Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2882-StandardVancouver Whitecaps forward Simon Becher (29) and Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chará (21) vie for the ball during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023
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Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2883-StandardPortland Timbers midfielder Diego Chará (21) and Portland Timbers forward Tega Ikoba (17) gang up against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinović (4) during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023
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Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2884-FocusVancouver Whitecaps forward Simon Becher (29) and Portland Timbers defender Dario Župaric (13) vie for the ball during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023
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Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2885-StandardVancouver Whitecaps forward Simon Becher (29) and Portland Timbers defender Dario Župaric (13) vie for the ball during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023
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Wesley Shaw Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 20230408 -2899-StandardVancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinović (4) leaps in celebration after Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White scores and gives the team a 1-0 lead during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023
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Wesley Shaw Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 20230408 -2921-StandardVancouver Whitecaps defender MathÃas Laborda (2) gets past his defender during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023
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Whitecaps secure win VS Timbers 1-0 courtesy of Brian White
Despite only attempting two shots the entire game, the Timbers looked like they would be able to survive the game until Whitecaps’ Brian White found a way late in the second half.
The whitecaps, coming from a 5-0 win against CF Montreal which also happens to be the largest win ever by a Canadian team over another team from Canada in MLS, started attacking early. They had three on target attempts in the opening 20 minutes alone, first in the 4th minute mark when Pedro Vite’s left footed shot from outside the box was saved. Mathías Laborda followed with a header from the left side of the six-yard box in the 7th minute mark and Vite had another attempt from outside the box in the 19th minute mark.
Portland, who have won seven of their last 14 visits to BC Place coming into this game, we’re not able to put up any shots in the entire first half but were able to save all attempts by the Whitecaps. The Whitecaps were able fire off seven attempts during the first half, four were saved, one was a miss and the other two were caught offside.
The Whitecaps continued with their attack in the second half with Sebastian Berhalter attempting a right footed shot from the outside of the box in the 54th minute mark, it came close as it missed to the left. Julian Gressel tried a right footed shot from the right side of the box but was saved in the top right corner. Gressel had another look in the 72nd minute mark but was saved again.
The Whitecaps’ relentlessness paid off in the 74th minute mark. Ryan Gauld sent one from far left but was saved by Aljaz Ivacic. The ball rolled far right into Julian Gressel’s direction which set him up nicely for a right-footed shot just outside of the box. Despite Ivacic recovering quicky it was Justin-Rasmussen who had a piece of Gressel’s shot but he sent the ball back to Gressel. This time Gressel sent the ball to Brian White’s direction, who was waiting in front of the goal, for a right footed shot that went straight through giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead.
The Timbers never recovered as they spent the remainder of the game trying to stop the Whitecaps from scoring again. Ryan Gauld and Ranko Veselinovic both tried a through ball but Pedro Vite and Cristian Dájome and were called offside respectively.
Portland was only able to afford two shot attempts for the entire game. Santiago Moreno’s right footed shot from the center of the box in the 60th minute mark was blocked. Juan Mosquera’s right footed shot from very close range in the 80th minute mark was too high.
ShotBug Press Staff Writer
Ryan Espinosa
