Steven Bisig-USA Today Sports
No one could have properly predicted what happened last night at CenturyLink Field. After tying the Portland Timbers last week, Vancouver Whitecaps knew they needed a big result visiting the Seattle Sounders. Well, Kekuta Mennah stepped-up, made history, and led Vancouver to their first win ever at Seattle by a 4-1 score
Mennah scored the game’s first three goals and shockingly put Vancouver up 3-0 over Seattle. He broke a few records in doing so. For starters, it was Vancouver’s first ever hat-trick performance, and Mennah became the youngest MLS player to achieve a hat-trick. Additionally, it is only the second time Seattle has ever given up a hat-trick. Robbie Keane is the only other player to score three goals against Seattle in one game.
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At 18 years & 283 days, Kekuta Manneh is the youngest player w/ an @MLS hat trick, beating Stern John (21-170).
— Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) October 10, 2013
Vancouver’s playoff hopes get a tad better with the win. Before tonight their chances were slim, but now they at least have a better chance. Currently, they sit in seventh place with 45 points. They trail fifth-place L.A. Galaxy by three points as well as sixth-place San Jose Earthquakes.
While their playoff chances are still up in the air, Vancouver shockingly embarrassed Seattle because of Mennah’s hat-trick performance. With two games left to play, Vancouver looks to be heating up. If they can continue performances like this one, we could see them come playoff time. Otherwise, performances like Mennah’s will be worth remembering as we look back on the 2013 MLS season.
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