Own goal propels Timbers past Whitecaps

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:04 am

The Portland Timbers took advantage of a Vancouver own goal in the 66th minute and protected the lead while notching a 1-0 victory over the host Whitecaps on Friday night.

Felipe Mora's shot was knocked into the net by Vancouver's Ranko Veselinovic, and it held up as the match's lone tally.

Steve Clark made three saves while registering his third straight shutout and fourth of the season for the Timbers (10-10-3, 33 points). Portland has won three consecutive matches to move into fifth place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference.

Maxime Crepeau made three saves for Vancouver, which had its franchise-best unbeaten streak halted at 10 (5-0-5). The Whitecaps (7-8-8, 29 points) also had a four-game winning streak snapped and remain in eighth in the West, one spot below the playoff line.

Sebastian Blanco set up the Portland goal with a stellar left-footed cross. Mora was to the right of the goal and shot the ball past Crepeau. Whether or not it would go into the net became moot when the ball caromed off the foot of Veselinovic and into the goal.

Vancouver had a chance to tie in the 77th minute when Deiber Caicedo boomed a long-range, left-footed rocket to the left of Clark. However, Portland's Claudio Bravo was positioned on that side of the net and deflected the ball away with his legs to prevent the goal.

The Whitecaps fell to 3-1-0 in four matches played in Vancouver this season. The team was housed in Sandy, Utah, most of the season before playing in British Columbia for the first time on Aug. 21.

The Whitecaps had a 14-11 edge in shots.

The Timbers had two solid chances in the 55th minute.

First, Bravo's left-footed shot was wide left. Dairon Asprilla had the other opportunity, and his right-footed blast curved to the left of the net.

Portland's top first-half chance came in the fifth minute, when Mora sent a short-range right-footed shot well over the net.

Erik Godoy had a solid chance in the 18th minute for the Whitecaps, but his right-footer was high and wide right of the net.