Whitecaps Travel To Portland
Published on October 2, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2W-0L-1D in the playoffs) look to return to the USL First Division Championship Final when they visit Portland Timbers (0W-1L-0D in the playoffs) in the second leg of their playoff semifinal series on Sunday afternoon.
The defending USL-1 champions take a slim one-goal advantage into the decisive second leg in The City of Roses on Sunday, with Teitur Thordarson's side looking to cause another upset in the 2009 postseason. The Blue and White lead 2-1 on aggregate after goals by Charles Gbeke and Marcus Haber gave Vancouver victory in the first leg at Swangard Stadium. The Timbers, however, will feel confident of turning the series around after Ryan Pore scored Portland's lone goal from the penalty spot just before halftime of Thursday's match. It sets up an intriguing second meeting in the intimidating atmosphere of Portland's PGE Park, with a large and passionate crowd expected to appear on Sunday.
The task to claim a result in Portland will be a challenge for the 'Caps, though Gbeke expects his side to take the same approach as they used in the first leg. "Though we will be defending a lead, we intend not to back down when we play in Portland," the striker said on Thursday. "We're not going to go there and play defensively. We want to try and score goals in the second leg."
The Whitecaps will be without centre back Marco Reda for Sunday's match. The former Toronto FC and Charleston Battery defender is suspended after being red carded as a substitute in the first leg.
Though the Timbers will be disappointed to be trailing at this stage, Gavin Wilkinson's side will not see the task of overcoming the Whitecaps as being insurmountable. Portland claimed both regular season meetings at home versus Vancouver this season, with PGE Park being a real fortress for the USL-1 regular season champions. With the 'Timbers Army' likely to be in full voice during Sunday's match, Wilkinson's side will want to turn the tables and gain command of the second leg from the kick off.
Fully aware of the Timbers' qualities, Thordarson will want his team to put in another complete performance in Oregon. "We cannot go down to Portland and defend for 90 minutes," he said on Thursday night. "That will invite them into our half and cause problems for us. We will try to play the way we did in the first leg, but if we are unable to do that, then we will change our tactics to be more defensive. The changes that we may need to make will depend on how the game goes on Sunday."
Should the Whitecaps upset the Timbers this weekend, they will face either Canadian rivals Montreal Impact or last season's fellow finalists in Puerto Rico Islanders in the 2009 USL-1 Championship Final. Unlike previous seasons, this year's final will also be played as a two-match, aggregate score series. The first leg would take place at Swangard on the Thanksgiving weekend of October 10 and 11, while the second leg would be played in either Montreal or Puerto Rico on the weekend of October 17 and 18.
OTHER PLAYOFF SERIES
The chances of an all-Canadian USL-1 Championship Final were further boosted by Montreal's 2-1 first-leg win over Puerto Rico at Stade Saputo on Thursday night. Goals by former Whitecaps midfielder Tony Donatelli and Roberto Brown gave the fifth-seeded Impact a one-goal advantage for Sunday's second leg in the Caribbean. The third-seeded Islanders, however, will feel they can turn the series around in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, after Jonny Steele scored the Islanders' lone goal in Quebec. The second leg at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium will be live on USLlive.com at 3 p.m. PDT.
PLAYOFF FORMAT
Vancouver's semifinal playoff match-up with Portland is a two-match, aggregate score series. If the aggregate score is tied at the conclusion of Sunday's second leg, then two 15-minute extra-time periods will be played to determine the series winner. If both sides remain tied at the end of extra time, then the series will be decided using a penalty shootout. *Unlike European club competitions or the CONCACAF Champions League, the 'Away Goals' rule is NOT in effect as a tiebreaker in the USL-1 playoffs*.
PLAYOFF PUB DAY
You can take in Sunday's semifinal playoff match at Portland Timbers live at the Library Square Public House - located at 300, West Georgia Street, in downtown Vancouver. Join your fellow Whitecaps supporters for the 4 p.m. PDT kickoff on Fox Sports World Canada and cheer on Thordarson's side from the comfort of one of our 'Whitecaps Preferred Pubs'. Season Ticket holders will receive 20% off food at Library Square, with the presentation of their 'Caps Card.
Library Square Public House is a member of the Whitecaps Preferred Pubs Program. Click here for more information about our Whitecaps FC Preferred Pubs.
Sunday's semifinal, second leg, playoff match between the Whitecaps and Portland Timbers from PGE Park in Portland, Oregon, kicks off at 4 p.m. PDT and can be seen live on Fox Sports World Canada and Fox Soccer Channel in the United States.
You can also listen to Sunday's semifinal playoff match live online at Sportsradio 95.5 The Game.
USL First Division Stories from October 2, 2009
- Timbers Launch Phase II of MLS 2011 Season-Ticket Deposits - Portland Timbers
- Whitecaps Travel To Portland - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Miami FC Featured in South Florida Sports Super Pass - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps Win Series Opener 2-1 - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Canadians take 2-1 USL-1 Semifinal leads - USL-1
- Gbeke Leads Whitecaps To Win, Series Lead - Portland Timbers
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