Hip Hip Chara!

Portland Timbers 2 : 1 Vancouver Whitecaps

Woe Canada

Chara scored his first ever MLS goalPhoto: John May

John Spencer was full of praise for Diego Chara who scored his first ever Timbers goal today, claiming that on this show, the Colombian could play in the Premier League.

That may be hyperbole and there was certainly no glory in beating a toothless Whitecaps side just 2-1 but the three points were invaluable in their chase to keep up with the wild card race, as well at their lingering Cascadia Cup hopes.

Perlaza also scored and it was not until the dieing minutes that Camilo scored a consolation.

There were some surprises in the opening line up. Eric Brunner was relegated to the bench in a Portland defence to which Lovel Palmer returned from suspension. Mustapha Jarju also found himself on the bench with Davide Chiumiento starting. Bright Dike made the bench as he continues his gradual return from injury.

Portland opened the scoring after just 78 seconds. Gershon Koffie was robbed by Kenny Cooper and referee Marrufo waved play on. The ball was worked up the field via Jorge Perlaza to Diego Chara, who scored his first MLS goal. It was the fastest Timbers’ goal in their MLS history, beating Jack Jewsbury’s record by 12 minutes.

A period of Portland domination and Vancouver chaos followed. Palmer even tried a long distance shot in the 9th minute. Whatever game plan the Caps arrived with had already fallen apart.

Jay DeMerit miskicked completely in the 11th minute and was lucky the ball ran through to Joe Cannon too quickly for Perlaza to capitalise.

What little possession Vancouver had in the first quarter of an hour they wasted or gave away. Indeed it was Timbers defender Futty Dansou who came closest of any player to troubling Troy Perkins when he deflected behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

Photo: Kelly McLain

Finally, just after the 15th minute Vancouver had a shot as Koffie tried a piledriver from 28 yards. It was wide, but it was a shot.

Caps threatened only briefly in the 26th minute when Perkins flapped a Camilo corner. At the other end, Joe Cannon managed to get down just before the half hour and hold another effort from Chara.

In the 31st minute a Jordan Harvey sliding challenge on Palmer went unnoticed by the referee, whose eyes had followed the ball. Palmer felt it, and had Marrufo seen it, Harvey would have been lucky to stay on the pitch.

A minute later, Perlaza had doubled the lead. From a run of the mill Jewsbury set piece on the left Vancouver failed to clear. The first three touches were all from Timbers players, and when you allow that in your own penalty box you can expect no less than to concede goals. More comical goals will be scored this year, just ask Arsenal.

In the 40th minute Camilo managed a shot on target. Sadly for him the target was Troy Perkins, who barely had to move to gather the ball cleanly. A minute later Jewsbury closed the same player down well and blocked his shot, as the Caps’ awakening briefly threatened.

Portland nearly had a third just before half time, but Cooper’s effort was ruled offside.

Neither side made any changes at half time. One other thing didn’t change, and that was Portland threatening the Vancouver goal. Just four minutes into the half, Alhassan had a shot that hit the post with Cannon stranded.

A minute later Pete Vagenas was removed for Mustapha Jarju and the hour mark approached with no real significant hint of late drama to come.

The ineffectual Chiumiento was removed for Shea Salinas in the 63rd minute. Salinas took up his berth in right midfield with Camilo moving left. It only allowed Vancouver the possession a Timbers side were prepared to concede.

Bright Dike came in for his first home appearance since his lengthy injury to a massive reception, replacing Perlaza. He had seen some playing time in San Jose but his reception on his first appearance here was heartening.

Cooper nearly put the ball into his own net in the 72nd minute with a lazy defensive header, the closest Vancouver had come to a goal.

In the 77th minute, Eric Brunner came in for an apparently injured Danso who was stretchered off.

Camilo was booked for using his hand to palm a ball into the net when a cross was too high for his head. If the misdirection of the cross didn’t sum up Vancouver’s night thus far, the fact that he missed the goal anyway probably did.

Then, amazingly, Vancouver scored. Jordan Harvey fed Camilo, who somewhat easily turned David Horst and curled the ball into the net.

Photo: Kelly McLain

Perkins had to be smart off his line in stoppage time as Salgado bore down on him, but it would have been an injustice had Vancouver got anything from this game.

They didn’t, and it was Portland who clasped on by their fingernails to the coattails of the playoff race.

Attendance: 18,627
Portland Timbers
1.Troy Perkins; 4.Mike Chabala, 12.David Horst, 98.Mamdou Danso (5.Eric Brunner 76′), 30.Lovel Palmer; 11.Kalif Alhassan, 21.Diego Chara, 13.Jake Jewsbury, 7.Sal Zizzo; 15.Jorge Perlaza (9.Bright Dike 69′), 33.Kenny Cooper (14.James Marcelin 83′)

Subs not used: 24.Adin Brown, 6.Darlington Nagbe, 22.Rodney Wallace, 26.Brian Umony

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Joe Cannon; 26.Jordan Harvey, 6.Jay DeMerit, 2.Michael Boxall, 12.Jeb Brovsky; 20.Davide Chiumiento (22.Shea Salinas 63′), 33.Peter Vagenas (7.Mustapha Jarju 51′), 28.Gershon Koffie, 11.John Thorrington; 37.Camilo, 29.Eric Hassli (17.Omar Salgado 84′)

Subs not used: 18.Jay Nolly, 14.Greg Janicki, 15.Philippe Davies, 25.Jonathan Leathers