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 report 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 good condition to achieve 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 prospect for his fifteenth aim 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 sizzling, 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 as a result of a knee damage.
The Whitecaps appeared to overlook Gauld’s absence, as White’s aim marked one among simply three photographs on the right track for Vancouver within the match. White missed a second aim 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 the right track. 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.
–Subject Degree Media
