Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
Thoughts on the win…
“I think we managed both legs really well. We didn’t give up the away goal which led into this game. We knew they would want to come out, and yet we wanted to be aggressive as well. We went for the first goal, and we got it. It was something we worked on, in terms of getting in that left channel. It was a great goal. Then that meant now that we could manage the game with the ball, which we did second half. You saw the possession that we had and we were able to keep them from attacking by doing that, and keep them from playing the transition game they like to play by slowing the tempo down with the ball. We were very patient and organized and they had a hard time breaking us down and then we found the counterattack, which I knew would be on as they tried to push because they needed two goals after we found the first one. So I thought it was very well managed overall.”
On Norberto Paparatto having to sub in for injured Jorge Villafaña…
“They needed two goals, so they started just throwing numbers forward and putting guys in up top so it made sense to put Paparatto in and push Liam over to left back, he can sit in and we can play almost with three central defenders. So it made sense at that stage in the game. And then when they made their last move putting Earnshaw in, then we went to two holding mids, just to kind of give us an extra number defensively. But listen, it’s the players, it’s nothing to do with my moves or things I do. It’s them playing inside the lines. This team, they play for each other, they’re very hungry, and the last six games we’re unbeaten. The last six games we’ve been in playoff mode, we’ve been under massive pressure. For this group to play the football they’re playing, under pressure, is a really good sign. Four teams left, and three games to go, and we have two teams in our way.”
On two weeks before the next match…
“We need to recharge and recover from this game, we have time to do that. And then we need to get back to training, and keep getting better. I think we’re still scratching the surface of the level this team can play at. Today we did some things we haven’t done all year. So that’s exciting, because I think we can still, in the next couple of weeks, go to another level.”
On facing FC Dallas…
“Very good team, but we’ve been playing good teams late in the year. Like I said, we’ve been in playoff mode. I think that’s helped us. I think our experience in the playoffs helped us in this series. We’ve already won a playoff series versus Seattle [in] 2013. I think this is now our fourth win in the playoffs. The maturity we showed today, the professionalism we showed in managing this leg, and both legs, I thought was visible. Obviously Dallas is a good team, but we’ve been beating good teams. I know these guys will be up for it.”
Portland Timbers forward Fanendo Adi
On his match-winning goal…
“That was just something we practice at training. When I saw Diego [Valeri] on the ball, I knew he was going to cut it back. We talked about getting [Kendall] Waston out of the box and he followed the ball. I knew he was going to cut it back and I just stayed in position. The ball came and I hit it well.”
On the Timbers attack clicking tonight…
“It’s massive. It’s just understanding. We’ve trained and played a lot with these guys. You understand their movement and your movement as well. It’s just an understanding and it worked very well for us today.”
On Diego Chara’s late goal…
“That was a massive goal. It’s almost the same goal he got against, I think, FC Dallas. He won the ball and I was in position so he gave it to me. I just let [Kendall] Waston get to my side again and give the ball back to him and he did a great job finishing well.”
On playing against Kendall Waston…
“It’s always a good battle going up against such a good player. He’s big and he challenges you to be very focused to challenge balls against him. It was a great battle. I’m glad we came out victorious.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chara
On tonight’s win…
“Our mentality tonight was to win. We tried to keep the ball and manage the tempo. We were effective with our chances. These were the real key for us.”
On his late goal…
“My role is to defend but sometimes I find space to attack, and tonight I did.”
On facing FC Dallas…
“FC Dallas are a good team. They have good players. The first leg will be at home and we need to win that.”
On Fanendo Adi’s goal…
“We’re confident in him because he can score. It was a great moment for him.”
Portland Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell
On tonight’s win…
“Last time we were here, it was disappointing. They scored in the very last minute. It was very satisfying tonight. The boys played fantastic. I thought we deserved to win. I’m looking forward to the next game.”
On Robert Earnshaw’s performance…
“He tried his luck. Rob has always done that back home and since coming over here. I think we did well tonight as a team defensively. They couldn’t break us down. As soon as we got the first goal, we knew they had to get two. [Diego] Chara put the icing on the cake. It was fantastic.”
On the team’s celebration after Diego Chara’s goal…
“It was fantastic. The goal at the end certainly put the nail in the coffin. Everyone celebrating together was fantastic. That’s what we’ve been about over the last two and half months. Riding the wave, everyone together. We’re looking to do that next game.”
Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson
Thoughts on the match changing when Kekuta Manneh came off…
“Well, first of all I want to congratulate Portland, a credit to them for winning the game today, winning the two leg series. So, congratulations to them. It changed, dramatically. I think the kid started like a house on fire and put us in the ascendency with playing front football, and hit the two and have one or two half chances, then it changes. But when it’s not your day, it’s not your day and today, it wasn’t our day. We didn’t score a goal over two legs. When you don’t score a goal over two legs, unless you’re lucky and go to penalties and win, you’re not going to win a game of football, and that’s what happened.”
On if not getting the away goal in Portland was key to the match…
“I’ll never know, I suppose. As I said, they are disappointed today, disappointed for the guys in there, but really proud of them. They should come away from this season, we’ve achieved a lot of things at this football club and they should be proud of themselves. Disappointed, yes, we’ve missed an opportunity, a missed opportunity for us this year. But, we’re a young group of players and we’ll learn from it. As I said to you when I first walked in here, credit to Portland. They’re a good team.”
Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted
Thoughts on the match…
“Right now I’m very disappointed. Over 180 minutes we weren’t good enough. I’m proud of where we are and where we came to with this group, the growth we’ve shown throughout the year, but it’s a step short of where I wanted to go.”
On having an early chance to get the go-ahead goal…
“Obviously, we hit the post and Adam got it outside with, I think it was his neck. And obviously if that goes in it’s a different game. But like I say, all-in-all we don’t want to stand here and make excuses. Over 180 minutes I think Portland were the better team.”
On the atmosphere…
“We’ve had fantastic fans the whole year, and this is what we want as an organization, we want 27,000 here every time. We want at one point being able to open up this whole stadium. This is a step in the right direction, but like I say it’s a step short of where we wanted to go.”
Notes:
- The win on Sunday marked Portland’s second Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs match against Vancouver and their 12th postseason meeting across all eras since 1975.
- Sunday’s match was Portland’s seventh MLS Cup Playoffs game since 2011.
- Portland recorded its second straight shutout in the MLS Cup Playoffs, also earning a clean sheet in a scoreless draw against Vancouver on Nov. 1 in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals.
- Portland has played Vancouver in 12 of its 36 all-time postseason matches since 1975. The Timbers are 5-5-2 against the Whitecaps in the postseason and have outscored Vancouver, 13-11.
- The second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals marked Portland’s fourth game in the last 15 days, including the regular-season finale (Oct. 25), Western Conference Knockout Round against Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 29) and conference semifinals first leg against Vancouver (Nov. 1).
- Sunday’s match marked the 84th all-time meeting between Portland and Vancouver since 1975. Portland improved its record to 31-35-18 overall.
- Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri and Rodney Wallace have started each of Portland’s seven MLS Cup Playoffs matches since 2011.
- Including the regular season, the Timbers are unbeaten in six consecutive matches (4-0-2), including four straight on the road (4-0-0).
- With the win, the Timbers are 3-0-1 in four Western Conference Semifinals matches since joining MLS.
- Sunday’s match marked Portland’s 36th playoff match, dating back to the 1975 NASL season.
- Midfielder Dairon Asprilla made his first career MLS Cup Playoffs start on Sunday, playing 90 minutes.
- Midfielder Diego Chara made his first start of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday. The start marked his fifth career MLS Cup Playoffs appearance.
- Forward Fanendo Adi tallied his first career MLS Cup Playoffs goal with his first-half strike on Sunday.
- Adi and Chara became the ninth and 10th Timbers to score in a postseason game for Portland since 2011.
- Midfielder Rodney Wallace registered his first career postseason assist on Sunday and has tallied a goal or an assist in two of Portland’s three postseason matches in 2015 (goal vs. Sporting Kansas City, Oct. 29).
- Midfielder Diego Valeri recorded his second assist of the 2015 postseason on Sunday. Valeri led the Timbers with eight assists in the regular season.
- Valeri has had an assist in five of his last six road matches dating back to the regular season.
- Defender Norberto Paparatto made his Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs debut for Portland on Sunday, entering the match as a substitute in the 67th minute.
