Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC fell to a 1-0 defeat at Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers on Thursday evening.

A first-half strike by Ryan Pore took the Oregon-based outfit into a tie for first place in the USL First Division standings with a record of 10W-1L-9D. The victory also extended their remarkable single-season unbeaten run in the league to 19 matches and confirmed the Timbers as first-time winners of the fan-based Cascadia Cup competition after winning two of their three regular season contests versus Vancouver.

It was another disappointing evening for the Blue and White in The City of Roses, with the 'Caps seeing their three-match unbeaten run come to an end with Thursday's loss. Vancouver's record falls to 7W-8L-4D and they remain in sixth place in the USL-1 standings.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made six changes to the side that started last Saturday's goalless draw at Cleveland City Stars. Two of those changes in the backline, with Wes Knight and the returning Chris Pozniak coming in for Luca Bellisomo and Takashi Hirano. The two changes in midfield saw a first-ever men's team start for youngster Philippe Davies and the return of Gordon Chin, as the pair replaced Vicente Arze and Kenold Versailles. Thordarson's attack pairing also changed, as Marcus Haber and Marlon James returned in place of Charles Gbeke and Dever Orgill.

Timbers head coach Gavin Wilkinson, meanwhile, made three changes to the side that started last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Minnesota Thunder. In the backline, Takuro Nishimura replaced Scot Thompson, while fellow Japanese player Takayuki Suzuki replaced Keith Savage in midfield. With Ryan Pore supporting Mandjou Keita in attack, Tony McManus returned from suspension to also play in Portland's midfield, with forward George Josten making way.

In front of a vocal Timbers crowd of 10,783 at Portland's PGE Park, the first half saw the home side take control of the contest, as they created the majority of chances. On six minutes, Pore squandered a decent opportunity after mis-hitting a close-range strike from David Hayes' cross from the right. At the other end four minutes later, youngster Davies tried his luck from a Haber lay-off, but his effort flew wide of goal.

Having been in a rich vein of form in front of goal, James then just missed the target with a strike from the edge of the Timbers box after getting the better of Portland defender Cameron Knowles on 16 minutes.

Chances were then traded at both ends, with Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly stopping a Suzuki shot on 20 minutes before his Timbers counterpart Steve Cronin was able to deny a Pozniak header from captain Martin Nash's corner two minutes later.

Despite being named USL-1 Player of the Week on Tuesday, Tyrell Burgess found the book of match referee Landis Wiley after fouling Suzuki near the edge of the Whitecaps box. Hayes then struck the ensuing free kick right at Nolly on 27 minutes.

Portland, however, looked strong going forward, and on the half-hour mark, the Timbers scored the match winner on the counter-attack. After cleverly dispossessing Nash in the Portland half, McManus took the ball and found fellow midfielder Johan Claesson. The Swede then played a through ball to Pore, who easily turned Pozniak and broke in on the Vancouver goal with fellow striker Keita. Pore then beat Nolly with a low shot that deflected off the back-tracking Knight to give the Timbers the lead.

The Timbers were in the ascendancy at this stage, with Nolly saving efforts from Portland's two Japanese imports in Nishimura on 33 minutes and Suzuki six minutes later.

Not letting the one-goal deficit get them down, the Whitecaps created the final two chances of the half through Haber. On 42 minutes, the young striker headed Nash's cross wide of goal before the Canadian youth international forced a good save from Cronin in the one minute of time added on.

As a result, the Timbers took a one-goal lead into the halftime break.

Looking to get right back into the derby contest, James had the first chance of the second half for the visitors. On 49 minutes, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international took a fine forward ball from Nash before cracking a superb shot on target that Cronin did well to knock away for a Vancouver corner.

At the other end on 58 minutes, Brian Farber was unlucky not to extend Portland's lead after striking the post with a tight-angle shot. The Timbers midfielder eluded the attentions of Mason Trafford and beat Nolly with his effort, but could only find the woodwork. Moments later, Pore found Keita with a fine through ball, but the Guinean striker saw his goal-bound strike well saved by the onrushing Nolly.

Then the 'Caps had a glorious chance to equalize on 63 minutes following a corner. Nash struck the ball back into the box, where James was in prime position to finish. However, Cronin was on hand again to deny the Caribbean hit-man.

As the match reached the midway point of the half, Gbeke was introduced to the match for Haber. Moments later, James headed substitute Vicente Arze's cross wide of the target.

Despite creating some good chances in the match, James then made way for youngster Randy Edwini-Bonsu on 81 minutes, as the Whitecaps used up all five of their substitutions in a bid to turn the match around.

Yet, for all their changes and two minutes of time added on, the Whitecaps were unable to find a valuable equalizer on the road, as Portland maintained their undefeated home record with Thursday's win.


A downcast Thordarson lamented another match in which his side were again unable to find the back of the net. "It's a very disappointing result because I felt we deserved a point from this match tonight," he told whitecapsfc.com. "I thought we played well enough in the first half, but that we didn't create enough goalscoring chances. We were better in the second half with the opportunities we created, but the risks we took in pushing forward allowed Portland to have more opportunities themselves. They are a very good team and have shown that to everyone in the league this season."

The Whitecaps will have little time to ponder the defeat in The City of Roses, as they will quickly return home and prepare to host the high-flying Charleston Battery at Swangard Stadium on Friday evening. The Battery will also be Portland's next opponent, as the South Carolina club will visit PGE Park on Saturday.

The Icelandic tactician is hoping Whitecaps fans can help his team cap a difficult part of their schedule by cheering them on against the Battery on Friday. "We'll probably have to play Charleston with the same group of players we had on this trip to Portland because we're not sure if the players that missed this game are available for tomorrow night," he revealed. "It will be the fourth match in a week and against a very difficult opponent, so I'm hoping our fantastic supporters will be able to help us by giving our team the boost it needs to go out and get a result. I'm hoping we will all see another large crowd at Swangard on Friday."

Scoring Summary:
30' - POR – Ryan Pore (Johan Claesson)

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 14 - Portland 16
Saves: Vancouver 7 - Portland 6
Fouls: Vancouver 14 - Portland 9
Offsides: Vancouver 3 - Portland 4
Corners: Vancouver 6 - Portland 3

Cautions:
25' – VAN – Tyrell Burgess
43' – POR – Tony McManus
60’ – VAN – Chris Pozniak
75’ – POR – Alex Nimo

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 8.Wes Knight, 2.Marco Reda, 6.Chris Pozniak, 18.Mason Trafford; 15.Philippe Davies (23.Vicente Arze 57’), 7.Martin Nash (20.Ethan Gage 73’), 28.Gordon Chin, 25.Tyrell Burgess (3.Luca Bellisomo 64’); 9.Marlon James (17.Randy Edwini-Bonsu 81’), 14.Marcus Haber (98.Charles Gbeke 70’)

Subs not used: 99.Diego, 22.Takashi Hirano

Portland Timbers
0.Steve Cronin; 5.David Hayes, 6.Cameron Knowles, 16.Stephen Keel, 20.Takuro Nishimura (22.Keith Savage 82’); 4.Brian Farber (17.Scot Thompson 63’), 11.Johan Claesson, 12.Tony McManus, 30.Takayuki Suzuki (18.Alex Nimo 73’); 10.Mandjou Keita (Kevin Forrest 89’), 23.Ryan Pore

Subs not used: 24.Brian Visser, 19.George Josten, 98.Mamadou Danso