Struggling Vancouver Whitecaps earn draw with unbeaten Seattle Sounders

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:06 am

Raul Ruidiaz scored his league-leading ninth goal of the season as the Seattle Sounders rallied for a 2-2 draw with the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.

Jimmy Medranda also scored for the Sounders, who remain the lone undefeated team in the league.

Cristian Dajome and Lucas Cavallini tallied for the Whitecaps, who snapped a five-match losing streak.

Medranda tied the score in the 71st minute following a corner kick. Joao Paulo's kick deflected off Fredy Montero and back toward the top of the penalty box, with Medranda running onto the ball and blistering a left-footed shot from 18 yards out under diving Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

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Ruidiaz gave Seattle a 1-0 halftime lead on a goal in the 40th minute, taking a cross from Brad Smith on the left wing and scoring with a left-footed shot from about 10 yards out. The play started when

Sounders midfielder Josh Atencio stole the ball in his own half of the field, with Cristian Roldan and Will Bruin helping move the ball forward to the top of the 18-yard box.

The Sounders hadn't allowed a goal during the run of play all season until Vancouver struck twice in a seven-minute span early in the second half to take a 2-1 lead.

Dajome got the first in the 49th minute, taking a long through ball from Caio Alexandre and lifting the ball over onrushing Seattle goalie Stefan Cleveland just outside the top of the 18-yard box before regaining possession and putting the ball into an empty net.

The Whitecaps' second goal, in the 56th minute, also came on a Seattle defensive miscue. Dajome's cross for Cavallini bounced just over the head of defender Shane O'Neill. Cavallini didn't quite get all of a header from the top of the 6-yard box, but the ball trickled off his leg and rolled just inside the right post.

The Whitecaps nearly had a goal just before the half when Deiber Caicedo stole the ball from Alex Roldan just outside the top left of the 18-yard box, but Cleveland made a left-footed kick save.