Portland Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps Post Game Reaction- Cascadia glory on the road!

Win to start off

It's 3 points to start off the 7 game road trip, and the Vancouver Whitecaps starts off on a positive, getting 3 points over their Cascadia rivals, Portland Timbers. And this was a memorable one between these two rivals, as the intensity especially during the end was definitely shown. It's the Whitecaps who is victorious, and the Timbers being the losers here in this Cascadian matchup. For the Caps, starting off the 7 games way from home with a win is nice, now you can use this as a building block for the next game against the Chicago Fire and potentially onwards. As for Vancouver tonight, the attacking was superb here, the defense maybe a bit loose, but got in done in the crucial moments. So the Whitecaps here, positives and improvements to be taken in, but obviously nice to get a win to start off the 7 game road trip.

Cascadia Cup

Now the Cascadia Cup is close to Vancouver's hands, as Whitecaps can decide their own destiny to win the cup in the game, towards the end of Major League Soccer regular season, against their other Cascadia rival in the Seattle Sounders. As this cup is played as a part of the MLS regular season, so it will not fatigue the players by adding another cup format, but this is still a valuable silverware for the passionate fans of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland who was, actually the originators of the Cascadia Cup. But for the Whitecaps scenario to win the Cascadia Cup is simple, a win against Seattle on October 7th will 100% be enough to win the Cascadia Cup, and the same will apply to a draw. So if the Whitecaps avoid defeat on the game against Seattle, later on in the season they will be the champions of the 2023 Cascadia Cup. A trophy that the Caps haven't won for 7 years.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere was decent here in Providence Park, as there were multiple Whitecaps supporters that travelled to Portland, to watch their beloved team play. Of course the Timbers Army was also making a great atmosphere, as they were singing all game. The Caps supporters maybe less quiet, but still noise being created by them. Overall a normal, electric atmosphere for a Cascadia match. With 22,674 inside the stadium of Providence Park. There are also clips of the Whitecaps supporters in this game.

While there are photos from the Timbers Army, in this Cascadia derby.

Vanni's decisions

Now I usually question Vanni a ton, like why do you play him? Or why are you playing this formation? But I think this game, the Italian manager got it spot on. Resting Pedro Vite, Sergio Cordova and Mathias Larborda for the game against the Chicago Fire midweek on Wednesday. And playing our best players, which is normally expected, but if your manager is Vanni then you find it a bit more uncommon than the others. As sometimes I think he is too worried about fatigue, but this game he played a great tactical display. By playing a great starting 11. Playing Adekugbe and Laryea was intelligent too I believe, as they played wonderful cutbacks, and smart decisions, with Richie Laryea successfully drawing a penalty. I think giving Ali Ahmed the start was smart, to give him some sharpness since he hasn't started a game for Vancouver, since the horrific injury he suffered on May 24 against Pacific. So I think he's happy, and I think he played solid.

Possession

I think you would've liked to be more possession dynamic in this one, especially when before the match the Timbers average possession was 44.0%, while for the Whitecaps was 49.9%. I thought this was a game that the Caps could've controlled the game by using the ball to their advantage, but they basically did the complete opposite, as the possession numbers were 65/35 to Portland. But you got the 3 points, and you still looked like the slightly better team in my view, so I believe it was alright to have a low possession night.

Key Stat

I think the main factor tonight was the expected goals, but this time it's on a positive note. As it is uncommon that the Caps have a higher goals amount than their expected goals. With last game versus San Jose having a XG of 19.5 but failing to convert even one goal. I believe this is has been the story of the Caps this season, as the unluckiness with the finishing with either it hitting the woodwork, or going inches wide, or the goalkeeper being spectacular, the Whitecaps will usually get unlucky. And some said that it's running out of time for luck to turn around. But on this occasion the Whitecaps had an expected goals of 2.60, and they ended up scoring 3 goals past Bingham. Which having 2.6 expected goals is great, as it shows that you have created a lot, but creating and converting is two different things. It's like the recipe for a goal, and in this game Vancouver did both of these things. I hope that this really carries on, as this will be hugely beneficial for the Whitecaps, both in the 6 game remaining in this road trip and after that.

Game Recap

So heading into this Cascadia derby, the Whitecaps were 8th in the MLS western conference standings, and Portland was 12th in the western conference. In terms of the Cascadia standings pre-match, the Timbers led with 7 points, followed up with Vancouver having 6 points, with Seattle bring last with 4 points. So this game was also crucial for the Cascadia Cup.

The first chance of the game falls for the Whitecaps, Adekugbe cuts it back to Schopf, Schopf inside the box, he either had failed shot or a precise pass, Brian White with a very clever deflection even though he jumped, and Ryan Gauld slides it in past Bingham. And it's 1-0 Whitecaps! Whether if Brian White did that touch on purpose or not, as it's hard to tell. If it was done on purpose, then that's great thinking by the American to slow down the ball, for a easier time for Gauld.

It's a corner kick for Portland, they're looking for a equalizer a short corner, played in Zuparic he redirects it to Asprilla which goes for a acrobatic bicycle kick effort, which goes just wide.

Now in the 36th minute, Blackmon plays a great pass for Ali Ahmed who has tons of space out wide, he plays a lovely through ball to Gauld, Gauld with a couple of touches then the cross in to the back post, and Brian White with a physical battle against Bravo but he wins it, heads it home and it's 2-0 Vancouver!

A corner by Gauld, which falls for Veselinovic and it deflects off White but it hits the crossbar, and that was the last chance before halftime.

In the 53rd minute, a cross by a Portland player, and it falls for Mora, Javain Brown makes a effort but fails to win the header over Mora, and it goes in the top left corner behind Takaoka. As I believe on the header, Ranko Veselinovic didn't jump, but I thought that it was an aerial duel between him and Mara, not Mara and Brown. So I think that was poor by the Serbian defender.

Now Vancouver on the attack, Gauld on the left flank, plays a ball, Brian White leaves it for Richie Laryea, he's inside the 18, he turns to create room, Evander does a challenge that makes Laryea fall, it's a penalty for the Whitecaps.

It is Ryan Gauld against David Bingham from the spot, Gauld hasn't missed a penalty this season, he shoots it left, David Bingham guesses correctly but fails to make the save, as Gauld converts his penalty and restores the 2 goal lead for the Whitecaps.

Now a chance for the Timbers, Mosquera on the edge of the box, he shoots a low driven shot but Takaoka gets there and saves it. It's still 3-1 for Vancouver.

Again a chance for Portland, the substituted on Santiago Moreno slips a ball through to Sebastian Blanco and a cut back by Blanco it gets past multiple Caps defenders, for a easy chance for Evander to score. Game on now, the deficit goes back down to one, in the 84th minute still time for the Timbers to get one more.

Now a few minutes after the goal by the Timbers, it's Portland again on the attack, a Timbers player whips in a cross that falls to the head of Zac McGraw but the header is saved by Takaoka.

Even though Portland had some moments at the end, the final whistle blows and it is Vancouver who gets the 3 points on the road in this Cascadia derby.

A picture of Brian White and some of the Whitecaps supporters that travelled to Portland after the win against the Timbers.

Man Of The Match

For me, Ryan Gauld has once again putten on his magic hat and put on a show for both the Timbers fans, and the travelling Whitecaps fans. He had 2 goals and an assist on the night, superb by the Scotsman as he was incredible in this game against the Timbers. It also wasn't just the goal contributions that made me select him, it was also the intensity and leadership. As I believe he is proving more and more as a leader for the Whitecaps now, and he is spectacular both on and off the pitch. I thought as usual, his passing play and dribbling play was good. Not just the assist he got, but he was also the person who crossed it in to Laryea who later drawed a penalty.