Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1, Portland Timbers 0 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

Alicia Rodriguez

Vancouver Whitecaps FC moved above the playoff line for the first time in 2019, after defeating the Portland Timbers 1-0 on MLS Friday Night on TSN at BC Place.

The win snapped Portland's three-game road winning streak, while the Whitecaps not only reach their first stretch of three games unbeaten this season, they vault above the Timbers in the standings and are in the playoff places in the Western Conference, ahead of the rest of the Week 11 action.

The Whitecaps opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes, as a trivela pass from Inbeom Hwang through the lines found Fredy Montero, who played a quick give-and-go with Russell Teibert before the Colombian buried it, his second goal in two games.

From there, both teams had chances, but while the Timbers racked up a huge advantage in total shots (27 to 12), they barely edged the Whitecaps in shots on target (five to three). Diego Valeri had a big chance in the 72nd minute, but his point-blank shot was blocked by Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to maintain the home side's lead.

Portland pushed for an equalizer but never found it as Vancouver held firm.

Goals

9' – VAN – Fredy Montero | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: While the Timbers and Whitecaps are Cascadia Cup rivals, the heat in these matches is usually lower than in games involving the third team, Seattle. In this one, there were no fires but plenty of sparks, with the attacking midfielders in particular getting some knocks in. In the end, Vancouver had to hold on but they showed why they needed some time to find a rhythm under Marc Dos Santos.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: In a game with one goal, that tally was unsurprisingly the turning point of the 90.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Montero is finding form, but the honor goes to Crepeau, who made five saves as he had to bear down with Portland peppering Vancouver's box with shots. In the end, he preserved the lead, got a clean sheet and a vital three points for his side.