Music: {allcanada} SOUNDERS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH, WHITECAPS GAIN POINT FROM DRAW

Saturday, September 29, 2012

{allcanada} SOUNDERS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH, WHITECAPS GAIN POINT FROM DRAW

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VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps stretched their winless streak to seven games with a 0-0 draw against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.

The Whitecaps (10-12-9) did gain a valuable point in their fight to hold on to the fifth and final playoff spot in the West. FC Dallas is one point back in sixth after drawing San Jose 3-3 later Saturday.

The Sounders (13-7-10), meanwhile, clinched a Major League Soccer playoff berth and can finish no worse than their current fourth-place standing in the Western Conference.

Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning recorded his sixth shutout of the season -- but only after Camilo missed a chance from close range in the game's dying seconds. Gspurning also stopped Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit in stoppage time.

Vancouver counterpart Brad Knighton picked up his first clean sheet of the season. His most important save came in the 88th minute as he dropped to block second-half subsitute Steve Zakuani's shot from about 20 yards out.

But the Whitecaps' point came at a heavy price as they lost top scorer Darren Mattocks to injury in the first half.

Mattocks and Kenny Miller started at striker for the Whitecaps after coach Martin Rennie said a day earlier he did not think they would start together. Rennie also made a notable change on the back line, inserting Andy O'Brien at central defender in place of Martin Bonjour.

The Sounders controlled most of the early play. Osvaldo Alonso fired just wide of the net in the 12th minute, and the Sounders almost scored off a quick counter-attack following a Vancouver corner-kick three minutes later.

Knighton was forced to stop Fred Montero from about 30 yards out on 28 minutes.

Vancouver lost midfielder John Thorrington to an injury in the 17th minute. He was replaced by Matt Watson, who has played sparingly most of the season.

The Whitecaps suffered another blow in the 38th minute as Mattocks left the game with a leg injury after going down in Seattle's 18-yard box. The injury occurred as Mattocks was running onto a Miller through ball with Fredy Montero slapping him and giving chase. Mattocks went down in a heap and was helped off the field by a trainer.

The 22-year-old Jamaican was replaced by Camilo, who has struggled offensively this season while leading the club with 12 goals in 2011.

Seattle had the a dangerous chance early in the second half when Eddie Johnson fired a shot from six yards in the 55th minute that was kicked it out by Knighton.

Notes: Television star Drew Carey -- a Seattle minority owner -- high-fived with fans. ... Vancouver midfielder Dane Richards served a one-game suspension for his eighth yellow card of the season. ... Whitecaps winger Omar Salgado (broken foot) did not dress. ... Sebastien Le Toux, who was traded to the New York Red Bulls in July, was mistakenly announced as a member of Vancouver's starting lineup instead of Miller. The mistake appeared to stem from the fact Miller inherited Le Toux's former No. 7 jersey.