Whitecaps suffer defeat
May 30, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
PORTLAND, OR - Vancouver Whitecaps FC men suffered a 2-0 away defeat to Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers on Saturday evening.
Ryan Pore's early penalty set the Timbers on their way to their first regular season win over Vancouver since the 2007 campaign. George Josten ensured the points went to the home side after he struck the second goal shortly before halftime. The result ends the Whitecaps winning streak versus Portland at four matches, with Vancouver falling to a second-straight USL First Division regular season defeat.
Unlike recent matches, the 'Caps struggled to get much command of Saturday's contest at Portland's PGE Park, with an improved Timbers side looking more incisive at crucial intervals during the weekend match-up.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made two changes from the side that started last Wednesday's 1-0 home win over Montreal Impact in the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Both changes came in the visitors' backline, with Wesley Charles returning from a suspension in the midweek match-up to partner former Timbers defender Justin Thompson in the centre of the 'Caps defence. Charles replaced fellow centre back Jeff Parke, who was on Vancouver's substitutes' bench. The other defensive change saw Mason Trafford take the place of Takashi Hirano at left fullback.
Timbers head coach Gavin Wilkinson, meanwhile, made three changes to the side that started last Sunday's 2-1 victory at Puerto Rico Islanders. Stephen Keel and Scot Thompson replaced Mamadou Danso and Takuro Nishimura in Portland's backline, while in attack, Josten replaced Keith Savage to partner last week's USL-1 Player of the Week Mandjou Keita up front for the home side.
On a hot late spring evening for soccer in The City of Roses, the Whitecaps endured a difficult start to proceedings by losing one of their key players to an early injury. Winger Justin Moose went down with an ankle problem on four minutes and was not able to return, with Lyle Martin replacing the former D.C. United player on the right-hand side of midfield four minutes later.
On six minutes, Vancouver found themselves a goal behind. The Timbers were awarded a penalty in controversial circumstances after Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly had brought down midfielder Johan Claesson on the edge of the visitors' box. Though the foul looked to have been made outside of the box, match referee Hidajet Tica immediately pointed to the penalty spot before booking Nolly for his indiscretion. Pore stepped up to beat the Vancouver number one with his spot kick for a 1-0 Portland lead.
As disappointing as it was to be a goal behind, the 'Caps did well to press forward and play some decent soccer in midfield during the first half. On eight minutes, Charles struck a tame shot into the arms of Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin before winger Ansu Toure drilled a shot high and wide of the target after taking a pass from Martin Nash six minutes later.
The contest then evened up in terms of chances at both ends, with Pore striking a shot wide of goal on 21 minutes for Portland, while at the other end, substitute Martin forced a save from Cronin three minutes later.
The Timbers were a threat coming forward at times. On 33 minutes, Brian Farber could not direct David Hayes' cross on target at the far post before Martin missed the net for the Whitecaps a minute later after Marcus Haber did well to beat Hayes on the right and reach the Portland backline before finding his teammate with a cutback pass.
Vancouver's best chance of the half then came on 38 minutes, but Haber was unable to hit the target at close range after his strike partner Charles Gbeke did well to find him in the Timbers box.
That miss proved costly for the Blue and White, as Portland extended their lead on 41 minutes through Josten. The Timbers striker was able to dispossess a retreating Trafford in the Whitecaps half before dashing in on goal and finishing past Nolly for 2-0.
The frustration of being two goals down soon showed on the visitors' faces, with Wes Knight taking real exception to Pore's robust challenge on him at the halfway line. As a result, both players were subsequently booked by referee Tica on 43 minutes.
The last chance of the half fell to the 'Caps, but Toure was unable to keep his effort on target after Gbeke found him with a back-heeled pass in the two minutes of time added on.
It meant both sides went to the halftime break, with Portland in a comfortable two-goal lead.
USL First Division Stories from May 30, 2009
- Whitecaps suffer defeat - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Portland extends unbeaten streak to seven games - Portland Timbers
- Impact wins with 1-0 shutout against Rhinos - Montreal Impact
- Williams and Treschuk score as Battery beats Cleveland - Charleston Battery
- City Stars Fall 2-0 to Undefeated Charleston Battery - Cleveland City Stars
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