The Portland Timbers started the 2021 MLS season with a 1-0 loss against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on Sunday night. Lucas Cavallini scored the lone goal in the 97th edition of the fixture.
Portland will return home for their home opener against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Match Moments
11' — SAVE (POR) — Goalkeeper Steve Clark dove to his right and corralled a long-range Déiber Caicedo effort for the first save of the match.
34' — CROSSBAR (POR) — After Diego Valeri found space behind the Vancouver defense, his attempted pass was deflected by a Vancouver defender off the crossbar.
38' — SHOT (POR) — Finding some space in the attack, Dairon Asprilla ripped a 25-yard effort that forced Vancouver's goalkeeper to make a punch save over the bar.
45+' — SHOT (POR) — Yimmi Chara headed a Valeri free kick on frame, forcing a jump save by Vancouver's goalkeeper. Asprilla attempted a bicycle kick off the rebound but his attempt sailed over the goal.
49' — GOAL (VAN) — Lucas Cavallini headed home a corner kick to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead.
89' — SHOT (POR) — Felipe Mora chested down a long ball from Diego Chara and almost gave the Timbers a tying goal, only to have his snapped shot denied by Maxime Crepeau.
Notes
- The match was the 29th season opener in all eras of the Timbers as a professional team.
- The match was the 97th all-time between the Timbers and Whitecaps FC and the first contest between the two clubs held outside the Pacific Northwest.
- Claudio Bravo and Josecarlos Van Rankin made their MLS debuts in the match.
- With the start, Diego Chara became the first Timbers player to ever play 11 seasons with the club.
- Steve Clark was substituted out of a match for the first time in 159 MLS starts.
- Vancouver’s six shots are the fewest conceded by the Timbers in a match since the 2019 season.
Portland Timbers (0-1-0, 0pts) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1-0-0, 3pts)
April 18, 2021 – Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy, Utah)
Goals by Half
Portland Timbers 0 0 0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
VAN: Cavallini (Gutiérrez), 49
Misconduct Summary:
VAN: Veselinovic (caution), 20
VAN: Baldisimo (caution), 64
POR: Zuparic (caution), 68
Lineups:
POR: GK Clark (Attinella, 78), D Van Rankin, D Mabiala, D Zuparic, D Bravo (Jome, 85), M D. Chara, M Williamson (Paredes, 70), M Y. Chara, M Valeri © (Tuiloma, 85), M Asprilla (Loría, 71), F Mora
Substitutes Not Used: D Bonilla, D McGraw, M Bodily, M Zambrano
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Asprilla, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Asprilla, Mora, 1); FOULS: 14 (Three players tied, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1
VAN: GK Crépeau, D Nerwinski, D Veselinovic, D Rose, D Gutiérrez, M Caicedo (Raposo, 90), M Bikel, M Baldisimo, M Teibert, F Cavallini, F Dajome (Metcalfe, 90)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hasal, D Facchineri, M Pecile, F Egbo, F Bair
TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Caicedo, Cavallini, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Caicedo, Cavallini, 1); FOULS: 14 (Bikel, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Chris Elliott
Fourth Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Victor Rivas
Weather: Clear, 59 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Full coverage of the Timbers' MLS opener against Vancouver
- HIGHLIGHTS | Timbers fall in season opener
- SAVARESE | "These is disappointment
- CHARA | Diego dshares outlook post-Vancouver
- GALLERY | Night in Pictures as Cascadia invades Utah
- STATMAN | #StatMan Three | Diego Chara up to 11 seasons with Timbers
- FARLEY | Positives, lessons should stay in focus
