VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The different dynamics of a two-leg aggregate goal playoff series made for some tension-packed closing moments of this scoreless opener.
The Sounders knew that a late, away goal Sunday against the Vancouver Whitecaps could not only help steal a match, but provide a huge leg up in a series where road scoring serves as the potential tiebreaker. They also could not afford a last-minute loss that would put enormous pressure on them should they fall behind early in next Thursday’s clash between these squads at CenturyLink Field.
Vancouver knew this dynamic was in play and pressed up hard in the closing minutes, while the determined Sounders repelled them time and again as 27,837 fans at B.