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Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps at Providence Park, Portland, OR (photo by Diego G Diaz).
The rain poured down in Portland as the Timbers opened their 2025 MLS season and 50th year as a club by hosting Cascadia rival, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The Timbers were looking for retribution for the way Vancouver ended their season last year in an 0-5 loss at home.
Unfortunately for Portland and all the fans who braved the rain, it wasn’t in the cards.
Portland had four starters unavailable due to injury or green card eligibility. This gap in the starting lineup made it possible for three new players: defender Jimer Fory, midfielder Joao Ortiz, and forward Kevin Kelsy. Four new acquisitions filled out the bench including new designated player midfielder David Da Costa.
The first half started with Timbers’ keeper Maxime Crépeau saving a shot by Brian White in the 3rd minute that was later ruled offside. In the 11th minute Portland defender Kamal Miller was given a red card by head referee Victor Rivas for denial of a goal scoring opportunity after he chased down White on a breakaway run and stopped him just outside the box. Vancouver missed the free kick and subsequent corner kick opportunity.
Max made another save in the 18th minute when Ryan Gauld took a shot from the center of the box. In the 24th minute Crépeau kicked a low ball directly to the feet of Whitecaps midfielder Jayden Nelson, who’s assist to Gould led to Vancouver’s first goal of the match.
Vancouver celebration at Providence Park, Portland, OR (photo by Diego G Diaz).
Nelson had his second assist just eight minutes later when he connected with Pedro Vite on the left corner of the box. Vite’s strike went soaring over a jumping Crépeau and put Vancouver up 2-0 in the 32nd minute.
Vancouver received the first caution card of the match in the 36th minute when Joao Ortiz went to ground holding his knee after being fouled by Whitecaps Andres Cubas. Portland took the break in play to make their first substitution of the night, bringing on defender Eric Miller for forward Felipe Mora, creating a true back 4 and moving Antony up as a winger to help Kelsy.
The Whitecaps continued to press the Timbers, who were obviously stretched thin due to playing a man down since the 11th minute. White, Adekugbe, and Berhalter all had shots on goal in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Gauld had a shot saved by Max in the 45th +6 minute just before the whistle.
Timbers head coach, Phil Neville, made a half time substitution replacing David Ayala with David Da Costa and the energy shift was palpable in the stadium. Da Costa created a drive in the Timbers that was matched in energy by the Timbers Army.
Kevin Kelsy had a header in the 46th minute, assisted by Da Costa, that was saved by Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.
Jaden Nelson made a fast sprint down the pitch with the ball after an unsuccessful Portland corner kick in the 53rd minute. Ortiz tried to catch up, but Nelson was able to take the ball to the center of goal and pass to Sam Adekugbe, who easily made it 3-0 for Vancouver.
Da Costa and McGraw: MLS Opener match between the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps at Providence Park, Portland, OR (photo by Diego G Diaz).
Da Costa took a shot for Portland in the 60th minute that went just to the left of the goal. A minute later, Nelson added a goal to his three assists when he collected the ball from just shy of center field and drove past Ortiz again to put it in the back of the net himself. The Timbers Army was yelling for a handball after it was clearly shown on a replay, but the goal stood, and no handball was called.
Vancouver made their first substitutions in the 62nd bringing off Nelson and Cubas for Ahmed and Priso. Jimer Fory and Pedro Vite traded fouls in the 63rd minute that resulted in Fory earning a yellow card for the Timbers.
Portland made two substitutions in the 66th minute replacing one young defender, Finn Surman, with another, Ian Smith, and bringing on Christian Paredes for Ortiz.
The Timbers continued to look for ways past Vancouver’s defense and showed more determination at this point in the match than they did during their last match against the Whitecaps. Antony was able to pull one back and get the Timbers on the board in the 73rd minute. Kelsy did a great job reading the play and stripping the ball from Vancouver within their own 20 yards. His shot was blocked but Antony was there on the follow through run to connect for a goal.
Antony after scoring the first Timbers goal of the season. (photo by Diego G Diaz).
Both teams made some late substitutions with Lassiter coming in for Antony in the 86th minute. Ryan Gauld earned a yellow card for Vancouver in the 89th for fouling Paredes.
There were 5 minutes of stoppage time added to the second half. Neither team seems to have much left in them after a soaking wet match. Vancouver 4, Timbers 1.
