The Timbers were 7-0 going into this game in matches where they had scored in the first half, and they were creating good chances early, with a golden opportunity to take the early lead coming in the 6th minute when Brian Farber’s cross finding Ryan Pore wide open near the Vancouver penalty spot, but his attempt to full volley the cross missed badly wide right. Five minutes later the Whitecaps had their first good chance when Philippe Davis had an open look from the top of the Timbers box, but his shot was well over the crossbar.

After the Timbers had controlled the first ten minutes, the Whitecaps were now having the run of play and came within inches of taking the lead in the 15th minute when striker Marlon James made a nice run to the top of the Timbers box, and his blast towards the upper right corner slipped inches over the crossbar.

The Timbers would have another good chance in the 21st minute when Takayuki Suzuki made a nice run but his shot from 20 yards out was right at Vancouver goalkeeper Jay Nolly and easily saved. Shortly afterwards, the visitors would nearly score off a corner kick when Chris Poznaik’s header forced a save at the post from Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin.

In the 30th minute, the Timbers would get the go-ahead goal when Johan Claessen played a nice ball to send Pore through alone, and Pore’s shot to the far post looked to be going in on it’s own, but a retreating Wesley Knight put the ball into his own net, and the Timbers had grabbed a 1-0 lead.

After keeping control of possession for much of the rest of the half to try to hold the halftime lead, the Timbers nearly gave up the lead late in the half as Marcus Habler had a few good chances, but the Whitecaps were unable to pull a goal back and the Timbers would hold a 1-0 halftime lead.

Four minutes into the second half, the Whitecaps nearly leveled the score when James made a nice run down the left side into the Timbers box, and his shot towards the upper left corner of the net was only kept out by a nice reaction save from Cronin. Four minutes later, the Whitecaps had another good chance when Gordon Chin cut across the top of the Timbers box, but his shot was right at Cronin and easily saved.

The Timbers had the first of three great chances to double their lead when Farber’s attempt to chip a pass to the far post nearly went in as it slipped only a foot or two over the bar. Two minutes later, it was Pore making a dangerous run into the Whitecaps box down the left side, but his blast was just wide left. Then, the best chance of the three would come in the 59th minute when Farber drew Nolly out as he had slipped past the Vancouver defense, but his shot from near the corner of the six yard box hit square off the far post. One minute later, the Timbers had an equally good opportunity as Pore played a beautiful pass to Mandjou Keita that had the Timbers forward with another one-on-one chance with Nolly, but this time the Whitecaps keeper smothered the shot as he charged off his line.

In the 63rd minute, a bizarre play that seemed to take hours to finish had the Timbers fans holding their breath as Martin Nash headed a corner kick across the Timbers crease, and though it seemed like at least a dozen players had the chance to either clear the ball or put it into the Timbers net, the ball bounced all the way through the crease, with Cronin diving to the touchline to watch it slip harmlessly out for the goal kick.

James would have some good late looks for the Whitecaps as the Timbers attempted to protect their lead, missing just wide left with a header in the 72nd minute, then an open look from 25 yards out in the 81st that was well over the crossbar. But the Timbers were able to control much of the run of play through the two minutes of stoppage time, and held on for the 1-0 victory, and by taking the season series from the Whitecaps by 2 games to 1, securing the Cascadia Cup for the first time.

Jay Nolly had seven saved for the Whitecaps, while Steve Cronin had six for the Timbers.