In just the 2nd minute, the Whitecaps nearly took the lead on an own goal when a header by Portland’s Tommy Poltl required a quick save near the upper corner by Timbers goalkeeper Josh Wicks.

In the 9th minute, Wicks nearly got his third assist of the season when his punt bounced just outside the Whitecaps box, and forward Bryan Jordan nearly got his head to the ball before goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel was able to punch the ball over the line for a corner. Off the ensuing corner kick, the Timbers nearly took advantage of the sun shining in the eyes of the Whitecaps keeper when Andrew Gregor’s corner kick had to be punched off the line as it nearly went straight in off the corner as the keeper was blinded and had to react at the last minute.

The game would be even for much of the night, with both teams keeping good possession for long periods of time before looking to send a player on a deep run, and the Whitecaps nearly made this pay off for them in the 16th minute when Joey Gjertsen made a nice run down the right side, and hit a hard shot from a tough angle that required a diving save from Wicks as it headed towards the far post, with the Timbers keeper smothering the rebound in front of a charging Tony Donatelli.

In the 18th minute, it would be the visitors who would find the net first on a beautiful play by midfielder Martin Nash who made a nice tap to avoid Poltl, then hit a knuckling shot from 25 yards out that hit the upper right corner, a shot Wicks had no chance at, and the Whitecaps had quieted the Timbers fans and took a 1-0 lead.

It would take 11 minutes for the Timbers to equalize on an equally spectacular goal by Gregor. A pass from midfield from Poltl found Gregor near the top of the box, and he chipped the ball over Vancouver defender Narcisse Tchoumi, then back onto his feet and controlled the ball before beating a charging Pfannenstiel and evening the match up at 1-1.

The Whitecaps attempted to score again from distance about two minutes later, but this time it was Donatelli who had an open look from 20 yards out, but shot wide left on a weak shot. Two minutes after that, a Timbers free kick from Gregor found Leonard Griffin with a square ball, but his shot from 30 yards was just high, though it did have pace and was dipping sharply. A few minutes later another Gregor free kick nearly produced a goal, this time finding Jordan’s head just a few yards out as he got to the ball before Pfannenstiel, but put the shot just over the bar.

Just before the end of the half, the Timbers had one last chance to grab the lead when Jordan snuck in behind the defense, but at an angle to keeper’s right as Pfannenstiel charged off his line, and slid the shot just past the far post, and the half would end with the teams tied at 1-1.

The Whitecaps reverted back to their possession game to start the second half, trying to shut down the momentum the Timbers had ended the first half with. The slower game meant the first chance at goal for either team wouldn’t come until the 52nd minute, but a Whitecaps mistake in their own half of the field cost them dearly. A bad pass back by Vancouver was played wide to Portland’s Griffin, who cut back nicely to beat Dave Morris, and his diagonal cross was misplayed by Chris Bagley, but the ball deflected on to Lawrence Olum, who half volleyed from 10 yards out and put the shot just side the right post past a diving Pfannenstiel, and the Timbers had grabbed a 2-1 lead.

In the 68th minute, the Whitecaps would have a great chance to level the score when a chipped pass into the run of Gjersten had the Whitecaps striker looking for an open shot but was not able to get the shot off before a retreating Scot Thompson blocked the shot off his foot and the threat was ended.

The Whitecaps would have the run of play for the next ten minutes, but the Timbers did have one good chance in the 73rd minute when a chipped pass from Kiki Lara into the run of Jordan found the quick Timbers striker making a dangerous run for the ball as Pfannenstiel charged out of his box, barely able to get to the ball first to clear it before leveling Jordan a second later.

In the 78th minute, then again in the 79th minute, the Whitecaps would have several chances near the top of the box, but could not get the shots on-net as the packed-in Timbers defense blocked shot after shot and prevented any tough shots from getting through to Wicks.

The late substitution of David Hague for Jordan allowed the Timbers to start keeping more possession, and a through ball to Hague stopped by a Vancouver handball prevented a one-on-one against Pfannenstiel in the 85th minute, but only the foul was given as no card was produced for the breakaway-denying handball.

In the final minute of regulation, the Whitecaps did start pressing forward again and got series of corner kicks and free kicks that produced no shots on goal during 4 minutes of announced stoppage time that stretched out to 5 minutes and 51 seconds before referee Colin Arblaster finally blew the whistle, and the Timbers had their first victory over Vancouver in their past 11 tries, a 2-1 come from behind victory.

Timbers goalkeeper Josh Wicks recorded four saves in the winning effort, while Lutz Pfannanstiel recorded three saves for the Whitecaps.