Portland Timbers 1- Vancouver Whitecaps 2
The Vancouver Whitecaps came ready to play ball. With two goals in the first half that caught the Portland defense by total surprise. The scores from Kei Kamara in the 14th minute and later Cristian Techera in the 43rd minute were enough to seal the deal for the visitors. Still the Portland squad got a break when in the 40th minute when Diego Valeri fouled inside the area by Caps defender Kendall Waston. As Jair Marrufo the game official did not hesitated to award the penalty in favor of Portland.
The opportunity came for the local Timbers to even the match but Diego shoot went to wide to the left of Stefan Marinovic. After the Vancouver goalkeeper was already beaten, the shoot missed its target and the visitors got a big break.
For tonight’s match manager Giovanni Savarese sent an offensive minded 4-4-3 formation. The idea was to destabilize the visitor’s backfield and looking to deliver a goal fest against the Caps. Not today as these Vancouver Whitecaps came looking and deliver an upset.
Cutting Portland streak in fifteen games without losing since April 8 and spoiling too their perfect record at home. Another minus in the Timbers performance were the number of shots at goal missed in both halves. As I give credit to Super Marino and the visitors defensive game steeping out to stop the locals big guns cold.
With stats not lying, the Portland Timbers had a total of 26 shoots, eight on target and eleven of target. Not even Dairon Aspirilla, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco, Samuel Armenteros, Alvas Powell and Diego Chara efforts were enough to define a play on goal.
This time the Portland defense had its hands full, despite Jeff Attinella efforts under the Portland posts. However, Vancouver had the chance to deliver mayhem and a goal rout too. Ask that to a determined group of individuals and teamwork displayed all evening long by the visiting team.
Still nothing is lost and tonight’s loss is not the end of the world for the Rose City squad. With a couple of away games against DC United in Audi Field in DC and SKC at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City. A two game road trip considered tough for the Portland squad with DC playing good ball and SKC being always a tough foe.
The arrival of Villafaña could not come at a better time to uplift the Timbers defensive game in need of a revival and much needed leadership.
Goals
Kei Kamara 14’VAN, Cristian Techera 43’ VAN, Diego Valeri PTFC 71’
Highlight
Jeff Attinella is becoming solid under the arches of the Portland goalposts. With three spectacular game saves, this man defense is his top referential. The other highlight of the Portland Timbers was defender Alvas Powell. The Reggae Boy time after time was one consistent thorn in the Vancouver defensive backfield with multiple plays that unfortunately did not deliver. In my opinion Powell is playing one hell of an MVP level campaign.
Next match
Portland Timbers (10-4-7, 37 points) vs DC United (4-9-6, 18 points) at newly opened Audi Field in Washington, DC 5:00 PM PST/ 8:00 PM EST
