Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10W-5L-15D) open the 2010 USSF D-2 playoffs against Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers (13W-7L-10D) tonight at Swangard. Make sure to check out the match previews from both
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
and
Portland Timbers
, as well as the media reports previewing the series.
Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show - mid-week podcast - @FullTimeSoccer - @tylergreen1040
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@ProvinceWeber
Mike Martignago, Tyler Green and Marc Weber discuss the USSF D-2 First Round playoff series between Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers.
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.
The Vancouver Sun: Whitecaps' Wes Knight ready for intense playoffs
Timbers will test Vancouver’s back line
Wes Knight learned in the searing Carolina heat last year that nothing compares with the intensity of playoff soccer.
The Vancouver Whitecaps defender remembers watching veteran team captain Martin Nash take his game to a whole new level during a crucial first-round game against the Carolina RailHawks.
“He was slide tackling at the offensive end and then getting back into the play in our defensive end,” Knight said Monday. “That’s what I learned most about the playoffs last year — seeing the intensity that he brought because he really wanted to win. It really is contagious.”
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to read more.
The Vancouver Sun: Head games ignite playoff matchup
Caps downplay Timbers’ tricks as sides prepare for Thursday night showdown at Swangard
Let the gamesmanship begin.
The Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers should know each others’ systems inside out by now after meeting five times this season.
But Timbers’ head coach Gavin Wilkinson insists his squad might show something different when the teams begin a two-game, USSF D-2 Pro League playoff series this week.
“We may have a couple of things up our sleeve,” he said after the teams played to an entertaining 2-2 draw Saturday at Swangard Stadium. “We have a lot of different directions we can go in and a lot of different systems we can play.”
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to read more.
The Vancouver Sun: Caps take no-fear attitude into tilt against Timbers
Regular-season record suggests Portland's a playoff favourite, but Nolly nixes meaningless stats
When betting on team sports, recent form is everything.
Previous head-to-head match-ups and season-long stats are also important, but bettors really want to know how a team has played recently before laying their money down.
The Portland Timbers are unbeaten in their past 10 matches -- with six wins and four draws.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have two wins, six draws and two losses in their past 10 games and haven't beaten Portland all season -- posting two losses and two draws against their longtime Cascadia rivals.
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to read more.
Province: Five burning questions (The Playoff Edition) -
@ProvinceWeber
Can they find someone - anyone - who can score? Are they focused? Will they keep their cool against Portland? Marc Weber breaks it down
1 CAN THEY SCORE?
The biggest question facing this team heading into the playoffs is the most simple question.
A lack of finish quickly emerged as the theme of the Whitecaps' season and heading into the playoffs it's still front of mind.
No one stepped forward as a replacement for 2009 league scoring leader Charles Gbeke (released), Marlon James (injured, released) or 2009 rookie of the year Marcus Haber (sold to West Bromwich Albion).
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to read more.
Province: Porter plays with an undeniable grace -
@ProvinceWeber
Former Canadian under-20 star finally gets his shot with Caps and makes a big impact
Kyle Porter received some simple advice before making his Whitecaps debut 58 minutes into Saturday's home tie with Portland.
"I just wanted him to have a go at the fullback," said Caps head coach Teitur Thordarson. "I just said, 'Take your chance.'"
Porter did exactly that.
Ten minutes after coming on at right wing for Philippe Davies, Porter found some space on the right side and placed a perfect cross onto Cody Arnoux's head for the 2-2 goal.
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to read more.
Province: A closer look at the four first-round series -
@ProvinceWeber
Playoff predictions
No. 1 Rochester Rhinos (16-8-6) vs. No. 8 Puerto Rico Islanders (9-11-10)
Leg 1: at Puerto Rico, Thursday, 5 p.m. Leg 2: at Rochester, Saturday, 4 p.m.
The skinny: Two teams no one really wanted to play in the first round end up with each other. Fitting. With former Caps' boss Bob Lilley at the helm, the Rhinos are built for playoff success, which is to say they are responsible, tenacious, stingy and a tad dull. Their 24 goals allowed in 30 games this season was third behind Portland (23) and Vancouver (22), but much to everyone's surprise, they were the fourth-highest scoring team in the league. No one wanted to play the Islanders because, well, they play in Puerto Rico, which is far.
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to read more.
Province: Exuberant Dunfield gives Whitecaps lift heading to playoffs -
@ProvinceWeber
Sports celebrations seem to fall into two categories these days: creative or crass. Dance routines. Fake cheque signings. Both types require planning.
Terry Dunfield delivered something different against the Portland Timbers at Swangard Stadium on Saturday -- a moment of pure, unbridled, delightful idiocy.
Forget the Lambeau Leap. When the Whitecaps midfielder launched himself into the VIP section behind the north goal, it looked more like the Fosbury Flop.
It was a head-first-and-pray kind of thing. The safety mesh that stops balls from flying into the crowd thankfully served as his landing pad.
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to read more.
Province: Caps must be physical with Portland strikers -
@ProvinceWeber
Goal scorers, says Whitecaps' goalkeeper Jay Nolly, have something important in common with everyone else on the field: they don't like to be tackled.
So his solution to slowing down the Portland Timbers in tonight's playoff opener -- especially league leading scorer Ryan Pore and the league's hottest player, Bright Dike -- is simple.
"They're both dangerous [but] they're just as soft as anyone else," Nolly said. "When you get into someone, they're going to start thinking about it.
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to read more.
More stuff available on Weber's blog -
Back of the Net
Also, check out Whitecaps FC fan blogs:
The Offside
and
EightySixForever.com
