Vancouver, Canada — Given the roller coaster that the 2020 MLS campaign has been, the Portland Timbers playing on the road at Providence Park seems just so 2020. Sharing their home with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the remainder of the season, this game was just the latest installment of a difficult schedule for the Canadians.
Playing their fifth game in 15 days, fatigue was imminent for Vancouver, and it showed. Rather quickly in fact. But more on that in a minute.
Marc Dos Santos finally caved to the pressure of playing two men up front, with Lucas Cavallini and Fredy Montero leading the 4-4-2. Montero brings his pair of goals and three assists in his last two starts, meanwhile Cavallini part of the Vancouver starting 11 trying to forget Wednesday’s 6-0 thrashing to LAFC. Meanwhile Portland strutted out their typical 4-4-1-1, with Christhian Paredes replacing Diego Valeri at CAM.
In typical Vancouver fashion, the side fancied the idea of coming from behind against one of the league’s best teams, surrendering the game’s first goal less than five minutes in. A Eryk Williamson free kick was met by a leaping Felipe Mora, and flashes of “four goals in 14 minutes” danced in Vancouver’s minds. Completely unchallenged from Christian Gutierrez, Mora headed the ball past Bryan Meredith at his near post.
Yet Vancouver trudged on, as opposed to the typical “roll over and die” tactic that has become the Whitecaps’ bread and butter. A few odd chances, highlighted by a Montero header and an Andy Rose effort that struck the woodwork, the Whitecaps fought back. Not convincingly, not dangerously, but just enough to appear interested in Sunday’s fixture as the half ended 1-0 for the “away” side.
Set piece perfection for #RCTID
Felipe Mora scores off the Eryk Williamson free kick to put @TimbersFC up early! #VANvPOR pic.twitter.com/4ja1Zjqorj
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2020
Same old same old
With Bikel and Owusu being the midfield pair for Vancouver, it was always going to be a defensive mindset for the Whitecaps. And Portland, being the possession dominating team that the Timbers are, couldn’t have asked for a more “in the wheelhouse” type of game. No goals from either side in the second half sealed a crucial three points for Portland, especially given Seattle’s 3-1 win over the Galaxy.
A handful of chances from both sides, and an impressive performance from Bryan Meredith in Vancouver’s net, but neither side could find the finishing touch. A hats off effort to Steve Clark too at the other end, securing his second consecutive clean sheet with a number of decent saves.
It was far from spectacular for Portland however, as the favorites never really dominated or took over the game the way that some people might have thought. Felipe Mora grabbed the only goal, hence why he would be my vote for man of the match. Valeri coming on at the break was an impactful substitution, as expected, but wasn’t quite the game changing play maker he’s known to be.
Looking ahead
Neither side could really be thrilled with the 90 minutes played, a 1-0 sluggish crawl to the finish line isn’t what Giovanni Savarese probably wanted. But, like anyone who watched the game in full, he got what he got. It was more pretty ugly than pretty, but it’s an important “road” three points for the Timbers. It was a quiet night at Providence Park, so a quiet, dull performance seemed fitting for these two Cascadia rivals.
Moving on, Portland still trail Seattle for top spot in the west on goal differential, but look to close that down on Saturday as they host Colorado. Meanwhile, Vancouver aim to bounce back from back to back shut outs on the road against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
