PORTLAND, OR. – In a wild season, filled with challenges and adversity, it would be only fitting for this season to face one last wrench in the road before the playoffs. Of course, I am referring to the league’s decision with the standings now being based off of “Points Per Game” (PPG). In play mostly for the sake of the Colorado Rapids, the Vancouver Whitecaps have perhaps suffered the most from this decision. Dropping now below the playoff line, a positive result against the Portland Timbers Sunday night would have been huge for the club. Especially when you take into account the Rapids 3-1 victory over Seattle earlier in the night.
Portland Timbers beat Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 to stunt playoff push
Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos reverted back to his standard 4-4-2, with seven changes from the loss to Seattle midweek. The likes of Theo Bair, Christian Gutierrez, Ryan Raposo and more all gave strong showings against the Sounders. But Dos Santos stuck with his guns and put out arguably his best 11 for the biggest game of Vancouver’s year.
Meanwhile, Portland, who have booked their ticket for the post season, still have lots to fight for themselves. The Timbers are in the middle of a battle with Seattle and Kansas City for top spot in the West, a feat that would secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Giovanni Savarese opted for a 4-4-2 to match Dos Santos, bringing in Andy Polo and Felipe Mora, the only two changes from the 5-2 thumping against the Galaxy last week.
Chara breaks the ice
It was a first half with not much to write home about. Zero goals. Zero high level chances. One or two saves, but apart from that, stalemate. Vancouver are infamous for their slow starts, and this one fit the bill. 0-0 after the first 45, with Portland looking the more comfortable of the two sides.
Another problematic area for the Whitecaps (which goes hand in hand with slow starts), is conceding within the first 15 minutes of a half. Well they avoided that ugly statistic in this one. Barely. As 16 minutes into the second half, Portland found themselves passing around Vancouver’s penalty area. A lovely pass and move from Yimmi Chara and Jorge Villafana found Chara in space at the top of the box. Five defenders, including Jake Nerwinski and Christian Dajome, were caught ball watching as Chara slipped into a pocket to sweep home the game’s lone goal.
There was a late push from then on for Vancouver, but it would prove to not be enough. Fredy Montero putting a shot well wide from close range would prove to be the Whitecaps’ best chance to pull even, but alas, it was not to be. The game finished 1-0 in favour of the hosts (Portland, just felt the need to clarify that in this one), and put all but the final nail in Vancouver’s coffin.
Looking ahead
While mathematically, Portland is still able to clinch the Supporters Shield, the most likely event is they will focus on holding the top spot in the West. Hosting Colorado and finishing up the year against LAFC, it won’t be a cruise to the finish line for sure. Yimmi Chara deserved man of the match, who put in a full shift, regardless of the goal he scored.
Vancouver on the other hand, is left in a pool of doubt. Their fate doesn’t fall to themselves or a different team, but in the hands of the league. San Jose (the only team the Whitecaps can catch) had their midweek game postponed. If the league decides to cancel that game, Vancouver’s 2020 is done. However if that game gets played, a San Jose loss, plus the Quakes to lose again on Decision Day, plus a Vancouver win against the Galaxy, then, and only then, can the Whitecaps qualify. It’s a truly unique circumstance that the fate of a team’s season hangs with the league’s decision on what to do with a game they’re not involved with.But if that isn’t the perfect way to wrap up the 2020 season, I don’t know what is.
