Seattle Sounders stay top after Vancouver Whitecaps draw

Seattle Sounders stay two points clear at the top of the MLS Western Conference, but only after a late Gonzalo Pineda penalty earned them a point away to Vancouver Whitecaps.

The visitors had taken the lead on 36 minutes when Chad Barrett latched onto Kenny Cooper's pass before his effort beat keeper David Ousted.

However, the Sounders were soon pegged back after Pedro Morales found Erik Hurtado, who calmly netted for the Canadians.

Vancouver then took the lead in dramatic fashion when Seattle keeper Stefan Frei cleared the ball, but only found Gershon Koffie and the midfielder coolly chested the ball before volleying his effort into an empty net from 40 yards out.

The league leaders managed to recover when Pineda nonchalantly chipped his penalty kick past Ousted on 82 minutes, but they almost fell behind again moments later when Obafemi Martins saw his strike come back off the post.

In the end, the Sounders held on for a point to stay two clear of Real Salt Lake.