Jayden Nelson had a goal and three assists as the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the short-handed Portland Timbers 4-1 in the Major League Soccer season opener for both clubs on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Ryan Gauld, Pedro Vite and Sam Adekugbe also scored for the Whitecaps and Antony tallied for Portland.
The complexion of the match changed when the Timbers went a man down in the 11th minute.
Gauld’s volley from midfield over the Portland back line sent teammate Brian White on a breakaway. The Timbers’ Kamal Miller tracked down White just outside of the penalty area and grabbed his right arm, hauling him to the turf. Referee Victor Rivas didn’t hesitate in pulling a red card from his pocket, leaving the hosts short-handed the rest of the way.
The Whitecaps opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Portland goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau appeared to slip slightly on the wet turf as he tried to send the ball upfield. The pass went straight to Nelson about 30 yards from the goal. Nelson dribbled into the 18-yard box and sent a pass near the penalty spot to Gauld, whose left-footed one-timer beat a scrambling Crepeau.
Vancouver doubled its advantage in the 32nd minute, as Vite sent a pass to Nelson down the right wing. Nelson pulled up near the top corner of the penalty area and sent the ball back to a trailing Vite. The two played a give-and-go before Vite put a left-footed shot from 20 yards into the far-side netting, leaving a leaping Crepeau no chance.
The Whitecaps extended their lead to 3-0 on a controversial goal in the 53rd minute. A Portland shot appeared to hit Vite in the right arm at the top of the penalty area, but no call was made. Gauld sent a pass up the field that Nelson tracked down at midfield. Nelson dribbled down the right wing and into the penalty area before sending a cross to Adekugbe for a one-timer from the top of the 6-yard box into an open net.
Nelson, making his Whitecaps debut, made it 4-0 in the 61st minute after picking up a loose ball near midfield. He dribbled into the penalty area and put a low, left-footed shot from 12 yards just inside the right post.
The Timbers got on the scoreboard in the 73rd minute. Kevin Kelsy’s shot from the top of the 18-yard box was blocked by a defender. Antony pounced on the loose ball and slipped it past Vancouver goalie Yohei Takaoka from 8 yards out.
–Field Level Media
