SANDY, UT – The Timbers stumbled out of the gate Sunday evening, falling to the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 in their MLS opener. In the latest edition of the Portland/Vancouver Cascadia rivalry, the match was played in the unlikely battleground of Rio Tinto Stadium, home of the Whitecaps through at least June. Due to league Covid restrictions, all three Canadian MLS teams have temporary homes inside the US to begin league play.
For the Timbers, it was a disappointing result following their 5-0 thrashing of C.D. Marathón at Providence Park Tuesday evening in CONCACAF Champions League play. Tuesday’s match saw the Timbers’ first team clicking in the final third and in hindsight, raises the question of whether or not it was the right move to keep ageless-but-not-quite-immortal stars like Diego Valeri on the field for as long as they were.
The Timbers had a few excellent goal scoring opportunities in the first half, including a Dairon Asprilla bicycle kick attempt in front of goal late in first half stoppage time. Asprilla’s shot went over the crossbar and like so many other attempts on the evening, the effort was there for Portland, but the timing and positioning were out of sync.
The Whitecaps’ lone goal of the match came in the 49th minute after an unmarked Lucas Cavallini thumped in an easy header off a Whitecaps corner kick.
The Timbers’ struggles continued after goalkeeper Steve Clark was subbed out due to injury in the 78th minute. Clark collided with a Whitecaps player going for a 50/50 ball inside the box earlier in the match and could not shake off what appeared to be a of lower body injury.
Shortly after backup keeper Jeff Attinella entered the match, it appeared Andy Rose had doubled the Whitecaps’ lead, but a VAR review concluded he was offside, and the one-goal Vancouver lead remained.
Portland’s last, best chance came right at the end of the second half as forward Felipe Mora appeared in on goal on a breakaway, but had his chance snuffed out by Vancouver keeper Maxime Crépeau.
Next up, the Timbers take aim at the Houston Dynamo in Portland on Saturday evening. The Timbers will have an extra boost at home with the limited, but never timid Timbers Army behind them.
