MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Secure Top Seed in Western Conference, Win Cascadia Cup With

Published on October 23, 2017 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


TIMBERS SECURE TOP SEED IN WESTERN CONFERENCE, WIN CASCADIA CUP WITH 2-1 VICTORY OVER VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC Darren Mattocks, Liam Ridgewell score to propel the Timbers to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers defeated Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-1 before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon, securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and the 2017 Cascadia Cup, marking the club's second Cascadia Cup trophy in its MLS era. Defender Liam Ridgewell scored his third goal of the campaign, while forward Darren Mattocks scored his fourth in 2017, finishing the game-winning goal in the 47th minute.

Finishing the regular-season campaign atop the Western Conference for the second time in the last five seasons, the Timbers (15-11-8, 53pts) automatically advance to the Western Conference Semifinal of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, bypassing the Knockout Round played between the No. 3-6 seeds in each conference. Additionally, with the result, Portland matched its record for wins (15) in a single MLS season, previously setting the mark during the club's 2015 championship season. Winning their 11th home match of the season (11-2-4), Portland also ended the season with six straight wins at home, dating back to Aug. 6.

Following an early goal from Vancouver (15-12-7, 52pts) after defender Kendall Waston scored a header from forward Yordy Reyna's curling set piece in the box in the 29th minute of play, Portland responded strongly to get back into the game, with Ridgewell equalizing just three minutes later. The Timbers' opening goal took place after midfielder Darlington Nagbe curled a dangerous shot from the left side of the box, forcing goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic to make a difficult save. Pouncing onto the rebound inside the six-yard box, Ridgewell reacted quickly to tap the ball in from close range, bringing the home side level with less than 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

Attacking early in the second half, Portland took the lead two minutes after the break, following a well-orchestrated team play in the final third. Following a quick combination play between Nagbe and midfielder Sebastián Blanco, Blanco played a perfectly weighted ball in behind the defense for Vytas, who quickly cut the ball back across the six-yard box, allowing Mattocks to finish from close range in the 47th minute of play. The finish marked Mattocks' second game-winning goal against Whitecaps FC this season. Blanco recorded his eighth assist of the season on the play, which ranks as the second-most on the team, while Vytas notched his fourth assist of the campaign.

With 18 shots in the match, including a 7-2 edge in shots on target, the Timbers created several chances to find the back of the net throughout the 90 minutes. Portland created its first chance through a strong opportunity 13 minutes into the game when midfielder Diego Chara clipped a ball over the top to Mattocks, who brought the ball down inside the 18-yard box, before playing a well-weighted pass back to the edge of the box to midfielder Diego Valeri. Running on to Mattocks' pass, Valeri hit a powerful first-time effort that was heading for the target, but the Whitecaps FC defense managed to deflect it wide.

Six minutes later, Nagbe picked the ball up in the midfield and drove at the Whitecaps FC defense, before firing a shot that went high and wide of the target in the 19th minute, as the Timbers began to put the visitors under pressure in the final third. Three minutes after scoring their opening goal, the Timbers came close to taking the lead in the 35th minute when Valeri received the ball on the left side of the box, with the midfielder curling his shot just high of the target.

Portland created its strongest chance to take the lead in the first half when the team produced an effective counter attack in the 40th minute of play. With Portland attacking quickly on the break, Nagbe brushed off several challenges, before laying the ball off for a close-range chance for Blanco, who blasted his final attempt high of the target. In stoppage time of the first half, after a flurry of challenges inside the six-yard box, the ball popped loose for Blanco, whose quick shot was saved off the line by Vancouver defender Jakob Nerwinski.

In the 53rd minute, Mattocks came close to notching a brace when he powered past Waston inside the box, before hitting a shot on target that forced a strong save from Marinovic.

Continuing to attack in the second half, Portland nearly found the back of the net again in the 69th minute when Nagbe found Blanco on the right wing in transition, with Blanco pulling his attempt just wide of the far post with just over 20 minutes remaining in the game. In the 82nd minute, the Timbers threatened again when Blanco and midfielder Dairon Asprilla combined for a one-two inside the box, leading to a strong chance for Blanco, whose effort went just wide of the target.

To kick off its postseason campaign, Portland will face the lower-seeded team to advance from the Western Conference Knockout Round in a two-leg, aggregate-goals series in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Timbers will open the semifinals on the road on (either Sunday, Oct. 29, or Tuesday, Oct. 31), before playing host to the second game of the series on Sunday, Nov. 5. The Timbers will face San Jose if the Earthquakes defeat Vancouver Whitecaps FC, or the winner of the Houston Dynamo-Sporting Kansas City match if Vancouver defeats San Jose. Individual tickets for the Nov. 5 playoff match are currently available for purchase online at www.timbers.com, by phone at (888) 736-6849, or at the Providence Park box office, which will be open beginning Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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