Whitecaps earn draw vs. Timbers to notch playoff berth

Brian White and Jonathan Rodriguez each scored in the first half as the Vancouver Whitecaps and visiting Portland Timbers recorded a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

The draw was enough to clinch Vancouver (13-9-8, 47 points) a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Whitecaps have surged to the postseason with a 6-2-4 record over their past 12 regular-season matches.

Portland (12-10-9, 45 points) would’ve clinched a playoff berth with a win, but the Timbers are still in good shape to reach the postseason. The Timbers are in ninth place in the Western Conference, eight points ahead of 10th-place FC Dallas.

Just three minutes into the match, Sebastian Berhalter’s cross found White open in the box. White converted the chance for his 15th goal of the season, and his 10th tally in his past nine matches.

After Vancouver struck early, Portland’s response came late in the first half. In the 43rd minute, Rodriguez took a shot in the box that deflected off defender Bjorn Inge Utvik and into the Whitecaps’ net.

Rodriguez has also been hot, as 10 of his team-leading 16 goals have come in his past 12 regular-season matches.

Both teams were missing a star player Saturday. Portland midfielder Evander was serving a one-match suspension for caution accumulation, and Vancouver’s Ryan Gauld didn’t play due to a knee injury.

The Whitecaps seemed to miss Gauld’s absence, as White’s goal marked one of just three shots on target for Vancouver in the match. White missed a second goal in the 52nd minute, as his breakaway attempt resulted in a shot off the goalpost.

Portland outshot Vancouver 13-11, including a 5-3 edge in shots on target. The Timbers were also thwarted by the goalpost in the second half, as Felipe Mora’s attempt in the 59th minute rang off the iron.

–Field Level Media