Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

In the third game of a four-match home stand, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7W-3L-8D) suffered their first home defeat of the season after falling 2-1 to Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers (7W-5L-5D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Thursday evening.

Despite taking the lead through a Nizar Khalfan goal early in the second half, the Timbers went on to claim their first win in Vancouver since May 23, 2004, with two late goals. Ryan Pore equalized from the penalty spot after Whitecaps centre back Greg Janicki was sent off for a professional foul in the Vancouver box before Mamadou Danso's first goal of the season gave Portland an important away win at Swangard Stadium. Victory by the Oregon-based outfit also ended the Whitecaps unbeaten run in the league at nine matches.

Portland's win on Thursday not only extended their unbeaten run in USSF D-2 to five matches (4W-0L-1D), it also confirmed their successful defence of the fan-based Cascadia Cup, which was contested between Whitecaps FC and the Timbers for a second straight season in 2010. With two wins and a draw from their three regular season encounters so far, Portland will keep possession of the trophy when both clubs join fellow Cascadia Cup rivals Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer next season.

In keeping with the many derby encounters between Vancouver and Portland, the first half did not disappoint the sold-out crowd of 5,387 on a pleasant summer's evening on the Lower Mainland. Plenty of action was seen at both ends in what was a lively first 45 minutes of action, with the Whitecaps showing some fluid passing in the attacking third, while the speed of strikers Khalfan and Cornelius Stewart posed a particular problem for the Timbers backline on the counter-attack.

There were early opportunities for both clubs, with Philippe Davies striking a shot wide of the target on two minutes, while at the other end, Timbers striker George Josten got around Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly in the Vancouver box, but his shot towards goal was easily cleared away by Wes Knight three minutes later.

The 'Caps pressure was reflected in the six corners they claimed before the break, but Portland showed they also had some bite when they ventured forward. On 26 minutes, Josten hit the underside of the Whitecaps crossbar from Alex Nimo's corner, but match referee Michael Edmunds called the play down for a Portland foul in the Vancouver box. Three minutes later, Josten had an even better chance to break the deadlock, but his first-time strike following a Timbers free kick went wide of the target.

An interesting opening half concluded with two decent chances from the home side. On 37 minutes, Janicki headed captain Martin Nash's free kick from the left wide of goal, while four minutes later, central midfielder Luca Bellisomo put Davies' corner from the right over the Portland crossbar.

It meant both sides went to the halftime break tied at 0-0.

Where there was a level of intrigue to the first half, the game's entertainment level grew in the second half, with the Whitecaps restarting action with a well-taken goal from Khalfan.

On 51 minutes, Davies did well to chase a ball down the right flank before hitting a first-time cross into the Portland box. With the visitors' seemingly slow to react, a streaking Khalfan raced to the near post and struck a first-time shot that eluded Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin and found the back of the net. It was Tanzanian international's second goal of the season, and the first-ever men's team point for youngster Davies, who claimed the assist. The goal also set Portland's record mark of consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at 481.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson was full of praise for the efforts of Khalfan and strike partner Stewart on Thursday. "I think Nizar was the best player on the pitch tonight," he said to reporters after the match. "I thought he was extremely good at creating chances constantly, while Cornelius is a good alternative beside Nizar in our attack. They help each other out, and they are getting better and better all the time."

The opportunism that brought Vancouver's goal brought smiles to the home crowd, but Portland soon turned the tide in their favour. Shortly after replacing Tony McManus in midfield, Rodrigo Lopez's through ball for Pore allowed the Timbers attacker to get a step on his marker Janicki, with the 'Caps defender bringing down Pore in the Vancouver box for a penalty on 65 minutes. Not only did referee Edmunds give the spot kick, he adjudged that Janicki had committed a professional foul and sent him off. A minute later, Pore stepped up to beat a diving Nolly with his spot kick and level matters at 1-1.

Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, Janicki's red card changed the course of the match. On 72 minutes, Portland took advantage of some poor Vancouver defending to claim the match winner. Nimo's free kick into the Whitecaps box was misplayed, and following a frantic scramble, the ball fell kindly for Danso. The big Gambian defender struck his shot into the roof of the Whitecaps goal to make it 2-1 to the Timbers.

It was a bitterly disappointing turn of events for the home side, and their mood was not improved when Cronin made a match-winning save to deny Khalfan his second goal of the game on 78 minutes. Nash's free kick into the Timbers box saw defender Nelson Akwari nod the ball into the path of the East African forward, but his half-volleyed effort was brilliantly stopped by a diving Cronin before Portland striker Bright Dike was able to clear the danger.

It proved the best chance for the Whitecaps to draw level, and as the match entered four minutes of time added on, the contest took a bit of an ugly turn following a late tackle by Dike on Vancouver substitute Takashi Hirano. Though Dike was booked by referee Edmunds, Thordarson was clearly upset that the Portland striker's challenge was not punished more severely.


It was a sour end to a disappointing night for the Whitecaps, as their impressive unbeaten run at home was abruptly ended by one of their closest rivals.

Following the match, Thordarson admitted the red card to Janicki changed the tone of the contest. "We had a little period after their penalty where we seemed a bit irritated and lost focus a little bit," he said to reporters. "I feel that was the only negative thing from our side, as we played quite well tonight."

Vancouver will have little time to ponder Thursday's defeat, as they prepare to host NSC Minnesota Stars at Swangard on Sunday night. Portland, meanwhile, travel to Missouri to face Athletic Club of St. Louis next Wednesday evening.

Scoring Summary:
51' - VAN - Nizar Khalfan (Philippe Davies)
66' - POR - Ryan Pore
72' - POR - Mamadou Danso

Match Stats:
Shots: Portland 10 - Vancouver 10
Saves: Portland 2 - Vancouver 4
Fouls: Portland 16 - Vancouver 18
Offsides: Portland 2 - Vancouver 6
Corners: Portland 4 - Vancouver 9

Cautions:
15' - VAN - Philippe Davies
36' - POR - Steve Cronin
42' - POR - Ian Joy
90' + - POR - Bright Dike

Ejections:
65' - VAN - Greg Janicki

Portland Timbers
0.Steve Cronin; 15.Ian Joy (5.Quavas Kirk 80'), 20.Ross Smith (13.Stephen Keel 33'), 98.Mamadou Danso, 25.Steve Purdy; 23.Ryan Pore, 2.Derek Gaudet (30.Takayuki Suzuki 67'), 12.Tony McManus (14.James Marcelin 57'), 16.Alex Nimo; 19.George Josten (8.Rodrigo Lopez 57'), 27.Bright Dike

Subs not used: 1.Matt Pyzdrowski, 10.Mandjou Keita

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 77.Zurab Tsiskaridze (22.Takashi Hirano 90'), 2.Nelson Akwari, 14.Greg Janicki, 8.Wes Knight; 23.Blake Wagner (13.Alex Elliott 72'), 3.Luca Bellisomo, 7.Martin Nash, 15.Philippe Davies (20.Ethan Gage 70'); 29.Nizar Khalfan, 39.Cornelius Stewart (19.Justin Moose 79')

Subs not used: 31.Simon Thomas, 4.Chris Williams, 26.Alex Semenets