P osted by

Harjeet Johal ,

November 8, 2015 Twitter

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VANCOUVER, B.C - BC Place was electric on Sunday night as a spot in the MLS western conference finals was up for grabs. Vancouver needed a win, while the visiting Portland Timbers could advance and play FC Dallas with a win or a draw. Coaches Carl Robinson and Caleb Porter both went with heavy offensive starting lineups. In the end it was the visiting Portland Timbers that came away with a 2-0 win in front of raucous crowd of 27,837 spectators. Portland will play FC Dallas for the chance to go to the MLS Cup on Sunday, December 6.



A delighted Caleb Porter was in a jovial mood after his teams strong showing.



"I think we managed both legs really well. We didn’t give up the away goal which led into this game. We knew they would want to come out, and yet we wanted to be aggressive as well. We went for the first goal, and we got it. It was something we worked on, in terms of getting in that left channel. It was a great goal. Then that meant now that we could manage the game with the ball, which we did second half. You saw the possession that we had and we were able to keep them from attacking by doing that, and keep them from playing the transition they like to play by slowing the tempo down with the ball. We were very patient and organized and they had a hard time breaking us down."



Fanendo Adi opened the scoring in the first half and Diego Chara sealed the fate of the Whitecaps in the second half. Skipper Pedro Morales was turned inside out with the Whitecaps pressing for the equalizer deep into second half stoppage time. Carl Robinson was gracious in defeat following the match.



"Well, first of all I want to congratulate Portland, a credit to them for winning the game today, winning the two leg series. So, congratulations to them. It changed, dramatically. I think the kid started like a house on fire and put us in the ascendency with playing front football, and hit the two and have one or two half chances, then it changes. But when it’s not your day, it’s not your day and today, it wasn't our day. We didn’t score a goal over two legs. When you don’t score a goal over two legs, unless you’re lucky and go to penalties and win, you’re not going to win a game of football, and that’s what happened."



The MLS western conference finals will kickoff on Sunday, November 22 in Portland with the second leg on Sunday November 29 in at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The New York Red Bulls will face the Columbus Crew in the eastern conference finals. Caleb Porter quickly turned his thoughts to FC Dallas.



“Very good team, but we’ve been playing good teams late in the year. Like I said, we’ve been in playoff mode. I think that’s helped us. I think our experience in the playoffs helped us in this series. We’ve already won a playoff series versus Seattle [in] 2013. I think this is now our fourth win in the playoffs. The maturity we showed today, the professionalism we showed in managing this leg, and both legs, I thought was visible. Obviously Dallas is a good team, but we’ve been beating good teams."



When it comes to why the Whitecaps can't seem to find goals. Carl Robinson was a bit lost for words. No doubt, adding a proven veteran striker will be a top off-season target for Robinson and the Caps.



"That’s a million dollar question. I think the reason strikers are paid so much money in this game is because they are able to put the ball into the back of the net and we haven’t been able to do that. Not just tonight, but for a number of games this year. That’s something I’ll have to go back to the drawing board with my staff in the offseason, and try and bring some more goals, because it’s ultimately cost us a little bit, especially tonight, and that’s something you have to take on the chin." The Opening 45

Feeding off a fantastic home atmosphere Vancouver had the early momentum and early scoring opportunities. 20 year-old Kekuta Manneh was all over the pitch creating chances. Manneh had an early shot that rolled wide of the far post. Moment later, Manneh fired a bullet off the post. Timbers keeper Adam Kwarasey was beat and had the ball bounce off of him and still manage to stay out of the Portland net.



The Whitecaps continued to play with pace and brilliant jump. They had ball possession, opportunities, and seemed to catch the Timbers playing on asleep. The only thing missing was a finished product in the final third with a much-needed goal, it never came.



Manneh's blistering pace has his advantages and disadvantages. While he can go at a defender 1v1, it's not a pretty sight when he falls going a million kilometres an hour. Manneh was forced to exit the match in the 26' minute with a sprained ankle. Manneh pounded the pitch in disappointment and Mauro Rosales entered the match for Vancouver.



Kendall Waston was not about to use Manneh's injury as a reason for the Whitecaps loss. The bottom line is, the Whitecaps did not score in either match and really that's the biggest factor as to why they lost.



“This is about scoring. We couldn't score, Portland got their opportunity and everything shut off there. But it’s very hard not to talk because you feel a little disappointed and sad, so I'm sorry."



All the momentum that Vancouver had, evaporated with the fireworks smoke that filled BC Place following Manneh's injury substitution. The crowd became restless. Portland worked a bit of magic off a throw-in to open the scoring in the 31' after Vancouver was caught with some poor defending.



Rodney Wallace threw the ball into Diego Valeri, who was able to pass to a wide-open Fanendo Adi. The Timbers striker was unmarked and able to roof the ball high on David Ousted. Gershon Koffie was late to cover Valeri and Kendall Waston was caught in between Valeri and Adi thus leaving the 25 year-old time and space to open the scoring. Vancouver was slow to react and Portland capitalized quite quickly.



Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted summed up his thoughts with a common feeling for Whitecaps fans.



"Right now I'm very disappointed. Over 180 minutes we weren't good enough. I'm proud of where we are and where we came to with this group, the growth we’ve shown throughout the year, but it’s a step short of where I wanted to go."



Caleb Porter and the Timbers did well to stop the early storm and hold off the mounting Whitecaps pressure in the first few minutes of the half. Portland played a patient first half and did not get overwhelmed by the atmosphere inside BC Place.



Going into the half Portland had a 1-0 lead and 54% - 46% possession advantage. @WhitecapsFC proud to be a Caps fan ... proud of #Robo ... looking forward to next season. Thank you @WhitecapsFC — Chris Nicol (@ChrisNicol) November 9, 2015 One Canadian club left in soccer competition. #Impact #Whitecaps both out yesterday. Up to the @OttawaFuryFC to bring Canada some silver — Fury FC PA Mike (@mpearsonbdc) November 9, 2015

The Second Half

Emotions were high as the second half kicked off. Portland switched to a stop drop and roll strategy which caused delays in the game and frustrated expressions on the faces of Whitecaps players. Octavio Rivero in particular earned himself the first yellow card of the match in the 55'.



Vancouver had to press forward in search for a pair of goals as Portland had secured the away goals advantage. The Whitecaps had to get forward on offense without exposing themselves on the counter-attack in case Portland went searching for another goal.



Timbers players Rodney Wallace and Diego Valeri both picked up second half yellow cards. This means that both players will miss the first leg of the MLS western conference finals vs FC Dallas on November 22 at Providence Park.



Darren Mattocks entered the game for the Whitecaps in the 62' minute as Carl Robinson went to an all out attacking style. Gershon Koffie made way and Vancouver switched to a 4-1-3-2 formation with Rivero and Mattocks up top. In need of a pair of goals with the Timbers slowly eating away at the clock. Robert Earnshaw finally entered the pitch in the 82' minute and he added some much need jump.



Almost instantly Robert Earnshaw almost scored a fantastic goal. Agent 88 attempted a bicycle kick that almost snuck under the bar and past Adam Kwarasey. Earnshaw also had a shot on target in the 85' minute. The Welsh striker makes things happen and has a nose for the net.



While on the counter-attack in the dying moments of the match. Portland added the icing on the cake with a 2-0 goal Fanendo Adi and Diego Chara worked a lovely give-and-go with Chara putting the ball past David Ousted. Pedro Morales had given the ball away in midfield and could not recover. Vancouver just didn't have it on this night and with the away goals rule at play, Portland really did have an advantage from the start.



The Whitecaps will look to progress further in 2016 after a terrific 2015 MLS campaign.



Man of the Match: Kekuta Manneh Kekuta Manneh was the most electric Whitecaps player on the pitch. Unfortunately he was only pitch for 25' minutes as his ankle let him down. Manneh created life and scoring chances for Vancouver and once he departed you could feel all the energy exit the Vancouver Whitecaps team. Without Manneh on the pitch, Portland didn't have to worry about any players with extreme pace coming after then. The entire complexion of the match changed without 'Scooter' and that's ultimately what let the Whitecaps down. Not being able to score a goal in either leg also was a big factor.



Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted, Steven Beitashour (Robert Earnshaw 82), Kendall Watson, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, Gershon Koffie (Darren Mattocks 63); Cristian Techera, Pedro Morales(C), Kekuta Manneh (Mauro Rosales 26); Octavio Rivero. 4-2-3-1



Portland Timber Starting XI: Adam Kwarasey, Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers, LiamRidgewell(C)), Jorge Villafaña (Noberto Paparatto 66), Diego Chara, Diego Valeri (Jake Jewsbury 84), Darlington Nagbe, Dairon Asprilla, Fanendo Adi, Rodney Wallace (Lucas Melano 80). 4-3-3



Notes: Erik Hurtado's Norwegian club Mjondalen were relegated from the Norway Eliteserien on Sunday. Hurtado who is on loan from Whitecaps FC finished his tenure with 1 goal and 1 own goal with Mjondalen.



