T&T utility player Joevin Jones and his Seattle Sounders team-mates will go into their final Group B encounter in the 'MLS is Back Tournament' today against Vancouver Whitecaps at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, Florida from 10.30 pm, needing to get a win to stay in the tournament.
This after Chicago Fire FC beat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 behind goals from Robert Beric and home-grown defender Mauricio Pineda in their first game at the MLS is Back Tournament on Tuesday morning.
The three points moved Chicago Fire into second place in Group B, one behind San Jose Earthquakes while reigning MLS Cup champions Sounders have now failed to win either of their first two group games and have one point.
Beric opened the scoring in the 52nd minute when he took full advantage of a bouncing ball at midfield, shouldered off Xavier Arreaga and flashing some pace, a sweet touch with his backheel to evade Yeimar Gomez Andrade before calmly finishing past Stefan Frei.
The Sounders who surprisingly left T&T international Jones off their 18-man roster for the match after he featured in their 0-0 draw with San Jose Earthquakes didn't fold, though and got on even terms when Jordan Morris got to the byline and dragged back an inch-perfect pass to an onrushing Handwalla Bwana for the equaliser in the 77th minute.
In the end, Pineda came through with the game-winner on a corner kick for Chicago Fire in the 84th minute, finishing a bouncing ball at the back post.
Meanwhile, national midfielder Kevin Molino, smarting from his late strike to earn Minnesota United a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City last Sunday, (July 12) could not reproduce the same form in his team's goalless draw with Real Salt Lake on Friday night.
Both Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United FC entered their Group D clash with a chance to clinch a berth in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16 with a win.
And despite the share of the points, the Western Conference foes moved a step closer, but ultimately were unable to reach the next round yet with four points each, one ahead of Colorado Rapids.
The 30-year-old Molino was replaced in the 46th minute by Thomas Chacon while international team-mates, Canada-born goalkeeper Gregory Ranjitsingh was an unused substitute for Minnesota United, the same as Alvin Jones, who was not called upon from the Real Salt Lake bench.
Molino and Ranjitsingh will end round-robin play versus Colorado Rapids, on Wednesday (July 22) while Real Salt Lake who blanked Colorado Rapids 2-0 in their opener faces Sporting Kansas City who battled past the Rapids, 3-2 in Friday's other match. (NS)