Vancouver Whitecaps bounced back from Friday's home defeat to the Seattle Sounders with a 1-0 win away to the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
Vicente Arze's first-ever goal for the club on the hour mark was the difference at PGE Park, as the Whitecaps claimed their first win in Portland since July 2, 2004. The Bolivian winger got on the end of a forward ball before lobbing it past onrushing Timbers goalkeeper Ray Burse for the game's winning strike.
It was a well-deserved result from Teitur Thordarson's side, who looked far better with their passing and high-pressure play on Saturday than the 2-0 defeat to Seattle at Swangard the night before. The result was Vancouver's fifth shut out of the current USL-1 season, with Jay Nolly getting a clean sheet in his first-ever competitive start for the Whitecaps. Both Arze and fellow winger Justin Moose looked dangerous for the 'Caps on Saturday, as Vancouver had more of the quality chances in the game. In fact, substitute Alfredo Valente was unlucky not to score a second Whitecaps goal in the dying stages after hitting the post with a low shot.
The result also ended Portland's unbeaten streak at seven games to start the season, as well as halt a 20-game unbeaten run for the Timbers at PGE Park that stretches back to the start of last season.
The Whitecaps will remain on the road this coming week, with Thordarson's side visiting league leaders Charleston Battery on Wednesday, May 28, before heading to Minnesota for a rematch with the Thunder next Saturday, May 31.
