Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 35
BC Place — Vancouver
October 28 — 4:30 pm ET
WATCH: TSN1, ESPN+

The Portland Timbers can possibly wrap up home field for the Knockout Round with a win over a Vancouver Whitecaps side that would love to end the 2018 season with a Decision Day presented by AT&T win over their Cascadia rivals and send Alphonso Davies to Bayern Munich on a positive note.

The Timbers clinched a berth in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with a second consecutive win over Real Salt Lake, winning 3-0 at Providence Park on Sunday, while the Whitecaps were eliminated from postseason contention following a 2-2 draw with LAFC at Banc of California Stadium.

The Whitecaps won the previous meeting between the rivals, 2-1, at Providence Park on Aug. 11. Kei Kamara put the visitors in front in the 14th minute and Cristian Techera doubled that lead two minutes from halftime before Diego Valeri pulled the Timbers to within a goal with a 71st-minute penalty kick.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The effort was better and the rally was fierce, but ultimately Vancouver (12-13-8) fell short of the intended goal of staying alive for the playoffs with a 2-2 draw at LAFC last Sunday.

The 'Caps climbed out of a two-goal hole after Diego Rossi struck for an early brace as Yordy Reyna scored from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute and Jordon Mutch equalized in the 65th minute.

Now the focus shifts to the regular season finale, which doubles as a Davies’ sendoff.

“It’s disappointing,” Davies said. “But yeah, eventually it’s going to come to an end on the weekend so I’m ready for it, I’m preparing for it. … Playing for this club has been a dream come true.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: F - Marvin Emnes (left adductor strain), M - Efrain Juarez (right calf strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1, right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Doneil Henry, Brett Levis — Ali Ghazal — Brek Shea, Russell Teibert, Yordy Reyna, Alphonso Davies — Kei Kamara

Notes: Kamara has 112 goals in his MLS career. He needs just three goals to become the fifth all-time leading scorer, passing Ante Razov (114) for the spot. … The Whitecaps have lost four of their last six games in MLS play (1W-1D). They are on pace to become the 14th team in league history to average 2.0 goals against in a season.

Portland Timbers

Portland (15-9-9) booked their ticket to the MLS Cup Playoffs with a convincing 3-0 home win over reeling Real Salt Lake on Sunday.

Larrys Mabiala latched onto a Valeri free kick to put the Timbers in front on the quarter hour. Diego Chara made it 2-0 in the 68th minute before Sebastian Blanco put the icing on the cake three minutes from full time.

“It feels good because it’s been hard work during the entire season, and the guys have worked very hard to get to this point,” Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese said. “So I’m very proud for them.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Roy Miller (right thigh injury), GK - Jake Gleeson (bilateral tibial stress fracture surgery); QUESTIONABLE: GK - Jeff Attinella (shoulder injury), D - Alvas Powell (head injury), GK - Kendall McIntosh (head injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jeff Attinella — Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Liam Ridgewell, Jorge Villafana — David Guzman, Diego Chara — Andy Polo, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco — Jeremy Ebobisse

Notes: Blanco has nine goals+assists in seven appearances since Sept. 1, tied for the fourth most of any MLS player. He had 10 goals+assists in his 20 previous MLS appearances. … The Timbers’ 4-1 win over Real Salt Lake last weekend snapped a six-game road winless streak (4L-2D) in which they scored five goals total.

All-Time Series

Overall: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5 wins, 28 goals … Portland Timbers 10 wins, 36 goals … 6 draws
At Vancouver: Whitecaps 3 wins, 13 goals … Timbers 4 wins, 14 goals … 2 draws
Last meeting at Vancouver: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1, Portland Timbers 2 (July 23, 2017)