There are plenty of things to like about life in the A-league. The quality of play is good, and the regionalization gives teams a chance to develop rivalries. To name just two. But the schedule makers always seem to find ways to dampen the enthusiasm and the biggest bone of contention among many clubs is the back-to-back games that seem to pop up every year. This was one of those times.
With both Vancouver and Portland struggling to regain form from last year, they met for the second of a home and home series Sunday night at Swangard Stadium. Portland had taken the first game 3-1 for only their second positive result of the season. It was the Whitecaps first loss in 3 games having won the previous two in Cincinnatti and Indiana.
Maybe it was a case of tired legs at the beginning for Vancouver and at the end for Portland: the game fizzled out of the gate, being hampered by close marking, closer refereeing, and an inability to hold on to the ball for any measurable length of time. 
The early going certainly did not measure up for the 4,037 sun-drenched supporters that turned out. But the game did have its moments, particularly after the break in a noticably-improved second half. It ended in the 100th minute on a goal of exceptional quality by the soon-to-depart Jason Jordan. His blast evened the season series on a glorious evening in Vancouver. As the sun went down, and Jordan finished off the game, Vancouver fans saw the last goal he would score in a Vancouver uniform.
Jordan has been watched for a while by the Colorado Rapids of MLS and admitted on Sunday that a contract was going to be finalized very soon and that it would probably be his final game for the Whitecaps. On a night when most of the lineup put on a workmanlike performance, Jordan stood out. With tenacity and skill in abundance, Jordan took on the weary Portland defenders and was a danger all evening.
Timbers coach Bobby Howe has had his work cut out for him . An inability to score goals has hampered the club all year and ruined some good performances. But Portland have reshuffled since the season began and the changes have begun to pay off. Newly-signed striker Greg Howes has added some depth up front for the Timbers and he was a lively presence Sunday night. This team should be getting results, and perhaps the next few weeks will be better than the first few.
Howes' tireless running set the tone early for the visitors and any questions about playing the second game in as many nights were answered by good spells of posession. Perhaps they sensed a hesitancy in the Whitecaps, who seemed more content to sit back in the early going. But neither team was able to mount anything inside the final third of the field. Neither Portland's veteran Matt Napoleon nor Vancouver's rookie Alex Marques were tested to any degree in the quiet first half.
Things improved dramatically in the second half, and barely 2 minutes in the excellent Napoleon was forced to make a fingertip save on a 15 yard blast from Jordan. The moment seemed to lift the game from lethargy. There seemed to be a few more holes in the defence to run through and the Whitecaps sensed the openings. The introduction of David Morris brought fresh legs up front for the 'Caps and the Timbers' Costigan, McCauley and Wilkinson suddenly found the going just a bit harder. Morris worked the right side of the park with great determination, finding channels to run into and every now and again dug out a cross for the waiting Kindel or Jordan.
The Timbers defence dealt capably with the problems that were being created, until the 56th minute when the Whitecaps almost stole the opener. Newly-signed midfielder Nick Dasovic (who was filling in on defence) stepped up to intercept a clearing header and promptly send the ball hurling into the box. Jason Jordan, with the ball on his feet and only the keeper to beat, jinked to his left and left the helpless Napoleon stretched out and unable to do anything. But the ball agonizingly deflected further left to a waiting Steve Kindel who had the easiest of tap-ins. But the goal was called back, and I'm assuming it was for offside: you see, the flag was never raised. There was certainly no question of a foul (there was no-one to foul), so it leave one thinking that the referee went solo in disallowing the goal.
The Whitecaps nearly paid for it. Not long after, the impressive Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar produced a stunning drive from 25 yards that rang clean off the crossbar. With Marques standing helpless, the ball fell directly in front of goal to Fadi Afash who went one better than his teammate and put it over the bar. The ball really should have went in the goal, but shades of early-season poor finishing did the Timbers in. It would cost them in the extra session.
Steve Kindel produced the breakthrough in the 100th minute when he took a throw from Marques and ran the length of the pitch on the left, drawing the keeper out , before feeding a terrific ball to a waiting Jordan who smashed home past a helpless Napoleon from the right side. It was a deserved win against a hard-working Portland side who probably should have ended the match earlier.
Vancouver (all white w/blue trim) 15shots
Marques(2 saves); Berg, Coppin, Dasovic; Dailly, Kindel, Valente, Clarke; King, Jordan, Heald
Portland (green shirts and socks, white shorts) 7 shots
Napoleon( 8 saves);Costigan, McCauley, Wilkinson, Sancho; Somoza, Alcaraz-Cuellar, Winters, Sagare; Howes, Afash
attendance 4,037
photos courtesy Tim Henschel
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