The Portland Timbers will continue their playoff run Sunday against the Vancouver, B.C., Whitecaps. The Western Conference Semifinal will be played at Portland’s Providence Park.
It’s the first of two matches in an aggregate-goal series. Whichever team scores the most goals during the next two games moves on.
The second game in the series is scheduled to be played in Vancouver, B.C., on Nov. 8.
The Timbers head into Sunday’s game after beating Sporting Kansas City in what some are calling the most dramatic win in Major League Soccer history. After remaining tied regulation and overtime, the match concluded with a rare 11-round shootout.
Timbers keeper Adam Kwarasey kicked and scored on Kansas City goal keeper John Kempin. Then Kwarasey returned to the net and blocked Kempin's shot.
After Thursday night's game, Timbers head coach Caleb Porter said during a news conference that the win showed the team can perform when the stakes are high.
“At this stage in the season in the playoffs, to win these games you need players to make big plays under pressure," Porter said. “I’ve said it all along and I’ll say it again, it’s a game of moments and a game of inches and we found those plays and we won those moments and that’s why we’re moving on."
Sunday’s game against the Whitecaps starts at 2 p.m. PST and will be aired nationally on ESPN.