A Final Playoff Warmup, Portland And Vancouver Battle to a 2-2 Draw
The final regular season match up between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps as Division-2 league franchises ended in a highly competitive and exciting 2-2 draw. The Timbers (13-7-10, 49 pts) and the Whitecaps (10-5-15, 45 pts) finish their final regular seasons in 4th place and 5th place respectively in the overall league table, and will now meet in the first round of the playoffs. With all the drama of a big-time UFC Championship bout, both teams threw their best shots in what was a physical and good-spirited soccer match.
With a long history between these Northwest rivals and fan-bases for both franchises at a fever pitch before their MLS promotion in 2011, the atmosphere at Swangard Stadium was intense and energetic. Supporters from both sides volleyed songs back and forth across the field throughout the match. Not only was Saturday’s fight a taste of the upcoming playoffs, but it also served as an early preview of the excitement that this rivalry will bring to the MLS in the years to come.
Both teams came out swinging right from the opening whistle, but the Whitecaps would land the first big blow. Although Portland controlled possession early, Vancouver was able to find the more dangerous chances, earning 3 corners in the first 13 minutes of play and firing a handful of shots on frame. Then around the 22nd minute, Whitecap’s midfielder Martin Nash would flick a ball off a corner kick to a flying Terry Dunfield at the far post, knocking the ball into the back of the net for the game’s first goal. Vancouver would take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Timbers responded quickly to open the 2nd half. Only three minutes into action, in the 48th minute, a Vancouver give-away at midfield would allow Portland to press into the box, eventually leading to a loose ball picked up by midfielder Kalif Alhassan and a chipping shot into the top right corner to equalize the game at 1-1. The goal is Alhassan’s 2nd of the season.
Vancouver would continue to fight, resulting in a lot of fast paced, back-and-forth action coming from both sides. Truly, an exciting match filled with top-notch soccer.
In the 56th minute, the Timbers would take control of the fight. A scoring sequence set into motion when the Whitecaps would send a long ball into the Timber’s box, which was snatched out of the air aggressively by keeper Steve Cronin. Cronin would then quickly snap an outlet pass out to midfielder Ryan Pore into open space and the counter attack was on. Pore angled his way across the middle of the field and then sent a great through ball past the Whitecaps backline, finding forward Bright Dike entering the final third. Dike would stutter step around Caps keeper Jay Nolly in the box and calmly put the ball into the goal for the 2-1 lead.
The score is Dike’s 10th of the year and he is just the 9th Timber in the modern-franchise history to reach double figures in total goals for a season. Pore’s assist puts him three-points ahead of Austin’s Eddie Johnson in the scoring race and he has a one goal lead in Golden Boot chase as well.
Vancouver wouldn’t stay down for long. In the 68th minute, midfielder Kyle Porter would offer up a beautiful bending cross into the box finding a group of Whitecap players on the far post. Forward Cody Arnoux would end up finding the ball with his head, leaping into the crowd, for the score.
With the game knotted at 2-2, neither team was ready to pull any punches. The fact that substitutions were made liberally on both sides didn’t lessen the high intensity and heartfelt rivalry that was playing out in front of a sold out Swangard Stadium. Players continued to show their determination and as the game entered its final moments you could feel the desperation coming from both ends.
In the 90th minute, Martin Nash blasting a long shot from well over 30 yards out, causing keeper Steve Cronin to leap into the air, stretching his arm out to make the jabbing save. Portland would create a frenzied chance later in stoppage time, as forward Doug DeMartin receiving a ball deep in the left box, amid a crowd of players, he would quickly make a move and then roll a shot past the crowd and keeper Jay Nolly, but unfortunately, it was well wide of the corner post.
Streaking Towards a Rematch
The Timbers close the regular season on a 10 match unbeaten streak, and with the draw finish unbeaten against the Whitecaps with a record of 2-0-2 this year. It seems fate has pitted these two rivals against one another in the postseason, as the next rematch of this fight will begin with Game One of the two-game, aggregate-goal series playoff to take place at Swangard Stadium sometime later this week (likely 1st round match-ups to start on Wednesday or Thursday).
However, some early gamesmanship has already been employed. The Timbers seemed to play most of Saturday’s game in a 4-4-2 formation and changed up the playing rotation as well, allowing time for younger players such as Alex Nimo, Kalif Alhassan, and Doug DeMartin. A crafty coaching maneuver by Coach Gavin Wilkinson to keep Vancouver guessing and on their toes entering into their postseason showdown. Both teams got a peak of what’s to come and both coaches made their share of substitutions in preparation for the playoffs, where the stakes will certainly be higher.
“It’s going to be a tough fight.” says Dike. “It’s one mistake, or one nice play or thought, one extra effort can win or lose you the game.”
“We made the playoffs, but so did seven other teams.” says captain Ian Joy. “We haven’t done anything yet, it’s what we do from here that really matters.”
Still, Saturday’s last regular season match-up between these two rivals was a fitting culmination after ten years of solid division-2 league competition. A world class atmosphere and an inspired, fiercely contested match, the teams combined for 28 fouls total and players were more than willing to lay it on the line, leading to numerous stoppages from collisions and hard tackles. Although, Vancouver dominated statistically, outshooting Portland 13-7 and taking more corner kicks 11-4, both sides had their fair amount of chances and gave as good as they got for the full 90 minutes.
Perhaps, the final play of the game best showed the sacrifice and the heartfelt fight that’s existed between these two clubs.
Pore is fouled hard on a jump ball a few yards outside the box. As Portland sets up for a the free kick, players jostle and elbow for position forming a wall in front of midfielder Rodrigo Lopez. Lopez fires a shot at the goal, but it’s successfully blocked by the human barricade, ricocheting off the face of defender Mouloud Akloul, who is knocked to the ground, but has stopped the potential game winning goal for his team.
Literally, taking it right on the chin.
* Photo credit Vancouver Sun
Related posts:
Posted by Kevin
Leave your response!