Whitecaps, Timbers battle to 0-0 draw in MLS Playoffs

Portland 0 – Vancouver 0

The Vancouver Whitecaps battled to a 0-0 draw in Portland Sunday afternoon in the first leg of their MLS Western Conference semi-final. Portland had the better chances, especially in the 2^nd half as David Ousted was forced to stop a goal bound free kick from Diego Valeri in the 71^st minute, while Portland substitute Maximilliano Urruti hit the post two minutes from time keeping the game scoreless. The 2^nd leg will take place next Sunday at BC Place.

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The Vancouver Whitecaps travelled down the I-5 to Portland to take on the Timbers in the first leg of their MLS Western Conference semi-final matchup. Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson went with the same lineup that started the 3-0 victory against Houston last week. David Ousted started in goal, with Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker and Jordan Harvey in defence. Matias Laba and Russell Teibert held defensive midfield duties, while Gershon Koffie was pushed up into attacking midfield alongside Cristian Techera and Kekuta Manneh supporting Octavio Rivero up front.

Both teams traded half chances through the first half, and at the end of the half Timbers forward Lucas Melano and Whitecaps midfielder Gershon Koffie traded yellow cards on two separate fouls, with both free kicks going nowhere and both teams going into the half 0-0.

It was Portland who started to push in the 2^nd half as they controlled possesion of the ball while generating more half chances. Vancouver looked to generate more offense of its own as Mauro Rosales came on for Gershon Koffie in the 64^th minute. A few minutes later Portland would bring on Maximilliano Urruti for Fenando Adi.

In the 71^st minute David Ousted was forced to make a great save off a free kick from Diego Valeri, Ousted diving to his left to push the goal bound effort out for a corner.

On 77 minutes it was #77 for the Whitecaps Pedro Morales getting his first minutes since early october, replacing the ineffective Kekuta Manneh for the Whitecaps' 2^nd substitution.

Darren Mattocks would come on for Octavio Rivero late, but Portland would have the best chance of the match as Urruti would hit the far post from a shot from Ousted's right, the score remaining 0-0. Portland looked to get a corner kick in stoppage time but the referee blew the whistle to end the first leg scoreless. The two teams will head to Vancouver as the Whitecaps will host the 2^nd leg of the semi-final tie next Sunday, needing to win to advance to the next round of the playoffs.