VANCOUVER, B.C. – Don't count the Portland Timbers out of any match. Even when they're down to 10 men.
Minutes after losing Futty Danso to a red card, the Timbers managed to score a late equalizer on Saturday to salvage a 2-2 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps in front of 19,823 at BC Place.
Jose Valencia played hero in the 84th minute, challenging Alain Rochat to control a long ball from Will Johnson, before cutting back past Andy O’Brien and slotting home coolly past Brad Knighton.
The draw extends Portland's unbeaten streak to 10 matches and solidifies 2nd-place position in the Western Conference, and leaves Vancouver winless against either of their Cascadia Cup rivals, Portland and the Seattle Sounders, since the Caps moved up to MLS.
With the Whitecaps playing just three days after playing away to Montreal in the Amway Canadian Championship final, the match opened up with the Timbers taking control of the play. Moving the ball through midfield, they would finish with an overwhelming 62.7% to 37.3% possession advantage.
But the Caps got on the board first after Will Johnson fouled Camilo just outside the area on the right side. The Brazilian curled the resulting freekick over the wall and into the top right corner in the 24th minute.
Portland continued to push to get the equalizer, but their efforts were dinged when they lost attacker Darlington Nagbe to injury in the 34th minute. He was replaced by Kalif Alhassan.
Johnson made amends for his foul on Camilo on the opening goal, leveling the score from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute. It was his 5th goal of the season, adding to his career high. He also created the penalty with a shot that struck Andy O'Brien's arm as it bent goalward.
But the vistors’ joy was short lived, as moments later Gershon Koffie pushed the Whitecaps into a 2-1 lead, bending a shot into the top right corner of Donovan Ricketts’ goal after Camilo teed him up at the edge of the area. It was Koffie's second goal of the season.
On 71 minutes, Koffie was forced withdraw due to what appeared to be a hamstring problem, replaced by Matt Watson.
Ten minutes later, the Whitecaps went up a man when Danso appeared to bring Camilo down as they both chased down a ball over the top from Nigel Reo-Coker. The decision seemed harsh, as replays suggested that the two players tangled together evenly as they ran side by side. In fact, it was Camilo who stepped across Danso's path.
But the Timbers may have received some karma on the equalizer. Valencia ran under Johnson's high, hopeful ball from midfield and while Rochat jumped the wrong way, "El Trencito" brought the ball down, cooly cut it back and made no mistake with his shot, putting away his first-ever MLS goal.
The Timbers play next on May 25, when they travel to RFK Stadium to face D.C. United. The Whitecaps now have a 10-day break, returning to action on May 29 at BC Place in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship against the Montreal Impact, with the tie level on aggregate 0-0.
Portland Timbers (4-1-7, 19pts) at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (3-4-5, 14pts)
May 18, 2013 – BC Place (Vancouver, B.C.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 2 2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 1 2
Scoring Summary
VAN: Camilo (unassisted), 24
POR: W. Johnson (penalty kick), 52
VAN: Koffie (Camilo), 54
POR: Valencia (W. Johnson), 84
Misconduct Summary
POR: W. Johnson (Caution), 23
POR: Valeri (Caution), 33
VAN: Reo-Coker (Caution), 61
POR: Harrington (Caution), 70
POR: Danso (Ejection), 81
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Ricketts, D Jewsbury (Valencia, 77), D Jean-Baptiste, D Danso, D Harrington, M Chara, M Valeri, M Johnson, W. ©, F Nagbe (Alhassan, 34), F Johnson, R. (Piquionne, 62), F Wallace
Substitutes Not Used: GK Gleeson, D Kah, M Zemanski, M Zizzo
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (W. Johnson, Wallace, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 1); FOULS: 15 (Valeri, 5); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
VAN: GK Knighton, D Lee, D O’Brien, D Rusin, D Harvey, M Reo-Coker, M Davidson (Mattocks, 88), M Koffie (Watson, 72), F Hurtado (Rochat, 83), F Camilo, F Teibert
Substitutes Not Used: GK Cannon, D Mitchell, F Heinemann, F Hertzog
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Camilo, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Camilo, 2); FOULS: 16 (Reo-Coker, 6); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2
Referee: Matthew Foerster
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Eric Proctor
4th Official: Drew Fischer
Attendance: 19,823
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Clear (Dome)
