PORTLAND, OR – Vancouver Whitecaps FC played their first of six home matches at Providence Park on Sunday evening, losing to Western Conference co-leaders Portland Timbers 1-0.
Just five minutes into the match, Timbers midfielder Eryk Williamson’s free kick into the box found the head of Felipe Mora who directed the ball to the near post and into the back of the net to score the lone goal on the evening. If not for a handful of defensive blocks and Steve Clark saves, the 'Caps may have found an equalizer in the first half from a number of near chances, most notably a Freddy Montero shot from a near-perfect Andy Rose cross in the 38th minute and a Montero header that was saved at point-blank range just two minutes later.
The second half picked up where the first left off with a few solid chances from the ‘Caps including a diving header from Lucas Cavallini that was just wide off a cross-goal lob from Cristian Dájome in the 52nd minute. While the chances were there, the equalizer was just out of reach for Vancouver.
A defensive stalemate following the early Portland goal, the 'Caps were highlighted by solid defensive efforts by Ali Adnan with a VWFC season-high eight tackles plus three interceptions, and Bryan Meredith with six saves.
Up next for Whitecaps FC is another Cascadia derby tilt when they visit Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, October 3. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT live on TSN and TSN Radio 1040.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC Man of the Match: Ali Adnan
Referee: Ted Unkel
Scoring Summary
5' – POR – Felipe Mora (Eryk Williamson)
Statistics
Possession: VAN 53.2% – POR 46.8%
Shots: VAN 8 – POR 12
Shots on Goal: VAN 3 – POR 7
Saves: VAN 6 – POR 3
Fouls: VAN 16 – POR 16
Offsides: VAN 1 – POR 0
Corners: VAN 5 – POR 5
Cautions
8' – VAN – Cristián Gutiérrez
40' – VAN – Lucas Cavallini
45'+1' – VAN – Janio Bikel
45'+3' – POR – Marco Farfan
49' – POR – Cristhian Paredes
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Bryan Meredith; 28.Jake Nerwinski (87.Tosaint Ricketts 90'+1'), 22.Érik Godoy, 15.Andy Rose, 3.Cristián Gutiérrez (7.David Milinković 64'); 11.Cristian Dájome (27.Ryan Raposo 90'+2'), 19.Janio Bikel, 17.Leonard Owusu, 53.Ali Adnan; 12.Fredy Montero ©, 9.Lucas Cavallini
Substitutes not used
60.Isaac Boehmer, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 13.Derek Cornelius, 14.Theo Bair, 32.Patrick Metcalfe, 55.Michael Baldisimo
Portland Timbers
12.Steve Clark; 28.Pablo Bonilla, 33.Larrys Mabiala, 13.Dario Zuparic, 32.Marco Farfan; 44.Marvin Loría (23.Yimmi Chará 57'), 21.Diego Chara, 30.Eryk Williamson (8.Diego Valeri HT), 7.Andy Polo; 22.Cristhian Paredes (17.Jeremy Ebobisse 77'); 9.Felipe Mora (11.Jaroslaw Niezgoda 77')
Substitutes not used
31.Aljaz Ivacic, 4.Jorge Villafaña, 18.Julio Cascante, 40.Renzo Zambrano, 85.Zac McGraw
