🎥 Whitecaps dismantle Timbers against all odds to continue playoff run

Vancouver Whitecaps thumped five goals past Cascadian rivals Portland Timbers to book their spot in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Scorers: Gauld 20′, 31′, 59′, White 24′, Armstrong 51′

The odds were stacked in Portland’s favour before this Wild Card clash, but Vancouver walked into Providence Park surging confidently, ready to cause an avalanche of goals.

The Canadian club had not won in seven MLS games and were forced to play away from home due to scheduling conflicts despite being the higher seed. But all bets are off during the post-season.

Captain Ryan Gauld created Portland’s nightmares as he inspired three goals in 11 minutes for the visitors out of nowhere. The Scotland international bundled home from close range and dinked home a brilliant chip on either side of a goal he set up for Brian White.

Cameras caught Phil Neville fuming, and the boss made a handful of changes, including hauling Portland captain Diego Chará off after the midfielder narrowly avoided a red card. Unfortunately for the flat hosts, the first-half embarrassment continued into the second.

Minutes into the restart, Stuart Armstrong was left unmarked and floated inside the box before heading home in front of rival fans for a goal alongside his two assists.

Timbers fans were further silenced when Gauld secured his hat trick with an easy slip into the box and finished calmly before sushing the crowd.

That fifth goal matched the Whitecaps’ biggest playoff victory from 2017. Additionally, only one other MLS player has ever scored a hat trick in an away playoff game (Sebastian Giovinco for Toronto FC in 2016).

Portland will be questioned as they crumbled at the first hurdle. Their star man, Evander, was a shadow of himself despite being on the list of potential MVP winners.

The Timbers did edge the Whitecaps in possession and shots, but they fell short of the stats that mattered on a night to quickly forget.

Vancouver (the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs) will face LAFC on Sunday.

Feature image credit: © Soobum Im-Imagn Images