VANCOUVER, B.C - First place in the Western Conference came down to MLS Decision Day, with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers FC in a fight for first. Vancouver needed a win or a draw to lock up first, but it wasn't to be. Darren Mattocks came back to haunt his former club as he scored the match-winner in a 2-1 win for Portland in front of a crowd of 21,144 at Providence Park.
"I'm as disappointed as anyone because we've fallen a little bit short over the course of 34 games," said Coach Carl Robinson. "We knew it was going to be difficult. We let little details go away. We have to accept that and we move on."
Timbers FC leapfrogged Vancouver and claimed top spot in the west. Thanks to a 2-0 Seattle Sounders FC win over Colorado, and Whitecaps FC loss. The Caps fell to third spot in the conference. Despite holding first spot in the west for the much of the second half of the season, it wasn't enough to secure a playoff bye to the conference semi-finals.
Vancouver finishes the season with a 15-12-7 (52 points) record. They will host the San Jose Earthquakes in a knock-out wild-card playoff match this Wednesday or Thursday at B.C. Place Stadium. The winner will take on Seattle Sounders FC in a two-leg conference semi-final. The first leg will take place in either Vancouver or San Jose.
The Opening 45
As expected it was a physical start by the Cascadia rivals, but it was Vancouver looking to set the tone with some physical play. The visitors sat back in the earlier stages knowing full well that a win or draw would lock up first.
Coming into the match Carl Robinson had stated that he wanted his team to score early, so Portland would have to score twice to beat his team. The Welsh gaffer got his wish with a brilliant set piece goal that put Vancouver ahead 1-0 in the 29' minute.
Yordy Reyna delivered a free kick into the Timbers box, and an unmarked Kendall Waston was there so smash home a header past keeper, Jeff Attinella. The skipper scored his 4th goal of the season.
The lead was short-lived as Portland quickly equalized in the 32' minute. Off a corner kick, Darlington Nagbe sent a ball into the Vancouver box. Stefan Marinovic was unable to completely control the effort on target, and he spilled the rebound. Liam Ridgewell got around left-back, Jordan Harvey and he deposited the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
It was a fast paced, back and forth opening forty-five. The Caps opened the scoring, but Portland was there to answer. Vancouver remained in the driver's seat as the home side needed an outright win. Portland held a 62% - 38% first half possession advantage.
The Second Half
Caleb Porter's Timbers weren't playing around, they wanted to take first place from Vancouver, and they came out to start the second half with a quick goal.
Nagbe made a run and had the Caps defenders scrambling. Sebastian Blanco found Lithuanian full-back, Vytas open on the far side of the Vancouver box. Marinovic came out to challenge, and Vytas played the ball in front of goal to Darren Mattocks. The former Whitecaps FC man buried the ball past a pair of falling Caps on the goal-line.
Portland turned the table on Vancouver and forced the visitors to come after them for an equalizer. Carl Robinson brought on leading goal-scorer, Fredy Montero in the 56' minute. Montero picked up a knock on Thursday, and did not start. Christian Bolanos made way for Cristian Techera in the 67' minute, and after earning his first MLS start, Nosa Igiebor left the match with a knock in the 73'. Erik Hurtado was Vancouver's last substitute, as the Caps needed to score.
Vancouver had a tremendous opportunity to score the tying goal in the 85' minute. With the ball sent in, Waston was able to break free to head an effort on goal. Liam Ridgewell, with his back towards goal, cleared the ball out of danger to keep Portland ahead.
Portland wanted it more and they prevailed to claim first place, and earn a bye to the western conference semi-finals. Whitecaps FC will have to re-group quickly with a knockout wild-card match against the San Jose Earthquakes mid-week at B.C. Place.
Man of the Match
Darren Mattocks
Mattocks always left Vancouver fans wanting more. He never quite lived up to expectations in a Whitecaps FC kit. Portland FC fans have seen him grow, and haunt his former club. Mattocks scored both match-winners in a pair of 2-1 Timbers FC wins over Vancouver in Portland this season. Mattocks did what Vancouver wasn't able to do down the stretch. He scored a winning goal to help his team to first place.
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: Stefan Marinovic; Jordan Harvey, Tim Parker, Kendall Waston(C), Jake Nerwinski; Aly Ghazal, Nosa 73 (Erik Hurtado); Christian Bolanos, 67 (Cristian Techera); Yordy Reyna, Bernie Ibini, 56 (Fredy Montero); Brek Shea. 4-2-3-1
Portland Timbers Starting XI: Jeff Attinella; Alvas Powell, Larrys Mabiala, Liam Ridgewell, Vytas; David Guzman, Diego Chara; Sebastian Blanco, 84 (Darion Asprilla), Diego Valeri(C), 94+ (Lawrence Olum); Darlington Nagbe; Darren Mattocks, 87 (Jeremy Ebobisse)
|