Timbers grind out a draw

The Portland Timbers needed another gritty comeback to keep their unbeaten streak going against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. Vancouver welcomed the Timbers to BC Place with the vast majority of the 19,823 fans in attendance behind the Whitecaps for the clash with their Cascadia Cup rivals. Going into the game, Portland was in second place in the MLS Western Conference, while the Whitecaps were one spot from the bottom.

The Timbers nearly jumped out to the lead in the 14th minute, as Portland passed the ball around the perimeter until Diego Valeri found Ryan Johnson, who chipped it back up to the streaking Valeri. Finding a hole in the Whitecap defense, Valeri sent a perfect cross on goal that Vancouver goalkeeper Brad Knighton managed to tip but could not corral. Timbers midfielder Rodney Wallace pounced on the loose ball but got tangled up with several defenders on the goal line, and the Whitecaps managed to clear the ball away.

Portland’s Will Johnson was dealt a yellow card for a foul in the 23rd minute, giving the Whitecaps a free kick at the top of the box. Camilo Sanvezzo took the opportunity to blast a stunning curling shot over the Timbers line and into the top right corner of the goal, just out of reach of goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

The Timbers almost got the equalizer in the 29th minute with some polished passing that led to another solid cross by Valeri to Wallace, who placed a textbook header on goal that required a stellar save by Knighton to avoid the goal.

Portland finally broke through in the 52nd minute after Johnson attempted a shot on goal that a Whitecap defender deflected with his arm, prompting the referee to call for a penalty kick. Johnson faced off with Knighton and caught the Vancouver goalie guessing wrong with his dive to even the game at one-all. Undeterred, the Whitecaps answered right back in the 54th minute with a goal from Gershon Koffie off an assist from Camilo.

It was a physical defensive battle from there. The Timbers received their first red card of the season as Mamadou “Futty” Danso hit the turf with Camilo on a race for a long ball in the 81st minute, and Portland was reduced to a 10-man squad.

Remarkably, the Timbers were able to tie the game just three minutes later. Johnson sent a pass down to Jose Valencia, who brought it through the crowd of Vancouver defenders surrounding him, then stopped on a dime and sent the ball past Knighton to even the score at 2-2. Neither team was able to score in the closing minutes and Portland escaped with a draw, its 10th consecutive game without a loss.

The Timbers are slated to take on D.C. United on May 25 at RFK Stadium. The official viewing party will be held at Mad Greek Deli on East Burnside Street.