Whitecaps eliminated from the playoffs with a loss to Portland
Posted November 8, 2015 9:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 113) – Fanendo Adi scored in the first half as Portland beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 in the second leg of their MLS Western Conference semifinal. The Timbers won 2-0 on aggregate to advance.
Vancouver came close to striking first, as Kekuta Manneh attempted a shot from distance that hit the left post, then deflected off the Portland goalkeeper and out for a corner kick. Manneh was forced to leave the game shortly after, as he twisted his ankle trying to make a cut inside, and was replaced by Mauro Rosales in the 26th minute.
Just five minutes after Manneh exited the game, the Timbers took the lead. Adi was set up by Diego Valeri to make it a 1-0 advantage for Portland. The teams played to a 0-0 draw in the opening leg in Portland last weekend, which meant the Timbers’ away goal forced the Whitecaps to win outright in order to move on.
With Vancouver pressing to get on the board, Diego Chara sealed the game for Portland with a goal in stoppage time.
The Whitecaps had two shots on target in the defeat, while the Timbers put five on target, with two of them beating David Ousted.
Vancouver was playing in its first home playoff game since joining Major League Soccer. Portland will face FC Dallas in the Western Conference final.
