A trip down the I-5 memory lane: Looking back at the 'Caps wins in Portland

VANCOUVER, BC – Each rivalry is filled with pages upon pages of iconic moments.

With every rivalry match, a new chapter is written and more memories are captured by the eyes in the stands.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC will look to write the next chapter of their Cascadia rivalry on Saturday, August 26 as they face Portland Timbers at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT.

• Catch all the action live for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV starting with the prematch show at 7:10 p.m. PT. The game will also be available on 980 CKNW Vancouver Radio, with the radio pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. PT

Saturday's Cascadia clash, which is the first of seven consecutive road matches for the 'Caps, could have pivotal implications on the Western Conference playoff race. Heading into Matchday 28 action, the 'Caps sit in eighth in the West and could vault themselves up to sixth with a win on Saturday depending on other results. The Blue and White also sit second in the Cascadia Cup standings with six points, a single point behind the Timbers. 

Portland have only won twice in MLS play since May 17, a run that stretches back 13 matches, and parted ways with long-time head coach Giovanni Savarese this week, with assistant coach Miles Joseph sit to take the reins in the interim.

To get you set for Saturday's next instalment of this Cascadia rivalry, we take a trip down the I-5 memory lane to look back at the 'Caps previous wins in Portland.

This match proved to be an instant classic.

With end-to-end action, drama, stunning goals, and all-around lovely football from both teams, it was impossible to take your eyes off the game.

The Timbers opened the scoring inside the first three minutes, as Maximiliano Urruti curled in a left-footed strike past 'Caps goalkeeper David Ousted. 

However, the lead wouldn't last long, as the 'Caps were awarded a penalty kick 13 minutes later. Captain Pedro Morales stepped up and dispatched the penalty right down the middle to tie the match at 1-1. The Chilean then proceeded to shush the Timbers Army in iconic fashion.

Both teams would continue exchanging chances, but it was the Blue and White who would take the lead shortly after. 

Once again, the 'Caps were awarded a penalty and Morales again found the back of the net, further silencing the home support.

Morales wasn't done there, as he supplied Erik Hurtado for the third 'Caps goal before halftime and played a lofted cross-field ball to Jordan Harvey at the start of the second half, with the fullback unleashed a powerful left-footed strike into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 for the 'Caps.

The game continued to go back-and-forth, with Portland pulling two goals back in the latter stages, including a stunning volley from Canadian midfielder Will Johnson off a juggling assist from striker Fanendo Adi. 

In the end, the 'Caps held on to secure their first-ever MLS win in Portland and wrote a chapter in the book of their Cascadia rivalries that will live long in the memory of many fans.

In the midst of a three-game week, the 'Caps looked to vault up the Western Conference table against an in-form Timbers side that were riding a 15-match unbeaten streak in MLS play.

Out of nowhere, the Blue and White took the 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Kendall Waston had a free kick just inside the Timbers half of the pitch and timed a chipped ball to perfection for Kei Kamara to rise up from the top of the box to head the ball past Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, who found himself in no man's land.

The 'Caps continued to hold the Timbers at bay until the 40th minute, as the home side were awarded a penalty.

Timbers captain Diego Valeri, an ever-consistent penalty taker during his time with the club, put his attempt wide of the left post and out for a 'Caps goal kick.

Vancouver would make Portland pay for their mistake two minutes later. The 'Caps already had one of their taller players on the pitch score with a header in Kamara, but this time it was the shortest figure in Cristian Techera who found the back of the net with a diving header to double the lead before halftime.

Like Morales four years prior, Techera also celebrated in front of the Timbers Army, drawing a strong amount of boos from the crowd.

Portland pushed the 'Caps to the brink in the second half, eventually pulling one back via a successful spot kick from Valeri in the 71st minute.

It wasn't enough though, as the 'Caps walked away with all three points and halted the Timbers unbeaten streak to 15 matches.

The most recent 'Caps win in Portland came in October 2021 in quite memorable fashion. 

However, the match itself wouldn't start in the most memorable fashion, as Portland scored twice in the first half to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

The 'Caps, who needed a win to stay on pace with the Western Conference playoff race, started the second half on the front foot and continued to force the Timbers back. 

Despite creating chance after chance, the 'Caps couldn't find a breakthrough, almost as if they needed a moment of magic.

In the 63rd minute, that moment of magic arrived via Déiber Caicedo, who ran from inside the 'Caps half all the way into the Portland box and fired a right footed shot into the bottom corner to give the 'Caps some life.

Caicedo was at the heart of the magic again roughly 10 minutes later, as he played a ball out wide to wingback Bruno Gaspar. While attempting to keep the ball in play, the Portuguese was able to slide a chipped cross into the box, which was empathically headed into the net by Brian White to bring the 'Caps level.

The Timbers had no answer to the Blue and White's press, eventually crumbling the match even further as Cristian Dájome went down in the box after a challenge from a Timbers defender, forcing the referee to call a penalty kick for the 'Caps.

With a chance to write another storied chapter in the history of the rivalry, Dájome stepped up and slotted his the game winner into the net to give the 'Caps a memorable 3-2, come-from-behind victory at Providence Park and cementing themselves in a good spot for a postseason berth. 

Be sure to catch the 'Caps write the next page in their rivalry with the Timbers this Saturday, August 26 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT. You can watch the match live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and 980 CKNW Vancouver Radio, with the radio pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. PT.