It’s your move Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Portland Timbers did what they needed to do Wednesday night, win. With the win the Timbers leapfrogged over the Whitecaps into the fifth and final playoff spot. Now if the Whitecaps want that spot back, they must beat the Seattle Sounders Friday night.
MLS Multiplex
I was able to watch a bit of the Timbers match Wednesday night before I went to bed and I must say that the team looks a lot better than they did at the beginning of the year. Their passing seemed crisper and the ball went where they actually wanted it to go. Some will say they looked good Wednesday because of the team they were playing, the San Jose Earthquakes. Are the Earthquakes having a terrible year? Yes, they are, but that doesn’t diminish what the Timbers were able to do.
Diego Valeri was a huge factor again as always. He recorded two goals in Wednesday night’s win to extend his team lead in goals to eleven. The third and final goal of the night was started by Valeri. He received a pass and ran uncontested for about 70-75 yards before passing the ball off. The ball eventually fell to the feet of Rodney Wallace. Wallace took a shot that goalkeeper Jon Busch was able to stop but it redirected right to Valeri who slammed it home for the third and final goal.
Inter Heron
Vancouver needs to win in Seattle to regain the fifth and final playoff spot as well as retain the Cascadia Cup. A tie pulls them to within one point of the Timbers with two games to go.
The Timbers have a week off before playing at home against Real Salt Lake. There is even an outside chance that the Timbers could climb above the five spot if everything works out well for them. It would take a near melt down from RSL and FC Dallas, but the Timbers could make it as high as third place.
Regardless of what happens, it will be a fun ride for Timbers supporters has every game from here on out are must win.
Author’s note: Red, White and Green is Playing for 90′s column aimed at focusing on the Cascadian (Pacific Northwest) teams. In MLS, three teams – Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver – battle for the Cascadia Cup each year. Red, White, and Green will give a critical eye to Cascadia teams. The column is named Red, White, and Green based on the team colors. Red for the Portland Timbers as they are known as “Rose City”, white for the Vancouver Whitecaps as it is their primary color when they play, and lastly green for the Seattle Sounders as they wear “Rave Green” for most matches, home or away.