccer is a good outlet.'ť

The Sounders were coming off a 1-1 draw with the Timbers in Seattle last Thursday.

'œI think Seattle deserved the win,'ť Dos Santos said. 'œWe knew it would be hard for us tonight, based on all the circumstances. But I think there's positive things because of playing so many young guys against an opponent that on the field is the MLS Cup winning team.'ť

The game did not count toward the Cascadia Cup, the honor given to the winner of the three-way Pacific Northwest rivalry between the Whitecaps, Sounders and Portland Timbers. The supporters' groups for all three teams decided not to award the cup this season.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Seattle Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz, right, celebrates after scoring as Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Evan Bush sprawls on the pitch during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, left, heads the ball next to defender Gustav Svensson, center, and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andy Rose during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Seattle Sounders defender Kelvin Leerdam right puts a shot on goal as Vancouver Whitecaps defender Cristian Gutierrez, left, watches during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Lucas Cavallini, center, does a bicycle kick in front of Seattle Sounders defender Yeimar Gomez, right during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. Seattle won 2-0. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei, left, grabs the ball away from Vancouver Whitecaps defender Derek Cornelius, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. Seattle won 2-0. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Lucas Cavallini, left, pokes the ball away as he slides in on Seattle Sounders defender Yeimar Gomez during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. Seattle won 2-0. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert, left, and Seattle Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz jump for a head ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Theo Bair, left, and Seattle Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga fo up for a head ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

Seattle Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz, bottom, celebrate after the Sounders scored a goal as Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Michael Baldisimo, center, and midfielder Andy Rose, top, stand nearby during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) The Associated Press

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