Sounders stumble, lose to Whitecaps

A day after missing a great opportunity to pull out a win on the road against the Portland Timbers, the Seattle Sounders never got a chance Saturday.

The Vancouver Whitecaps, the defending USL First Division champions, rallied with three unanswered goals to hand Seattle its first home loss 3-1 in front of 2,577 fans at Qwest Field.

Vancouver (3-0-2, 11 points) took over sole possession of first place while the Sounders (1-3-2, 5 points) continue to struggle to find their identity.

"There's more talent [on this team]," said Sounders defender Danny Jackson, comparing the 2007 squad to 2006. "We have the talent. We just don't have the grit."

David Testo took advantage of a defensive breakdown by the Sounders to give the Whitecaps a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute. Testo's knocked home a 12-yarder just inside the left post on a cross from Eduardo Sebrango as Seattle's defense bunched up on the right.

Vancouver scored its final goal on a 14-yard blast into the left corner by Tony Donatelli in the 88th minute on a pass from Joel Bailey.

"We need to find a way to win the ball, keep it and not make mistakes," Jackson said. "We had individual mistakes from several people. When you make mistakes, good players and good teams make you pay for that.

"When you're the home team, you should dominate games."

Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar scored his first goal as a Sounder in the 27th minute on a penalty kick for a 1-0 lead. Alcaraz-Cuellar's kick was set up when a shot by Seattle's Nathan Knox deflected off Vancouver defender Steve Klein's hand just in front of the Whitecaps goal.

The goal marked the first time Vancouver trailed in five matches this season. Just 11 minutes later, in the 38th minute, Sebrango walked in a goal off a left-footed crossing pass from Steve Kindel to tie the game 1-1.

Sebrango's point-blank goal came when Kindel drew Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander toward the left post to leave Sebrango open in front of the net.

Seattle concluded its only back-to-back games of the season, settling for a 2-2 tie with Portland on Friday.

"We don't make any excuses," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "It's a home game. We've got good players. We've got to be mentally tough. When the legs get tired, we can't make mental mistakes."

WHITECAPS 3, SOUNDERS 1

Vancouver Whitecaps	1 2 — 3
Seattle Sounders	1 0 — 1

Goals — Seattle: 1, Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar (penalty kick) 27:00. Vancouver: 1, Eduardo Sebrango (Steve Kindel assist) 38:00; 2, David Testo (Sebrango assist) 50:00; 3, Tony Donatelli (Joel Bailey assist) 88:00. Shots — Vancouver 5, Seattle 4. Saves — Vancouver(Tony Caig) 4, Seattle (Chris Eylander) 2. Fouls — Vancouver 16, Seattle 15. Offsides — Vancouver 2, Seattle 2. Corner kicks — Vancouver 2, Seattle 3. Cautions — Vancouver (Steve Klein 26:00, Jeff Clarke 78:00), Seattle (None). Ejections — None. A — 2,577. Records — Vancouver 3-0-2, Seattle 1-3-2.