PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing their second match of the 2016 Simple Invitational, the Portland Timbers fell 2-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in preseason play before 14,208 fans at Providence Park on Wednesday night.
Portland utilized a starting lineup on Wednesday night that featured 10 different players from Sunday’s 2016 Simple Invitational opener. A total of 15 players earned minutes on Wednesday, including seven players who have not appeared in an MLS league match, in the second of three matches in the Simple Invitational. The Timbers outshot Whitecaps FC, who fielded a more veteran group that featured many regular starters, 13-9 in the match, but Vancouver received goals from Blas Pérez and Octavio Rivero.
Pérez opened the scoring for Vancouver in the 38th minute, settling the ball near the back post off a Whitecaps FC corner kick and placing his shot into the corner of the goal. In the 72nd minute against the run of play, Rivero dribbled across the top of the box and delivered a shot into the bottom, left corner to extend Vancouver’s lead to 2-0.
Portland created several chances in the match, including two from Jack Jewsbury as he fired a shot from inside the box just over the crossbar in the 32nd minute, while his attempt from the edge of the box in the 70th minute skipped just wide of the left post. In the second half, Jack McInerney delivered a powerful shot from distance, forcing the Vancouver goalkeeper to make a save in the 80th minute, while Neco Brett’s low, driven attempt was also saved in the 84th minute.
Portland closes out preseason play, and the 2016 Simple Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 27, against the Chicago Fire at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be streamed live on www.timbers.com. Vancouver Whitecaps FC take on Minnesota United FC in Saturday’s first match; kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS Preseason)
Feb. 24, 2016 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Vancouver Whitecaps 1 1 2
Portland Timbers 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
VAN: Perez (Morales), 38
VAN: Rivero, 72
Misconduct Summary:
VAN: Pa-Modou Kah (Caution), 24
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Peay, D Manning, D Valentin (Morley, 62) D Thoma, M Jewsbury © (Besler, 76), M Zemanski, M Grabavoy (Belmar, 72), F Brett^, F McInerney, F Polk^ (Seaton, 58’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hamilton^
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 ; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 ; FOULS: 9 ; OFFSIDES: 3 ; CORNER KICKS: 6 ; SAVES: 3
VAN: GK Tornaghi (Richey, 46), D Smith, D Parker, D Kah (Sieler, 72), D Harvey, M Froese, M Morales © (Hudson, 46), M Davies (Bolaṅos, 62), M Bustos (Gardner, 79), F Manneh (Techera, 62), F Perez (Rivero, 62)
Substitutes Not Used: D Chung
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 ; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 ; FOULS: 6 ; OFFSIDES: 2 ; CORNER KICKS: 5 ; SAVES: 3
^ 2016 MLS SuperDraft pick
* Trialist
Attendance: 14,208
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 54 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
