P osted by

Harjeet Johal ,

May 8, 2015 Twitter

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VANCOUVER, B.C - A Cascadia clash featuring Vancouver and Portland was on display at BC Place in front of 22,120 fans. This reigning MLS champions looked to keep the Whitecaps in an early season tailspin, however it was Carl Robinson's squad that rose to the occasion and prevailed with a 2-1 win thanks to some poor second half goalkeeping from Jake Gleeson. Masato Kudo scored his first MLS goal and added an assist on a Bolanos winner that should have been stopped by Gleeson. The Whitecaps came from behind for an important victory that leaves them with a 4-5-2 record after one-third of the MLS campaign. Carl Robinson was delighted with the Whitecaps performance and the way they battled back to earn a win in the second half. "I thought from the first minute to the last-minute, I thought the intensity of the team, effort, applications were on. The football took care of itself today. I thought we played some super stuff. We didn't score enough from our chances and I said to them at halftime. Good performance, but the result, we're on the wrong end of. Sometimes you've got to pull your socks up and get on with it, don't feel sorry for yourself and the boys didn't in the second half. We continued with the intensity, and we continued to create chances. It was a fortuitous winning goal, it happens. Give Jake Gleeson a lot of credit, he made some wonderful saves again this week. I think we deserved to win." Right-Back Fraser Aird was heavily involved with Vancouver's flank attack and did well to add an extra threat to the Whitecaps, offense when he was able to get up the pitch. Aird also did well to defend former Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks who made his return to BC Place. The Toronto Raptors fan was happy with 'Caps big victory and the way they created chances. "The way we scored was probably our easiest chances that we created," said Aird. "We had a few in the six yard box that just didn't go in. The keeper had a really good game, had some really good saves. At the end of the day we're sitting here with the three points and we're happy. Obviously a big derby game for us and the fans, it means a lot. We just move on now and look forward to Wednesday." Christian Bolanos has now scored in three consecutive Whitecaps matches and is very much looking like the player the Whitecaps had hoped for when he signed this past offseason. Bolanos was playing down his goal-scoring efforts following the match. "I'm happy because we won the game, it's not because I've scored three goals, in three games. I'm happy with the performance. We deserved to win the game. I'm happy because the team played very very well today." The Opening 45

The Whitecaps started in a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Masato Kudo as the lone striker. He was supported by Nicolas Mezquida, Christian Bolanos, and Cristian Techera on the flanks. Skipper Pedro Morales returned to the lineup and played in a sitting defensive midfield role alongside Matias Laba. Portland started in a 4-3-3 formation. Jamaican international Darren Mattocks received the loudest "wanker" chant during the pre-game introductions. Throughout the match, Mattocks was boo'ed every time he touched the ball. Fans cheered when he had an early miss-step and lost the ball. Supporters were not out to offer Mattocks a welcome return and he had very little impact on the match. It was Vancouver that had the majority of excellent scoring opportunities. Despite carrying the play and controlling the match, the Whitecaps could not buy a goal. Christian Bolanos, Fraser Aird, Mastao Kudo, and Matias Laba all had opportunities to open the scoring, but they simply could not hit the target. The chances were certainly there, but they just were not being finished. Portland was playing terrific defense and limiting Vancouver to long shots from distance. The Timbers would soon take the lead in the 34' minute thanks to a defensive lapse from the Whitecaps back-line. Darlington Nagbe was given far too much time and space in the box. He was able to curl in a pass across the box to centre-back Nat Borchers. The 35 year-old MLS veteran snuck in behind Kendall Waston and had an easy tap in-goal to give Portland a surprising 1-0 lead. Tim Parker and Nicolas Mezquida both had glorious opportunities to find an equalizer before halftime, but the bounces just weren't going the 'Caps way. Parker's header off a corner sailed over the bar, and Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson came up with a finger-tip save off of Mezquida's effort on target in the 38' minute. Heading into the interval Portland lead 1-0 despite the home side displaying a 56% - 44% possession advantage. Best the Whitecaps have looked this season. Robbo should let this 11 play together for a run of games, rotating only when necessary. #VWFC — GlassCity (@GlassCityFC) May 8, 2016 Game-high seven tackles for Matias Laba. Followed by ... Pedro Morales with six. Great defensive effort from Pedro. #VWFC — Farhan Devji (@farhandevji) May 7, 2016

The Second Half

The scoring woes of the Whitecaps have been well documented, the Caps have been able to create plenty of chances, but converting in the final third is a struggle. Christian Bolanos had his shot roll wide of the target in the 55'. The Caps were applying pressure, but that goal remained elusive for just a few more minutes. Vancouver finally found the back of the net in the 62' minute thanks to a lovely goal from striker Masato Kudo. The Japanese import picked up a deflected ball and fired short-side, near post on Jake Gleeson. The Timbers keeper was not able to react quick enough and Kudo's first career MLS goal knotted the match 1-1. It only got worse for the visitors as a blunder from Jake Gleeson would put Vancouver ahead 2-1 in the 66' minute. Christian Bolanos sent in a cross attempt that chipped over Blas Perez and his defender. The ball did not touch Perez or his defender. Jake Gleeson let the ball slide through his legs and into the net. Gleeson completely botched the play and Vancouver was awarded a gift. Bolanos third consecutive match with a goal had the Whitecaps looking to take all three points vs Portland. And with that 2-1 victory, Vancouver Whitecaps are six for six in Cascadia Cup points for the season #SixAppeal #VWFC — AFTN (@aftncanada) May 7, 2016

The go ahead goal gave the Whitecaps momentum as they kept searching for another tally to put Portland on the brink. Substitute Blas Perez had a trio of chances to score his first goal in a Vancouver Whitecaps kit. Jake Gleeson made a pair of spectacular saves to keep the Timbers deficit to one. Vancouver was able to secure a massive win over a Cascadia rival as Portland just wasn't able to match the Whitecaps effort. The Caps had chance after to chance to run away with the match and eventually it was an error from the visiting keeper that put Vancouver in the lead. The Whitecaps were well deserving of all three points as they dictated the match from start to finish. Man of the Match



Masato Kudo

Kudo was able to take his opportunity and put his name on the score-sheet with his first MLS goal. Kudo was able to find his moment and tie the match at one. He was also able to pickup an assist on the game winning goal. The Whitecaps had high expectations when Kudo was signed and while he has had his chance, he was finally able to show the promise and abilities he can bring to a match. Kudos was instrumental in Vancouver defeating the reigning MLS Cup champions. "I had a lot of chances before," said Kudo, "but I couldn't score until today. I was waiting for this and I wanted this so much, I'm really happy." Who was your Whitecaps Man of the Match?

Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Fraser Aird, Kendall Waston,Tim Parker,Jordan Harvey;Pedro Morales, Matias Laba; Christian Bolaños, Nicolas Mesquida 62 (Blas Perez), Cristian Techera 90 (Erik Hurtado); Masato Kudo 78 (Octavio Rivero). 4-2-3-1. Portland Timbers Starting XI: Jake Gleeson; Zarek Valentin, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell(C), Chris Klute 87 (Jack Barmby); Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri; Lucas Melano, Fanendo Adi, Darren Mattocks 77 (Jack McInerney). 4-3-3