If the first game is any indication, the 2012 edition of the Cascadia Cup should be quite a cracker. The Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps played to a 2-2 tie on Saturday, which featured an 82nd-minute goal from Camilo Sanvezzo and a 90th-minute equalizer off the foot of Fredy Montero to settle the result.
Vancouver Whitecaps Vs. Seattle Sounders, 2012 MLS: Cascadia Cup Starts With A Great One
The derby was back-and-forth for much of the afternoon, with the Whitecaps dominating the first half and the Sounders getting the best of the second. The Whitecaps could have easily been up 3-0 at halftime if not for some poor finishing and were forced to settle for a 1-0 advantage after Alain Rochat was able to waltz in unmarked to score the opening goal.
The Sounders came roaring back in the second half, though, as Eddie Johnson scored a header off a Mauro Rosales feed in the 47th minute. Only the goalkeeping prowess of Joe Cannon kept the game tied as he stopped two near point-blank chances from Montero around the 50th minute.
The Whitecaps slowly got back into the game and finally appeared to have grabbed all three points when Sanvezzo sent in a dangerous free kick. Although two Whitecaps were near the ball, it was ruled to have skipped past Bryan Meredith without either of them touching it.
That only served to set up Montero’s heroics. Just before stoppage time, Montero took a pass from Johnson, cut it back to create some space and fired a shot that caught Cannon flat-footed from about 18 yards out. It was his third goal in two career games at Vancouver and his fifth goal in three career Cascadia Cup matches.
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