Vancouver thrash Seattle to bounce back from Champions Cup defeat

The Vancouver Whitecaps returned to winning ways in MLS in style as they beat nine-man Seattle Sounders 3-0 at home.

After their 5-0 defeat in the Champions Cup final to Cruz Azul last week, the Whitecaps made no such error in their top-of-the-table clash this time around.

Jeevan Badwal scored the opener, his first MLS goal, just before half-time, before the Sounders received two red cards in the opening 11 minutes of the second half.

Both Nouhou Tolo and Jon Bell received straight reds within three minutes of each other, allowing the Whitecaps to take complete control of the match. 

Daniel Rios and Damir Kreilach completed the scoring, with the latter netting from the penalty spot, as Vancouver sit top of the Western Conference with a game in hand, five points clear of San Diego FC, while Seattle dropped to sixth.

Elsewhere, David Ayala scored a stoppage-time winner as the Portland Timbers came from a goal down to beat St. Louis City 2-1.

The 22-year-old midfielder volleyed home from Santiago Moreno's corner in the 92nd minute to secure a second comeback victory in as many games for Portland, after Antony had cancelled out Akil Watts' opener.

The Timbers moved up to fourth in the Western Conference after the win. St. Louis, on the other hand, remain second-bottom in the standings, eight points off a play-off spot.

They have just one league win in their last 13 matches, scoring the second-fewest goals in the conference with 14.

Los Angeles FC also moved above Seattle into fifth place after beating Sporting Kansas City 3-1.

Eddie Segura, Denis Bouanga and Olivier Giroud all got on the scoresheet to turn things around after Dejan Joveljic's opener for Sporting KC, as LAFC now turn their attention to the Club World Cup.

Data Debrief: Clinical Badwal set the tone

19-year-old Badwal's performance in midfield controlled the match for the Whitecaps.

The youngster was clinical in all he did, scoring from his only shot in the game, completing 88% of his passes and winning three of his seven duels.

Badwal also won possession back for his side five times in just his second MLS start this season.