VANCOUVER WHITECAPS vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
BC PLACE, Vancouver, British Columbia
MAY 7, 2016 (WEEK 10, MLS GAME #87)
5 pm ET (TSN1/4, MLS LIVE, FOX 12)
The first Cascadia Cup meeting between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Portland Timbers, and first of two in a three-week span is ahead when the old rivals renew acquaintances Saturday afternoon at BC Place. Whitecaps FC return home after seeing a two-game winning run snapped last weekend in a 3-2 loss at New York City FC. The Timbers hit the road after extending their undefeated run to three games last time out, getting a late winner for 2-1 win against Toronto FC on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park.
- Octavio Rivero scored the second-fastest goal in Whitecaps FC’s MLS history, but they weren’t able to hold out, dropping a 3-2 decision to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
- Fanendo Adi moved into a tie atop the MLS Golden Boot standings and Diego Valeri returned from suspension to score his second goal this season directly from a free kick, leading the Timbers to a 2-1 win against Toronto FC on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park, extending their undefeated run to three matches.
- Whitecaps FC have won just twice in 14 all-time MLS meetings between the teams, both of those victories coming in the last six meetings, including a 2-1 win last March 28 at BC Place in the only win by a team in three league meetings last year. The last two three match-ups overall have ended in draws in Portland, including a scoreless result May 2, and a 1-1 draw July 18 in regular season play.
- The ‘Caps have come away with points in four of the last five encounters at Providence Park, with a win and three draws.
- The teams also met in the Western Conference Semifinals a year ago, with the Timbers taking the series with a 2-0 victory in the second leg at BC Place, following a scoreless draw at Providence Park.
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Chris Strickland; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal
MLS Career: 280 games; FC/gm: 25.4; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 70; pens: 73
SUSPENDED: VAN: Kekuta Manneh (through May 8)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: VAN: Octavio Rivero
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: VAN: Kendall Waston -- POR: Alvas Powell, Jermaine Taylor
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME [MLS] (14 meetings): Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 15 goals -- Timbers 6 wins, 23 goals -- Ties 6
AT BC PLACE (6 meetings): Whitecaps FC 1 win, 6 goals -- Timbers 3 wins, 10 goals -- Ties 2
RETURN MATCHES: 5/22: Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 1:30 p.m. PT (ESPN); 10/23: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers, 1 p.m. PT
LAST YEAR (MLS):
3/28: VAN 2, POR 1 (Mezquida 15; Earnshaw 90 - Adi 82)
5/2: POR 0, VAN 0
7/18: POR 1, VAN 1 (Valeri 33 - Laba 57)
- Coaches record: Caleb Porter vs. VAN: P9 W2 L2 T5 -- Carl Robinson vs. POR: P6 W2 L2 T2
