VANCOUVER 鈥� It wasn鈥檛 the way the Vancouver Whitecaps wanted to clinch a playoff spot.
The Whitecaps got an early goal from attacker Brian White but missed a couple of scoring chances late in the game to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers on Saturday night that assured them a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs.
White opened the scoring in the third minute. Early in the second half he bounced a shot off the post. Midfielder Andres Cubas also hit a post in extra time.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e a little disappointed not to come away with three points,鈥� said White, who scored his 15th goal of the season, tying the career high he set last year. 鈥淲e hit the post twice in the second half.
鈥淲e鈥檒l take the point, we鈥檒l move forward, but I think we鈥檙e disappointed.鈥�
Portland鈥檚 Jonathan Rodriguez tied the match in the 44th minute. The Timbers pressured Vancouver for much of the game.
Despite the result head coach Vannie Sartini was blunt in his assessment.
Sartini said 鈥淧ortland is a big hype all around the league,鈥� and that some people believe the Timbers 鈥渃an be a dark horse鈥� come the playoffs.
鈥淲e killed them,鈥� said Sartini. 鈥淲e destroyed them. I鈥檓 just (upset) that we didn鈥檛 win.鈥�
The early goal might have made the Whitecaps overconfident.
鈥淚鈥檓 frustrated because it should have been 3-0 for us,鈥� said Sartini. 鈥淲e were 鈥� too soft. Subconsciously I think we thought it was going to be easier.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 go through with the killer instinct we should have.鈥�
Vancouver (13-9-8) sits seventh in the MLS Western Conference with 47 points. The Whitecaps' draw, combined with FC Dallas losing 3-1 to Orlando City SC and Austin FC drawing 2-2 with Real Salt Lake, clinched Vancouver a playoff berth for the second consecutive season and the third time in the last seven years.
Portland (12-10-9) holds the ninth and final playoff spot in the West with 45 points.
White鈥檚 goal came before some of the 25,902 fans at BC Place Stadium had found their seats.
Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter sent a pass from the corner to the front of the net. Levonte Johnson let the ball pass in front of him to White, who beat Portland goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, a former Whitecap.
A good play by midfielder Santiago Moreno and some bad Vancouver luck resulted in the Timbers tying the game near the end of the opening half.
Moreno threaded Rodriquez a pass through the Whitecaps' defence. Rodriquez took a left-footed shot from the side of the net that hit the foot of defender Bjorn Inge Utvik, deflecting the ball past the outstretched hand of goaltender Yohei Takaoka.
With their playoff spot secured, the Whitecaps hope to move up the standings and claim home-field advantage.
Vancouver sits just three points back of fourth-place Colorado and five points out of third place.
鈥淚t was always the goal to make the playoffs,鈥� said White. 鈥淢ore importantly, we want to be as high up in the standings as we can. There鈥檚 more work to do.鈥�
Sartini would like to see his team finish in the top four, but thinks the conference is up for grabs.
鈥淚n the Western Conference, the seventh (place team) can win because there鈥檚 not too much different between all the teams,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to fight to get in the top four. I think we are setting up ourselves nicely.鈥�
NOTES
It was a busy week for the Whitecaps who defeated Toronto FC Wednesday night to win their third consecutive Canadian Championship. Last Saturday Vancouver lost 4-2 to the Galaxy in Los Angeles. 鈥� Vancouver played without captain Ryan Gauld (strained knee) and wing back Ali Ahmed (quad injury). 鈥� The clubs split their previous two meetings this season with Vancouver winning 3-2 at home March 30 then losing 2-0 in Portland on June 22. 鈥� The Whitecaps play three of their remaining four games at home. They end the season on the road against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 19.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps host the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday at BC Place Stadium.
Portland returns home to play Austin FC on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2024.
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
