Penalty kicks plentiful as Portland Timbers topple Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2

The ‘Caps came into Saturday’s game with a solid home record, having gone 8-1-2 at B.C. Place since last August.

The match marked the 100th all-time meeting between the Timbers and the Whitecaps, dating back to 1975 with games across six different leagues.

Vancouver generated ample chances across the second half, and outshot Portland 17-5 across the game, with a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.

The third penalty kick of the game came early in injury time when Caicedo was taken down by Claudio Bravo.

It took referee Silviu Petrescu several minutes to make the call, though, with the decision coming after a video review.

Gauld took the ensuing kick, firing a left-footed shot into the top corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

The ‘Caps got another penalty in the 87th minute after Gauld was pushed down from behind by Bravo at the top of the penalty area.

Dajome stepped up to take the kick and sent the ball into the Ivacic’s hand as he dove along the goal line.

The Timbers climbed out to a 3-1 lead in the 78th minute after Chara broke through a pair of Whitecaps inside the penalty area and sent a shot past Hasal as he fell to the turf.

Just two minutes earlier, the ‘Caps got on the board when Caicedo sent a ball to Gauld just above the six-yard box, only to see the Scottish midfielder miss the sliding shot.

The ball landed on Dajome’s foot instead and he quickly sent it flying into the top right-hand corner of the net, cutting Vancouver’s deficit to 2-1 with his first goal of the season.

Portland found the back of the net in the 60th minute when Niezgoda got around Vancouver defender Florian Jungwirth at the top of the penalty area and fired a shot in past Hasal to put Portland up 2-0.

The announced crowd of 16,772 erupted in the 58th minute when Caicedo put the ball in the back of the net. But the goal was quickly waved off, with the referee ruling the Colombian forward fouled Larrys Mabiala at the top of the penalty area while stripping him of the ball.

Trouble brewed for Vancouver in the 28th minute when Dajome took out Portland’s Marvin Loria with a flying tackle in the ‘Caps penalty area.

Initially, there was no whistle on the play but minutes later, Petrescu sent the call to video review and awarded a penalty kick.

Asprilla lined up and sent the ball soaring over a diving Hasal and into the top left-hand corner to give Portland a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute.

It was the first goal the ‘Caps have conceded at B.C. Place this season.

Hasal kept the game knotted at 0-0 in the 27th minute when Cristhian Paredes launched a rocket from the top of the box. The Canadian ‘keeper tracked it the entire way and made an easy stop.

The Whitecaps had a prime opportunity to open the scoring in the 16th minute when Cristian Gutierrez sent a ball through traffic to Brian White. The American striker sprinted down the field, fighting off Mabiala, and got a shot off, but the ball went wide off the far post.

NOTES: Whitecaps striker Lucas Cavallini was held out of the lineup due to a non-COVID illness … The Whitecaps hosted their first ever Vaishaki celebration, celebrating the South Asian community and the solar new year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2022.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Penalty kicks plentiful as Portland Timbers topple Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2

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