A threesome for Portland with a bye and both Cascadia Derby and Cup

Memories of last campaign meltdown were still in the Portland Timbers mind, after last campaign denial by the same bunch at BC Place, delivering a horrible blow to their title defending campaign.

Not only has the refusal kept them away in the postseason but costing them the Cascadia Cup as well.

That was then and now the Timbers were on the brink of playing a match that could assure them a bye, first place finish and the coveted Cascadia Cup held by the kings of this cup the Vancouver Whitecaps.

As a campaign that the Rose City chaps started with a high note and later due to injuries on various players considered important in the scheme of manager Porter, saw the club struggling in some matches but never losing the faith in his squad.

The Cheesmaster Caleb Porter after making a series of his signature moves in his starting lineup and at times using T2 players after seeing a total state of disarray in his initial eleven at times looking like a general hospital.

The match that delivers a total infusion of confidence for the Portland group was that one played in BC Place back in July were with a patch up lineup Porter and company came up big with the win and this one considered a valuable one that motivated the group forward.

Despite some odd results this squad did not stop in its efforts of making an all-around return to the top spots and not getting below the red line despite some heartbreaking results, I mean this group fought its way.

After 34 matches in all, of this campaign, the Portland Boys netted a positive 15-12-7 but with a grand improvement in the road, posting a 4-9-4 record, seeing a big deal of progress, for the Rose City squad.

In general today match was as expected with all the elements of grand finale, we lived it, and as always the Portland Timbers stepping up on their game were they shined in both offensively and the most defensively.

By denying the visitors all sorts of intentions towards Jeff Attinella posts that after that early goal by the Vancouver chaps, the Timbers replied immediately three minutes later.

When the Vancouver squads persistence paying off  in a shoot of luck after catching off guard the Timbers defense with a free kick taken by Christian Bolaños finding a well-placed team captain Kendall Waston to push the ball for the opening goal.

Still the colossus of Goose Hollow did not became silent but rowdy motivating their Boys to move forward as the moment arrived in the 32 minute when Darlington Nagbe was stopped by Marinovic and in the rebound Liam Ridgewell push the ball for the equalizer.

Despite the Whitecaps defensive game put in display in the early minutes, the Portland squad did manage to get several opportunities from Sebastian Blanco that missed three to one of Mattocks, Nagbe and Valeri.

Leave it to Darren Mattocks when a persistent Blanco passed to Vytas in the left that after seeing Darren Mattocks a bit lose he passed for the Reggae Boy to push for the go-ahead and final goal in the second half.

Still as the defense that got the highest mark was of the Portland side, that in the first half just allowed the visitors to a total of two shoots and overall to seven in the afternoon, after the first goal of the Canadians, their offensive attack was not the same.

In addition, of their manager Carl Robinson sending Freddy Montero, Cristian Techera and Erik Hurtado to try to orchestrate an all-around revival but their rally fell short and surrendered to the energy and spirit the locals put in display.

For now the mind for Caleb Porter and his squad is set on the postseason and trying to win those five games and see the possibility of repeating as league champions, as you recall the Timbers boost was that win over SKC in penalties.

Today the Vancouver Whitecaps win was enough fuel for them to get their spirits high, ahead of a possible semifinals showdown between these two in the upcoming playoffs.

 

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Photos Credit and Property of Portland Timbers and Craig Mitchelldyer 2017

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