PORTLAND, Ore.
– Forward Doug DeMartin took a team-high four shots and goalkeeper Steve Cronin recorded one save to secure the shutout as the Portland Timbers played the Vancouver Whitecaps to a hard-fought, scoreless draw before 9,017 at PGE Park on Saturday.
The Timbers backline held the Whitecaps to just six shots in the contest – three in each half. Cronin’s lone save came midway through the second half, aiding in his sixth shutout of the season and his second consecutive shutout in league play.
Led by DeMartin’s four shots, the Timbers (5-5-5, 20pts) had 10 different players attempt shots on the night. Defender Mamadou Danso put one of his two shots off the crossbar, forward Mandjou Keita had a close chance tipped away and midfielder Derek Gaudet took his first two shots of the season as Portland out-shot Vancouver 20-6.
The Timbers move into a two-way tie with the NSC Minnesota Stars for third place in the USL Conference with the draw, and are now unbeaten in their last three USSF Division-2 Pro League matches.
Goalkeeper Jay Nolly was the difference for the Whitecaps, making seven saves, including five in the first half, to record the shutout. Forward Cornelius Stewart led the way on offense with two shots for Vancouver (6-2-7, 25pts), which wrapped up a five-game road stretch Friday night against the Timbers.
The Northwest rivals played out another physical contest at PGE Park. The Timbers had the better share of scoring opportunities in the first half, out-shooting the Whitecaps 8-3. DeMartin forced Nolly into his first save of the night in the 12th minute with a hard, rolling shot from the top of the box.
Timbers defender Steve Purdy got involved on the offensive end throughout the night. Just after the half hour mark, he unloaded a shot from distance on frame. His right-footed blast hit off Nolly’s chest, but the goalkeeper was able to secure the deflection and end the threat.
Midfielder George Josten had the Timbers’ best chance of the stanza in the 45th minute. A corner kick by midfielder Rodrigo Lopez found Josten at the top of the six yard box. Josten powered a header on frame, but Nolly was in position to turn it away with a quick reaction save.
The Timbers had two solid chances to take the lead inside the first 10 minutes of the second half. In the 50th minute, Danso was on the receiving end of a corner kick deep inside the box. His header hit off the crossbar near the top left corner of the frame.
In the 57th minute, defender Josh Cameron played a long ball into the box from the left side. Located in front of the right post, Keita out-jumped his defender and aimed his first shot of the night just under the crossbar. Nolly stretched out and tipped Keita’s header from 12 yards out over the bar at the last second to keep the deadlock in place.
The two sides traded chances late, seeking the full three points. In the 80th minute, Lopez connected with second-half sub Ryan Pore on a centering pass at the top of the box. With space, Pore pushed his shot wide of the left post.
Chasing down a ball played over the top, Vancouver’s Ansu Toure got free down the left side. His shot from inside the box rolled under a diving effort by Cronin and continued wide of the far stick in the 88th minute. On the final play of the night, Nolly made a key stop on a Timbers header right on the doorstep to keep the home side from stealing a late goal.
The Timbers play host to the Miami FC Blues in their next match on Saturday, July 10, at PGE Park at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12 in advance and are available through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at
www.ticketmaster.com
or by phone (800) 745-3000.
Notes:
Playing in the midfield, George Josten made his first start for the Timbers since May 13 … Portland midfielder Derek Gaudet started his third consecutive league match Saturday against Vancouver … The Timbers are unbeaten in their last five meetings against the Whitecaps at PGE Park (3-0-2) … Portland and Vancouver will play the final two games of the four-game, regular-season series between the two clubs in British Columbia during the second half of the season.
Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Purdy, D Keel, D Danso, D Cameron, M Lopez, M McManus, M Gaudet, M Josten (Pore, 71), F DeMartin (Dike, 63), F Keita
VAN: GK Nolly, D Knight, D Tsiskaridze, D Akwari, D Janicki, M Davies (Steele, 58), M Nash, M Bellisomo, M Wagner (Edwini-Bonsu, 78), F Stewart (Toure, A., 73), F Khalfan (Moose, 82)
Scoring Summary:
None
Timbers player ratings (as submitted by members of the Portland media; scale of 1-10):
Starters
GK - Steve Cronin - 8, D – Josh Cameron - 8, D - Stephen Keel - 7.5, D – Steve Purdy - 8, D – Mamadou Danso - 8, M – Derek Gaudet – 7, M – Rodrigo Lopez – 7, M - Tony McManus – 7.5, M – George Josten - 7, F - Mandjou Keita - 7.5, F – Doug DeMartin – 7
Subs
F – Bright Dikie – 7.5, M – Ryan Pore – 7
