Whitecaps FC 2 v Timbers 2 – The MLS Next Pro Home Opener Story in Pictures

Memories of yesteryear were evoked when a Vancouver Whitecaps team took to the pitch at Swangard Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the newly revived WFC2 played their first home game of the MLS Next Pro season in a Cascadian derby against Timbers 2.

A crowd of around 1000 saw an action packed game that saw four goals and late drama as the ‘Caps scored a last ditch equaliser to make it 2-2 and send the game into a penalty shootout, only to lose 4-1 on spot kicks.

The Whitecaps dominated this one, outshooting their opponents 21 to 6, with eight on target to the Timbers three. But Portland took the lead a minute before half time against the run of play when Jamin Gogo Peters tucked the ball away.

The ‘Caps fought hard and got themselves back into in the 76th minute when Owen Antoniuk fired home a penalty after Emiliano Brienza had been fouled in the box.

Brienza then spurned a great opportunity to put Vancouver ahead, only for Portland to go up the pitch and retake the lead when Blake Bodily headed home.

But the young ‘Caps didn’t stop fighting and avoided bodily harm, at least in normal time, when an Antoniuk diving header five minutes into stoppage time send the game to penalties.

Gerardo Duran scored for Portland with their first kick, but Antoniuk missed for Vancouver and it soon went downhill quickly after that for WFC2. Selmir Miscic scored for the Timbers, but Brienza missed for the ‘Caps. Bodily then made it 3-0, before Fry got Vancouver’s first on the board. That left it up to Justin Rasmussen to seal the deal for Portland, which he duly did.

A disappointing end to an entertaining game, but the fight and spirit shown from the Whitecaps should serve them well this season.

And of course, it was just great to be back out at Swangard cheering on the ‘Caps.

AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game. Here’s his “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.

Your Whitecaps FC starting XI

A good crowd came out as the Whitecaps returned to Swangard

Despite lots of early pressure, the ‘Caps couldn’t find a way past Timbers keeper Hunter Sulte

And they were punished a minute before half time against the run of play when Pablo Bonilla cut the ball back

And Jamin Gogo Peters put it away to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead

The ‘Caps dominated the second half but again were finding it tough to get the breakthrough

And had a penalty shout waved away when Filip Rakic went down in the box

But they had better luck when Zak McGraw felled Emiliano Brienza in the box with 15 minutes to go and the referee pointed to the spot

Owen Antoniuk stepped up to take the penalty

And drilled it past Sulte to level things up and hit WFC2’s first home goal of the new era

The ‘Caps sensed blood and threw everything at Portland and Brienza had a great chance to put Vancouver in the lead but skied the ball over the bar from 6 yards out

And it was to prove a costly miss as Portland hit on the break and once again took the lead against the run of play with six minutes remaining when Blake Bodily headed home

WFC2 launched everything at a late comeback

And 5 minutes into stoppage time, they got the reward their play deserved when a Vasco Fry cross to the back post found Antoniuk

And his diving header made it 2-2 with the last action of the game

Sparking jubilation amongst the Whitecaps ranks

And sending the game to a penalty shootout to decide who was getting the extra point

Portland scored their first kick

Vancouver missed theirs

And it was all downhill after that and the Timbers won 4-1

You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below: