By BOB MACKIN
- THE BUZZ: The Vancouver Whitecaps continue the quest to repeat as United Soccer Leagues' First Division champions when they host the Portland Timbers tonight to begin a two-game semifinal series.
- MOVIN' ON UP: Portland was the first USL-1 squad to go from worst to first in a year. The two-game, total goals series kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in Swangard Stadium (USLlive.com) and shifts to PGE Park in Oregon at 4 p.m. Sunday (Fox Sports World Canada).
- ZERO WASTE: Caps' captain Martin Nash had the 1-0 winner on April 25 against the visiting Timbers. But the Caps lost 2-0 on May 30 and 1-0 on Aug. 16 on the road.
- DERAILED: The Whitecaps needed only rookie Randy Edwini-Bonsu's first career goal in Thursday's playoff opener to upend the Carolina RailHawks. Caps' goalkeeper Jay Nolly stopped a penalty kick to preserve the scoreless tie and eliminate Carolina on Sunday.
- OFFENCE: The teams boast USL-1's top two goalscorers. Cap Charles Gbeke netted a dozen in 28 games for the league title. Guinean Mandjou Keita notched 11 in 29.
- THOR THOUGHT: "They've been tight, tough and hard," said Whitecaps' head coach Teitur Thordarson of previous Timbers' tiffs. "I'm expecting the same (tonight). We cannot afford to make too many mistakes."
- BIG PRIZE: The Montreal Impact and Puerto Rico Islanders square-off in the other semifinal. The series' winners meet Oct. 10 and 17 in a home-and-home final. The 2008 Caps were the last one-game, winner-take-all champ.
