Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps: Recap & Reaction

A point on the road is better than no point at all

BC Place — The Portland Timbers responded to an early goal from the Vancouver Whitecaps, earning a 1-1 Cascadia Cup draw on the road in BC place to inch closer to their first playoff appearance since 2021.

Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers

Prior to kickoff the Timbers’ playoff hopes received a major boost from two other results across MLS, with Orlando City winning 3-1 in Dallas and Real Salt Lake withstanding a late comeback from Austin FC to hold on to a 2-2 draw, meaning the Timbers could clinch their first playoff berth since 2021 with a win against the Whitecaps.

A win would also put Portland ahead of Vancouver in the Cascadia Cup standings, and in control of their own destiny in that respect heading into their Decision Day match in Seattle on Oct. 19.

The Timbers would have to do so without MVP candidate Evander after the Brazilian picked up a yellow card in his two goal, one assist performance against RSL that earned him an accumulation suspension. Mason Toye and David Ayala were both ruled out pre-match with “back” and “lower body” injuries, respectively.

Image Credit: Portland Timbers

The Whitecaps, on short rest having won the Canadian Championship on penalties Wednesday night, were also without their star player Ryan Gauld.

Despite the incentives on the line, the Timbers opted to start the match in their typical road fashion: conceding the opening goal in the 3’ through Vancouver’s leading scorer Brian White. With Gauld out White was the clear danger man for the Timbers to deal with, and they dealt with him by leaving him wide open inside the penalty area to score the easiest goal he’ll have all season.

Fafa Picault had an opportunity to double the host’s lead in the 6’ after another sloppy defensive sequence from the Timbers, and Kamal Miller earned a yellow card (wrongly I might add, he won the ball cleanly) to put the cherry on top of a truly terrible opening 10 minutes of play.

Things looked pretty bleak at that point, but to give credit where it’s due, Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers responded excellently to their putrid start to the match.

Juan Mosquera got the Timbers’ first shot on-target in the 24’ with a left-footed strike from distance that was calmly collected by Yohei Takaoka — who became increasingly busy as the half went on. Santi Moreno drew a flying stop out of Takaoka from a long-range free-kick in the 29’, and reacted well to tip a header from Mora over the bar moments later.

Jonathan Rodriguez thought he had Portland’s equalizer in the 42’ after Moreno picked him out with a delicious deep cross from the right wing, but strayed just a hair offside in the process. But Jona wouldn’t be kept off the scoresheet much longer, thumping a deflected strike past Takaoka two minutes later to give the Timbers a late first-half equalizer — his 16th debut-season goal, assisted by Moreno.

Halftime: Vancouver 1 -1 Portland

Halftime stats

There were no changes for either side at halftime, nor were there any changes to the run of play, with the Timbers coming out of the locker room playing in the same manner they ended the half. Mosquera sent an excellent cross to the back post in the 49’ that Moreno headed over the bar with Rodriguez standing directly behind him, who was probably in the better position to score.

Dario Zuparic malfunctioned in the 52’, completely mistiming a clearance after Takaoka sent a route-one ball up to Brian White. Through on goal, White struck the post 1v1 with Max Crepeau to spare Zuparic’s blushes.

Seven minutes later the Timbers would hit the woodwork at the other end after Rodriguez dug out a left-footed cross to Felipe Mora in the box, which the Chilean striker sent off the post with Takaoka rooted to his line.

The last 30 minutes of the match was a lot like the tale of the Big Bad Wolf: The Timbers huffed, they puffed, but couldn’t blow their house in the middle of BC down despite controlling the majority of play. Moreno and Mosquera provided a constant threat for Portland going forward, but the team were never able to find the breakthrough despite 13 total shots and eight corners in the match.

Phil Neville was able to give minutes to Claudio Bravo, Tega Ikoba, Eryk Williamson, and Marvin Loria in the second half, but none of the substitutes were able to impact the match in an attacking sense.

Andres Cubas struck the post from distance in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, but in the end the Timbers were able to hang on to secure a point on the road.

Full Time: Vancouver 1 - 1 Portland

Goals — POR: Rodriguez (44’) // VAN: White (3’)

Up Next: After three road matches in their last four matches the Timbers return to Providence Park for a midweek test against Austin FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Reaction

Once again, the Timbers continue to shoot themselves in the foot defensively. The goal they conceded to Brian White is unacceptable for a team sitting 9th in the West in their 31 match of the season, trying to make the playoffs. But at this point, the defending is what it is. It’s not going to get better magically with three games remaining. So the Timbers will have to rely, as they have done all year, on their forwards to earn them results if they want to make a late-season run.

Rodriguez delivered tonight, and Mora nearly did too on a night the team was without their best player. You take that in a rivalry game. It’s disappointing to not gain ground in the MLS and Cascadia Cup standings, but I thought the way the team responded to the early goal was impressive, and something to take back to Providence Park with them in four days time.

That game won’t be easy, but a win against Austin FC would end their season, as well as FC Dallas’. One thing is for certain: It won’t be boring. Onward.