Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Portland Timbers – Playoff Semifinals (Leg 2) Game Preview
Sunday, Nov. 8th, 10:00 p.m. ET. BC Place, Vancouver, BC.
The second leg of the Major League Soccer Western Conference Semifinals between the two sides, with Vancouver Whitecaps hosting Portland Timbers following a goalless draw in Portland on Sunday.
Hosts Vancouver Whitecaps did not get all the deserved attention this MLS season, yet still managed to have the best season in the club’s history. And up until the first leg, they were considered the favourites to win visitors Portland Timbers.
The last stretch of the regular Major League Soccer 2015 season was a slump for the Whitecaps, starting October with a 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes, onto a 0-0 draw at home against FC Dallas, and a 2-0 defeat at Dallas a week after. Vancouver did manage to exit the season gracefully with a 3-0 home win against Houston Dynamo on the last game of the season.
Visitors Portland Timbers started this MLS season poorly, but started to pick themselves up around midseason, and even manged to clinch a playoff position in the ruthless Major League Soccer Western Conference.
The Timbers won all games in October, including an impressive 5-2 win at LA Galaxy, followed by the last game of the MLS regular season, where Portland won 4-1 against the Colorado Rapids at home.
In the MLS Playoff knockout stage, Portland won one Sporting Kansas City in one of the most dramatic penalty shootouts in Major League Soccer History, with over 11 rounds. Goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey converted a penalty and saved one in the final round, giving Portland a ticket to the MLS Playoff Semifinals.
The teams met three times this Major League Soccer 2015 regular season, with Vancouver winning 2-1 at home in March, followed by a goalless draw in May and a 1-1 draw in July, both at Portland.
