Nagbe, Timbers beat Whitecaps 2-1

PORTLAND, Ore. — Darlington Nagbe scored a spectacular goal and Darren Mattocks added his first of the season as the Portland Timbers defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Nagbe’s highlight reel strike came in the 18th minute, when he received a pass 30 yards from goal and danced away from two Vancouver defenders. Moving toward the penalty area, he shrugged off a challenge by Kendall Watson, who has an eight inch and 50 pound advantage. Nagbe finished the play by blasting a right-footed shot from 20 yards out over Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted and off the bottom of the crossbar for his second goal of the season.

Portland doubled their lead in the 39th minute, with Nagbe involved again. His threaded pass found Diego Valeri on the right wing, who then drove a cross into the Vancouver penalty area. Mattocks was racing into the area and met the cross, driving the ball past Ousted from 5 yards out and heaping more misery on his former team. Mattocks played for Vancouver from 2012-2015.

“We played very well barring the two goals. We probably had better chances than them in the first half but were down 2-0,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson.

Vancouver got back into the game in the 59th minute, when Matias Laba was fouled in the Portland penalty area. Fredy Montero’s penalty kick was blocked by Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, but Montero was first to the rebound and knocked it in for his fourth goal of the season. Attinella was making his first appearance for Portland, starting in place of Jake Gleeson, who was out due to a hip flexor injury.

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It was Montero’s fifth career goal against Portland and first game against them as a member of the Whitecaps. He was a member of Portland’s other Cascadia rival, the Seattle Sounders, from 2009-2012.

“I think we were the better team, can’t be disappointed with them because I think they put on a strong performance,” said Robinson. 

“Disappointment because we get no points, but really pleased with the performance.”

Portland’s win was marred by an apparent knee injury to star midfielder Valeri, who was stretchered off the field in the 80th minute.

It was the 88th meeting between the two teams, dating back to 1975 when both were in the North American Soccer League.

The Associated Press