In a match that ended on a bittersweet note, the Portland Timbers took down the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 to secure first place in the Western Conference standings. Yimmi Chara scored the game-winning goal for Portland.
Portland didn’t rotate too heavily, though they did tweak the attacking lineups slightly. Felipe Mora started at the striker position for Jaroslaw Niezgoda while Andy Polo stepped in at the wing for Andres Flores.
It was a good start for Portland in this one. Although they didn’t get a score in the first 15 minutes — something they’ve been stellar at all season — they put a lot of pressure on Vancouver’s defense.