Brian White and Jonathan Rodriguez every scored within the first half because the Vancouver Whitecaps and visiting Portland Timbers recorded a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
The draw was sufficient to clinch Vancouver (13-9-8, 47 factors) a spot within the MLS Cup playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Whitecaps have surged to the postseason with a 6-2-4 file over their previous 12 regular-season matches.
Portland (12-10-9, 45 factors) would’ve clinched a playoff berth with a win, however the Timbers are nonetheless in fine condition to succeed in the postseason. The Timbers are in ninth place within the Western Convention, eight factors forward of Tenth-place FC Dallas.
Simply three minutes into the match, Sebastian Berhalter’s cross discovered White open within the field. White transformed the possibility for his fifteenth objective of the season, and his Tenth tally in his previous 9 matches.
After Vancouver struck early, Portland’s response got here late within the first half. Within the forty third minute, Rodriguez took a shot within the field that deflected off defender Bjorn Inge Utvik and into the Whitecaps’ web.
Rodriguez has additionally been scorching, as 10 of his team-leading 16 targets have are available in his previous 12 regular-season matches.
Each groups have been lacking a star participant Saturday. Portland midfielder Evander was serving a one-match suspension for warning accumulation, and Vancouver’s Ryan Gauld did not play attributable to a knee harm.
The Whitecaps appeared to overlook Gauld’s absence, as White’s objective marked considered one of simply three photographs on course for Vancouver within the match. White missed a second objective within the 52nd minute, as his breakaway try resulted in a shot off the goalpost.
Portland outshot Vancouver 13-11, together with a 5-3 edge in photographs on course. The Timbers have been additionally thwarted by the goalpost within the second half, as Felipe Mora’s try within the 59th minute rang off the iron.
–Discipline Stage Media