Miller and Mattocks score and Knighton gets shutout as Caps beat Sounders

VANCOUVER – Kenny Miller and second-half substitute Darren Mattocks scored while Brad Knighton picked up his second shutout of the season as the Vancouver Whitecaps blanked the Seattle Sounders 2-0 in MLS action Saturday night.

Knighton also earned an assist on Mattocks’ key insurance goal in the 80th minute as the Whitecaps (8-5-5), in their third season in MLS, beat Seattle for the first time in league play. Vancouver moved into fourth place in the Western Conference standings while extending its streak to five games.

The Sounders (7-6-3) saw their unbeaten streak end at four games.

Miller’s goal came in just the fourth minute, and then the Whitecaps relied on Knighton to keep them in the game as the Sounders enjoyed numerous chances but could not beat the Vancouver ‘keeper.

A large contingent of Sounders fans travelled north for the game, but they had little to cheer about early.

Miller capitalized on Vancouver’s first legitimate chance of the game in the fourth minute. He ran on to Corey Hertzog’s long, high ball from the midfield line, sidestepped defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and put a shot just inside the far post.

Hertzog’s helper was his first in 11 MLS career games played. He also has a goal to his credit.

It was a good thing the Whitecaps scored early, because they did not get another dangerous chance again in the first half.

Instead, they had to rely on stellar goalkeeping from Knighton, who will be in a battle to keep his starting job after newly-signed Danish ‘keeper David Ousted becomes eligible to play once an international transfer window opens Tuesday.

Knighton preserved his club’s lead with three outstanding saves about a minute apart. He foiled Eddie Johnson from inside the Vancouver box on 22 minutes and then, from an ensuing Seattle corner kick, got his hand on a Zach Scott shot from close range and caught the ball while lying on his back.

In the 27th minute, Knighton charged out to stop Johnson from point-blank range and then scrambled back into position and blocked Obafemi Martins’ shot off the rebound.

Knighton came up big again on 41 minutes as he ran out to retrieve the ball before Lamar Neagle could get to it, and blocked a cross from the right flank before Martins got to it. Just before half-time, Knighton foiled Martins again as he blocked and fell on his straight-on shot.

Knighton was credited with five saves in the first half as Seattle recorded 10 shots. Three of them went wide and two were blocked.

Vancouver recorded five shots in the first 45 minutes, but put only two on target.

The Sounders almost drew even in the 57th minute as Neagle put a shot off Vancouver defender Brad Rusin and the goal post. Seattle failed to generate a chance off the resulting corner kick.

Neagle got into trouble in the 61st minute as he was cautioned for a high tackle on Hertzog. The Whitecap was forced to leave the game with an apparent leg injury, and was replaced immediately by Daigo Kobayashi.

Seattle continued to control the play, only to be denied by Knighton again as he dove to stop a Shairie Joseph shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 67th minute. Five minutes later, he caught a Johnson shot from inside the Vancouver box and, in the next minute, caught a curling Martins shot.

Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie tried to generate some offence in the 76th minute as he subbed in striker Mattocks for Camilo, who was held in check most of the night and saw his scoring streak end at five games.

The move worked as Mattocks ran on to midfielder Gershon Koffie’s long header off a Knighton goal kick and lifted the ball over Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning. The goal was the first for Mattocks since May 11th.

He has played sparingly since then while also spending time away with the Jamaican national team.

Mattocks had a chance two minutes later following a fine run, but the Sounders ‘keeper dove to corral his shot from inside the top of the box. The striker proceeded to generate more chances as the Whitecaps secured the historic win against their regional rivals.

Notes: Knighton was the obvious choice as Vancouver’s man of the match. … Whitecaps defender Andy O’Brien has recovered from a hamstring injury suffered the last time the teams met, in Seattle in early June, but remained out of the lineup as a precaution. … Koffie returned to the starting lineup for the first time since May 1. He subbed into the last two games after missing four with a thigh injury. … Seattle played without injured midfielders Osvaldo Alonso (quad) and Steve Zakuani (hernia). … Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert and fourth goalkeeper Simon Thomas were away with the Canadian team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup while central defender Carlyle Mitchell was with Trinidad and Tobago at the same tournament.