Whitecaps playoff hopes dip after loss to the Timbers

Loss puts the Whitecaps in a tough position
Mo Hussain, Sports Reporter

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ playoff chances took a drastic fall on Saturday after losing 1-0 to the Portland Timbers. The club’s postseason hopes will now depend not only on their own play but outside factors as well.

The lone goal came from Timbers midfielder Yimmi Chará in the 61st minute with the help of a cross from teammate Jorge Villafaña. The Whitecaps then had a couple of chances to tie the game after that goal, but unfortunately none of them got past the goal line.

The Whitecaps needed to at least tie the game in the second half, as after Whitecaps and Timbers wrapped up the first half, the Colorado Rapids had defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-1, putting the Whitecaps under a certain amount of pressure to keep their playoff chances alive.

“It was a close game and unfortunately some details like the goal they scored made the difference,” said Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos in a press conference after Sunday’s loss. “We were disappointed because we needed to get out with at least with a point. We still have a chance but we depend a lot on the results of Colorado and San Jose right now.”

In order for the Whitecaps’ playoff hopes to somehow come to fruition, the Whitecaps now need to beat the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon, and hope the MLS reschedules the postponed matchup between San Jose Earthquakes and LAFC, and for San Jose’s final two opponents to beat San Jose. If the league does not reschedule the matchup between the Earthquakes and LAFC, San Jose will clinch the final playoff spot.