Portland Timbers Give Up Lead, Lose 2-1 to the Vancouver Whitecaps

The Portland Timbers went up in the first half but could not hold on through the Vancouver Whitecaps' second half assault, ultimately losing 2-1 under a 26 shot barrage from the home side.

In the early going the match was wide open, with both teams bursting quickly down the pitch looking to catch their opponents off balance. As things settled, though, it was the Whitecaps who had the better chances.

It was the Timbers who broke the game open in the 34th minute, however, as they made the most of a rare moment of sustained pressure around the Vancouver box. With the ball at the feet of Darlington Nagbe, the Timbers' talisman drove toward the edge of the box, playing a quick one-two pass off of Fanendo Adi to break free on goal. With a sharp angle ahead of him for the finish, Nagbe instead played a simple pass across the face of goal, rolling tantalizingly in front of a pair of Whitecap defenders before meeting the sliding finish of Nat Borchers who easily bundled the ball home at the back post.

The 'Caps came charging back after the opener, however, looking for a goal of their own. In the 39th minute, Nicolas Mezquida almost delivered for the hosts, getting on the ball with a clear look on goal just wide of the six yard box. Quickly pulling the trigger, the diminutive Uruguayan looked to roof the ball only for Jake Gleeson to lay out and swat the ball up and over the bar.

As the match ground on, the chances kept coming for the Whitecaps and, in the 60th minute they got the equalizer. With the ball being worked around the box an errant pass caromed off Diego Chara and fell into the path of Whitecaps striker Masato Kudo behind the Timbers back line. With nobody near him, Kudo hit a low, hard shot at the near post, leaving Gleeson only able to wave at the ball as it rippled the back of the net.

The Whitecaps would strike again in the 66th minute. This time Bolaneos hit an in-swinging cross through the box toward substitute Blas Perez. The big Panamanian stood up his defender and tried to put a head on the ball, only to see it go just over him, putting Gleeson off balance as the ball bounced off his legs and into the back of the net, giving the Whitecaps a 2-1 lead.

The Timbers would push for a second goal, but once the Whitecaps had the lead they held it until the final whistle. Despite eleven saves from Gleeson, the Timbers finished the match down 2-1 to Vancouver.

The Timbers are back in action on Wednesday, playing FC Dallas on the road at Toyota Stadium.