(Please note my camera lens was demolished by a ball off the foot of Diego Valeri in the first half so my photos are limited, though I got a few from my iphone.)
The Portland Timbers dominated their foes from Vancouver in just about every stat except the final score, only finding the net on a Diego Valeri penalty kick in a 2-1 loss to the Whitecaps. Kei Kamara and Cristian Techera would score for the visitors.
The Whitecaps would score in the 14th minute to set the tone for the night, when Kei Kamara got his head on a free kick from Kendall Waston, his shot from near the top of the box eluding Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella for the 1- 0 Whitecaps lead.
Minutes later Felipe would have a good chance from outside the box that was pushed wide by Attinella.
Five minutes before the end of the first half, the Timbers would be awarded a penalty kick when Valeri was fouled just inside the 18 yard box, but Valeri would not take advantage of the opportunity with the shot slipping just wide left.
Just a few minutes later the Whitecaps were on the scoreboard again when Cristian Techera‘s header off a cross from Brek Shea made it 2-0 at the half.
The pace was quicker in the second half, with the majority of the scoring chances occurring for the home side, but they would struggle to find the back of the net. In the 50th minute, Portland’s Andy Polo had a good chance saved by Whitecaps keeper Stefan Marinovic, with the rebound chance by Dairon Asprilla going off the crossbar.
The Timbers would continue to keep possession and get the ball into the Whitecaps box, but could not break through until another penalty kick chance, thie time in the 71st minute, when Sebastián Blanco was fouled in the box. Valeri stepped up again to take the shot and would not fail this time, and the Timbers had closed to 2-1.
The Timbers would get more chances to level the score, the best probably being a curling free kick from Valeri in the final minutes, but would never find the net again and their unbeaten streak would end at 15 in the 2-1 home loss.
Jeff Attinella would record three saves in the losing effort, while Stefan Marinovic recorded seven saves for the victorious Whitecaps.
Timbers match report | Video highlights
