By Marc Weber
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. tonight
Venue: Swangard Stadium
Webcast: USLlive.com
Return Leg: Sunday, PGE Park, Portland, 4 p.m. (Fox Sports World Canada)
USL-1 playoffs are two-game aggregate-score series (home and away goals worth the same). If the teams are tied at the end of the second leg, they'll play a 30-minute overtime followed, if necessary, by a penalty shootout. Meanwhile, Caps F Charles Gbeke made the All-League First Team for the first time in his career Wednesday. The Quebec resident led USL-1 with 12 goals.
Portland Timbers
(USL-1 record: 16-4-10, 45 GF, 19 GA; Away: 6-1-8, 18 GF, 9 GA)
Lost their season opener 1-0 in Vancouver, then went on a record 24-game unbeaten streak en route to a regular-season title. Beat the Caps 2-0 and 1-0 in Portland.
Top league scorer: Mandjou Keita (11)
Vancouver Whitecaps
(USL-1 record: 11-10-9, 42 GF, 36 GA; Home: 9-3-3, 26 GF, 15 GA)
Predicted starting XI: J Nolly; T Hirano,- Pejic, C Pozniak, L Martin; A Toure, K Versailles, M Nash, W Knight; C Gbeke, M Haber. Injured: G Chin (knee), G Lyall (abdominal).
Top league scorer: Charles Gbeke (12) © Copyright (c) The Province
