After a few very disappointing losses to Dallas and the Galaxy, and a draw with Orlando between the losses, the Timbers bounced back with a better performance with a 3-2 win at BC Place over the Vancouver Whitecaps for their first road win of the year. Dairon Asprilla, Jarosław Niezgoda. and Yimmi Chará all scored for the Timbers, while Cristian Dájome and Ryan Gauld had the goals for the Whitecaps.
The first half was largely even with neither team having a particularly good scoring chance until in the 42nd minute when Marvin Loría was fouled in the box. No call was originally made but the VAR review had the referee review the play at fieldside, and a penalty was awarded. Dairon Asprilla stepped up to take the kick and converted the chance, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead that they would hold at the half.
The Timbers would double their lead in the 60th minute when Jarosław Niezgoda made a nice cut in the box off a pass from Sebastián Blanco, and finished low to put the Timbers up by a 2-0 score.
The Whitecaps would pull back a goal in the 76th minute when Cristian Dájome was open in the middle of the Timbers box when a nice pass was slipped to him by Déiber Caicedo after a deep run, and he finished well to the top right corner of the goal to make the score 2-1 Timbers.
But just two minutes later, the Timbers would widen their lead to two goals once more when Yimmi Chará fought off two Whitecaps defenders who couldn’t get control of the ball, then placed a shot nicely into the upper corner of the net to make the score 3-1 Timbers.
In the 85th minute the Whitecaps were well poised to pull closer when the Whitecaps were awarded a penalty on a foul by Claudio Bravo. Dájome stepped up to take the penalty but his shot was saved by a diving save by Aljaž Ivačič to keep the score at 3-1 Timbers.
Then in stoppage time, the Whitecaps were awarded another penalty kick, on another foul call against Bravo. The referee again reviewed the play at fieldside but upheld the call. Ryan Gauld stepped up to take the penalty this time and converted, and the Timbers lead had been reduced to 3-2, but the Timbers would hold on for the win.
Aljaž Ivačič had five saves for the Timbers while Thomas Hasal recorded one save for the Whitecaps.
MATCH RECAP | Portland Timbers triumph 3-2 in goal-filled victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Timbers website
