Whitecaps FC Host Portland Timbers This Saturday
Published on September 29, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Playing their final regular season match at Swangard Stadium, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10W-5L-14D) play host to Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers (13W-7L-9D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Saturday afternoon.
With the club's 24th and final season at Swangard nearing its conclusion, Teitur Thordarson's side will be looking for a result to secure the NASL Conference title and the second playoff seed in USSF D-2. It will be a challenging task, as the Blue and White face an in-form Timbers side that have not lost to Vancouver this season. Saturday's match also showcases two clubs making the move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2011.
Saturday's match between Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers at Swangard kicks off at 4 p.m. PT. Whitecaps individual match tickets start at $20, plus applicable service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at 604.280.4400 or 1.800.663.9311. Visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets for more information on Whitecaps FC individual match tickets.
WHITECAPS FC
The past couple of weeks have been disappointing for Whitecaps FC, as a pair of 1-0 defeats to NSC Minnesota Stars and Montreal Impact have allowed Carolina RailHawks to leapfrog Vancouver at the top of the NASL Conference standings. The 'Caps will need a favour from Austin Aztex on Friday night to have a chance of regaining top spot in the conference on Saturday.
The regular season finale also gives Thordarson's squad the chance to earn a result versus the Timbers after three tough encounters earlier this season. A late 2-1 defeat at Portland's PGE Park on April 29 was followed by a well-contested 0-0 draw between the two clubs in The City of Roses on July 3. On July 22, Portland claimed their first win in Vancouver since May 23, 2004, with a 2-1 victory at Swangard.
Whitecaps FC have been boosted by the news that centre backs Mouloud Akloul (ankle) and Nelson Akwari (quadriceps muscle) are available for Saturday's game. Both players have been training this week, with the pair seeing action in an intra-squad match at Swangard on Tuesday. Defender Chris Williams is also available after recovering from a hamstring problem. Right fullback Wes Knight, however, is a doubt for the Portland match with a back problem.
TIMBERS
On a run of nine matches without defeat, Gavin Wilkinson's Timbers squad are on course to end their life at the North American second division level on a high. Their run has secured the Oregon-based outfit a top-four spot in the league's playoff standings, including an outside chance of finishing second in the USL Conference and third overall. The Timbers would need to win by two or more goals in Vancouver on Saturday, and hope Rochester Rhinos lose at Athletic Club of St. Louis the same day. The weekend game also concludes a four-match road spell for Portland, as their PGE Park home is currently undergoing renovations ahead of MLS next year.
Like Whitecaps FC fans, Timbers faithful have been keeping a close eye on which players will be making the transition to MLS with Portland. Two players that have made a positive impression are midfielder Ryan Pore and striker Bright Dike. Pore leads USSF D-2 in goals with 15 and points with 34, while Dike is tied for fourth in the league with nine goals.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Saturday's match will be the 65th all-time meeting between Whitecaps FC and the Timbers. Going back to the 1975 North American Soccer League (NASL) season, the Whitecaps hold an all-time record of 32 wins, 23 defeats, and nine draws versus the Timbers. This included 10 wins and 11 defeats versus Portland in the old NASL between 1975 and 1982, as well as 22 wins, 10 defeats, and eight draws against the Timbers in the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) between 2001 and 2009. At home, Vancouver's all-time record versus the Timbers stands at 22 wins, seven defeats, and two draws.
CASCADIA CUP
Whitecaps FC were unable to claim back the fan-based Cascadia Cup after Portland earned two wins and a draw versus the 'Caps this season. This was the second year that the trophy was contested between Whitecaps FC and the Timbers, with the competition having originated back in 2004 between then USL-1 clubs Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle Sounders. With Seattle joining MLS last year, supporters will have to wait until 2011 before all three Pacific Northwest clubs can contest the cup again in head-to-head regular season action in MLS. Vancouver are the most successful Cascadia Cup side, having won the trophy in 2004, 2005, and 2008. Before joining MLS, the USL-1 Sounders were cup winners in 2006 and 2007, while Portland were winners in 2009 and 2010.
PLAYOFFS NEXT
Following Saturday's match, Whitecaps FC will take part in the USSF D-2 playoffs. It is the 14th consecutive year that the 'Caps have secured a berth in the postseason, dating back to the 1997 season. The top eight clubs in the league qualified for the playoffs, with the overall regular season winner claiming the number one seed, while the other conference winner takes the number two seed. The next six clubs with the most points - regardless of conference - also earned playoff berths and are seeded numbers three thru eight, based on the USSF D-2's single table format.
The first round (quarterfinals), semifinals, and championship final will be played as two-match, aggregate score series. The first round of the playoffs will take place from Wednesday, October 6, to Sunday, October 10. In the first round, the eight playoff seeds will be matched as followed - 1 v 8; 2 v 7; 3 v 6; 4 v 5. The four first-round winners will move on to the semifinals, with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed. The semifinals will take place from Wednesday, October 13, to Sunday, October 17. The USSF D-2 championship final series will be played over two weekends. The first leg of the final is set for the weekend of October 23 & 24, while the second leg will take place during the weekend of October 30 & 31.
Saturday's match between Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers can be seen live on Shaw TV, Shaw Direct (satellite channel 299), and online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from September 29, 2010
- Whitecaps FC Host Portland Timbers This Saturday - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Carolina RailHawks Partner with the Magnificent Mile on October 1st - North Carolina FC
- Palace Baltimore Finish Regular Season in Tampa Bay - Crystal Palace Baltimore
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