Timbers fall 3-2 to Vancouver in final minute of play

BURNABY, B.C.
– The Portland Timbers dropped a 3-2 decision to the Vancouver Whitecaps on a last-minute goal by Steve Klein before 5,337 at Swangard Stadium.




With Vancouver leading 2-1 in stoppage time, Edwin Miranda sailed in an improbable goal from 30 yards out to tie the match at 2-2, seemingly handing the Timbers a hard-fought draw on the road.




But Vancouver (5-1-2, 17pts) had the last say with just seconds remaining in the game, pushing forward and stealing the win when Klein got a head on the ball in-close and bounced it past Portland goalkeeper Josh Saunders.




The Timbers (4-3-3, 15pts) finish their four-game road trip with a 1-3 record and head back to PGE Park to host Puerto Rico on Thursday, June 16. Kickoff is 7 p.m. (Pacific).




After playing the majority of the first half to a 0-0 draw, Vancouver jumped out to the lead with back-to-back goals near the end of the period.




The first strike came in the 39th minute when Alfredo Valente was taken down inside the box by Aaron Heinzen. Valente converted the penalty kick, giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead.




Martin Nash followed up the 40th with a goal of his own, slicing through several Portland defenders and unloading on a hard, low shot that found its way into the back of the net.




The Timbers avoided the shutout in the 78th minute with a goal from Tom Poltl, who tallied his second strike of the season when Dan Antoniuk set the midfielder up with a cross to the far side.




The Timbers return home to take on the Puerto Rico Islanders on Thursday, June 16 at PGE Park. Kickoff is 7 p.m. (Pacific).




TIMBERS NOTES:
The Timbers drop to 1-8-1 all-time at Swangard Stadium with the loss … Thursday’s match at PGE Park is the first-annual “Pugs at the Park,” with the 12 best-dressed pugs from the Pug Crawl featured at halftime … Portland goalkeeper Saunders was recalled by the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS for Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake.




SCORING SUMMARY:
Valente, 39’ (PK); Nash, 40’ (UA), Poltl, 78’ (Antoniuk); Miranda, 90’ (UA); Klein, 90’ (Trout).




MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
POR Alvarez, YC (26’), S. Saunders, YC (45’), Wilkinson, YC (56’), Poltl, YC (71’).




LINEUPS:
PORTLAND (4-3-3) J. Saunders GK, S. Saunders D (Higgins 89’), Thompson D, Wilkinson D, Morrison D, Miranda M, Winters M, Poltl M, Heinzen M (Alcaraz-Cuellar 62’), Antoniuk F, Alvarez F (Benedetti 79’); VANCOUVER (5-1-2) M. Franks GK, Kindel D, Lyall D (C. Franks 75’), deSilva D, Harmse D, Clarke M, Klein M, Nash M, Valente M (Morris 56’), Gjertsen F (Frazao 77’) (Trout 86’), Jordan F (Corrazzin 77’).