While most MLS defenders are learning on the fly how they might contain Jordan Morris, Brandon Vincent had a three-year crash course on the subject.
Teammates and 2015 NCAA College Cup national champions at Stanford University, Vincent and Morris are likely to go head-to-head for the first time as professionals Wednesday night when Vincent’s Chicago Fire visit Morris’ Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field (9:30 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago).
“It’s exciting, I know he’s been having a great year so far,” Vincent said of Morris, “so it will be good to be on the same field as him again, this time wearing different jerseys.”
Even after wrapping up their Stanford careers in December, the two were teammates once again in February when Vincent debuted with the U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Canada. Since then, the Fire defender has appeared in 21 MLS matches with 19 starts while grabbing an MLS All-Star nod, while the Sounders’ Homegrown striker has hit his stride of late and boasts 12 total goals, second-most by a rookie in MLS history and most by an American-born debutant.
So how much time did Vincent spend marking the dynamic Morris during training sessions back on “The Farm?”
“I tried not to do it too much,” Vincent joked, “because I knew what he was capable of. But he played in the middle a lot more so luckily I didn’t have to go against him all the time.”
If Morris’ go-ahead goal in LA Sunday afternoon was any indication, the Chicago Fire left back is sure to encounter his former teammate at some point Wednesday night in Seattle. And outside of the 90 minutes of competition, the two can catch up and reflect on an eventful last 12 months.
“A little bit, here and there,” Vincent said of how regularly they’ve been in touch. “We’re both busy, he’s busy with all his stuff here in Seattle, but we talked a little bit before and we’re excited to play against each other.”
