The Portland Timbers started on the right foot in their Cascadia rivalry with a huge win over the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place, as well snapping a three-game winless streak.
With a not-so-exciting first half, both teams weren’t showing anything until the 40th minute when Marvin Loria was sandwiched by Cristian Dajome and Russell Teibert inside the area.
Despite the game official going to VAR in the end, he awarded the penalty kick in favor of the Timbers.
Dairon Aspirilla took the kick on the spot, he scored the opening goal for the Timbers taking the lead into halftime as the Colombian scoring his second goal of the season.
In the second half, Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese made some amazing moves that in the end paid off when he brought in Sebastian Blanco for Marvin Loria and Santiago Moreno for Dairon Aspirilla.
The second half was in favor of the visiting Timbers. In the 60th minute, a combination of Yimmi Chara and Sebastian Blanco found Jaroslaw Niezgoda on the left side, taking Caps defender Florian Jungwirth with a beautifully executed goal.
Still, the game wasn’t over for the home side when Deiber Caicedo turned inside the area and found a wide-open Cristian Dajome to cut the Timbers’ lead to one goal in the 76th minute.
However, the game wasn’t over for the Portland Boys when Yimmi Chara inside the area made the most of his opportunity and scored what became the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute to give the Timbers a 3-1 lead.
In the closing minutes, it’s when the Caps started getting momentum and generating more dangerous plays when Claudio Bravo with a couple of late fouls inside the area opened the doors for the locals.
A penalty was awarded in favor of the Caps in the 87th minute, but Cristian Dajome was denied by Aljaz Ivacic. Tonight was a stellar performance for the Timbers keeper with five saves and denying a penalty.
In the end, with Ryan Gauld converted for the locals in the 93rd minute and the Timbers managed to survive the Caps’ late rally to earn a valuable win on the road for the Rose City side.
Goals
Dairon Aspirilla 42’ PK POR, Jaroslaw Niezgoda 60’ POR, Cristian Dają 73′ VAN, Yimmi Chara 78′ POR, Gauld 90+6′ VAN
Men of the Match
Aljaz Ivacic, Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Sebastian Blanco
(Editor’s Note: Gerrit te Hennepe is our man with the photos in the Vancouver and you can view his photos from the match by clicking the link.)
Portland Timbers
