Sounders stop Whitecaps, clinch MLS playoff spot

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Fredy Montero scored two goals in a 4-minute span to lead the Seattle Sounders to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.

Brad Evans also scored as Seattle (15-6-9) clinched a playoff spot and won the Cascadia Cup title – a competition between northwest teams Vancouver, Portland and the Sounders.

Camilo Sanvezzo scored for the Whitecaps (4-15-10), who were officially eliminated from postseason contention.

Sanvezzo opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, beating Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller to the bottom left corner for his ninth goal of the season.

Evans tied it in the 33rd on a penalty kick after Vancouver’s Jay DeMerit committed a hand-ball violation while attempting to block a shot by Alvaro Fernandez with goalkeeper Joe Cannon out of position.

Montero intercepted a clearing attempt and his quick, left-footed volley found the top left corner in the 63rd to give Seattle a 2-1 lead. Four minutes later, he took a pass from Evans and fired a right-footed shot to the top right corner to make it 3-1.

Keller was the busier goalkeeper early on. Camilo fed the ball down low to Mustapha Jarju in the 12th minute but he sent wide his shot wide.