Chad Barrett’s two goals propel Sounders past Whitecaps

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Chad Barrett asked for another chance. And when that chance rolled around on Saturday, he took advantage of it.

With forward Obafemi Martins out with a leg injury, coach Sigi Schmid penciled Barrett into the starting lineup for the first time since March. Barrett rewarded his coach – as he had promised – by scoring both goals in leading Seattle Sounders FC to a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place.

“We had a meeting a couple of weeks back,” Barrett said. “Playing time was kind of scarce for me. I told (Schmid), ‘I don’t know if you’ve lost your faith in me or what. Give it back to me, and I’ll reward you.’ ”

Barrett’s previous start had been in a scoreless draw at Dallas, where he failed on good chances, and Schmid noted that finishing any of them would have changed the result.

On Saturday, Barrett’s six-month goal drought ended in the fifth minute, when he ran down a pass from Clint Dempsey behind the Vancouver defense and knocked the ball wide of onrushing goalkeeper David Ousted.

It marked the 10th straight game that Dempsey has recorded either a goal or an assist.

Barrett doubled the lead in the 38th minute – taking a pass from Marco Pappa – whose fifth assist of the season matches his career high.

Up two goals in a place they hadn’t won since 2011, the Sounders settled into a game of passing and possession.