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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers' Second-Half Comeback Falls Just Short in 4-3 Loss to Vancouver

June 2, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers mounted a furious, second-half comeback after trailing by three goals, but ultimately fell just short in a 4-3 loss against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,814 at Providence Park on Sunday night.

Maximiliano Urruti, GastÃ"n Fernández and Will Johnson each registered a goal for Portland while midfielder Diego Valeri recorded his second multi-assist game this season and substitute forward Fanendo Adi added an assist as the Timbers displayed their trademark intensity Sunday, nearly battling back for a late equalizer against Whitecaps FC despite the referee awarding two first-half penalty kicks to the visitors.

The Timbers (3-4-7, 16pts) grabbed an early lead in the derby match as Urruti scored his fourth goal in as many games, taking a pass from Valeri and delivering a bending, left-footed shot from outside the penalty box past Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted in the third minute as Portland dominated play in the opening 15 minutes.

Changing the course of the match, Vancouver (5-2-5, 20pts) was awarded two penalty kicks in a 10-minute span early in the first half as midfielder Pedro Morales converted both attempts in the 16th and 26th minutes, swinging the momentum to the visitors. Whitecaps FC added a third goal in the final minute of first-half stoppage time as forward Erik Hurtado saw his initial shot saved by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. The short rebound bounced right back to Hurtado, who was able to use his momentum to put the ball in the back of the net with his knee.

Portland has been called for a league-leading eight penalty kicks this season, two more than the next-closest team (New York, 6), while the loss ended Portland's MLS-club record, home-unbeaten streak at 22 consecutive matches (12-0-10), which is tied for third-longest in MLS history.

Trailing by three goals early in the second half following a Whitecaps FC goal from defender Jordan Harvey, the Timbers registered two goals late in the match as Fernández tallied a goal in the 77th minute and midfielder Will Johnson scored in the 86th minute as Portland pushed for the equalizer.

Fernández, who entered the match in the 66th minute, cut into Vancouver's lead inside the final 15 minutes, delivering a strong header at the far right post following a long cross from Valeri, who also assisted on Urruti's game-opening goal. Valeri registered two assists in a match for the second time this season and the sixth time in his Timbers MLS career. The midfielder factored in all three goals for the Timbers on Sunday.

Further cutting into the Whitecaps FC lead, Johnson fired a strong, left-footed effort past Ousted after Adi skillfully juggled a long pass from Valeri inside the penalty box before flicking a pass into Johnson's path, as the midfielder volleyed a one-touch effort into the back of the net in the 86th minute.

Working hard to overcome the controversial penalty kicks, Portland continued to mount pressure throughout the match, earning 55 percent of possession while forcing Ousted into several saves in the second half. Adi, who has registered at least a point in consecutive matches, saw an effort from inside the penalty box turned away by a diving stop in the 77th minute while forcing the goalkeeper into another save just seven minutes later. Johnson delivered a free kick just wide of the left post in the 89th minute, while defender Rauwshan McKenzie saw a header off a corner kick miss wide in second-half stoppage time.

The Timbers held Vancouver to just two shots over the final 25 minutes of the match while Ricketts finished with seven saves.

Looking to add the second goal in the 19th minute, Urruti saw his header from close range strike the crossbar. Portland has hit the woodwork 11 times this season through 14 matches, three more times than the next closest team.

The Timbers next face Real Salt Lake on the road on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with a local radio broadcast on 750 The Game.

Notes:

- Sunday's crowd of 20,814 marked the 59th consecutive sellout at Providence Park. The Timbers have sold out every regular-season match at Providence Park since 2011.

- Defenders Rauwshan McKenzie and Jorge Villafaña each made the first home starts of their Timbers MLS careers on Sunday at Providence Park.

- Defender Jack Jewsbury made his 100th career Timbers MLS appearance and the 295th appearance of his MLS career on Sunday.

- Midfielder Diego Valeri tallied a multi-assist game for the second time this season and the sixth time in his Timbers MLS career. Valeri has registered one goal and six assist in the last six matches, including three assists in the last two matches.

- Forward Maximiliano Urruti has scored in three of the team's last four matches and has tallied a total of four goals in as many games.

- Forward Fanendo Adi has registered at least a point in consecutive games, tallying two goals on May 28 against Chivas USA and an assist on Sunday against Vancouver.

- Sunday's loss was Portland's first against Vancouver since the Timbers joined MLS in 2011. The Timbers hold a 4-1-4 lead in the all-time MLS series between the two clubs.

- The Timbers MLS-club record, home-unbeaten streak ended on Sunday at 22 consecutive matches, dating back to March 9, 2013, a span of 450 days. Portland compiled a 12-0-10 record at Providence Park during the streak, which is tied for third all-time in MLS history.

- Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts surpassed the 13,000-minute mark in his MLS career in the 68th minute of Sunday's match.

- Forward GastÃ"n Fernández has tallied five of his six goals this season at Providence Park. Four of his goals have come after the 75th minute.

- Sunday's match was the highest-scoring affair in nine regular-season games between Portland and Vancouver since 2011, and it marked the fifth time in the MLS series in which the Timbers have scored at least two goals against Whitecaps FC.

- Midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe has appeared in 81 of the team's 82 regular-season matches since the start of the 2012 MLS season.

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