Tough Loss at Home Gives Cascadia Cup to Portland

Tonight's match at Swangard was one of the best games the 'Caps have played all season. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible, it always seems to get that way when the visiting fans are good and loud. Many people will point the finger at the officials for the unfortunate result at tonight's game, some may even have the audacity to blame Greg Janicki, for taking a red on a poor tackle on the leagues leading scorer. Janicki was running hard to catch Ryan Pore who was sprung on a breakaway he then cut across right to left and got Janicki to make contact and he dropped like a sack of potatoes.

It is always tough to blame the refs because they aren't really playing the game but they surely had an impact on the evenings fixture. There were a couple of questionable calls or even non calls for that matter. Including a Portland hand ball in their own box and a penalty was given to Ryan Pore, even though upon further review you can see that Pore wasn't actually in the box when the foul occured. Jay Nolly sprawled out to make the save but just missed a perfectly placed ball. A few minutes later Nolly ended up getting caught out on a crossed ball and after a bit of a scramble Portland was able to hammer home the winning goal. But lets try to focus on the positives here because there were lots of them tonight.

Nizar Khalfan had a heck of a game up front creating all kinds of chances as did Cornelius Stewart. Khalfan took advantage of a fortunate cross for Phillipe Davies in the first half and blasted a shot to the short side on Portland's keeper to give the Whitecaps a lead early in the second half. Dispite what I would refer to as his only mistake this year, Jay Nolly made a couple of brilliant saves, as we have come to expect from him this year. The usual supects on the back line all had strong games and same up the middle.

It was a tough loss but you can't win them all... or even tie them all too bad our first home loss of the season had to come to the hated Portscum Timbers. I guess they were due seeing as they hadn't won at Swangard in 6 years. Tomorrow I am supposed to be getting my burger from Malould Akloul, he says just a burger no frosty, it was worth a shot to try.

Postgame Nutrilite Canadian Championship Game 2 Montreal at Vancouver

So yeah it's a day late but you'll have to forgive me I was at Swangard from 10am til 10:30pm last night.

Montreal came into the game with a record of 0-1-0 having lost to Toronto FC last week. Their baby pink 3rd Jerseys have not seemed to bring them any luck thus far in the 2010 Championship, not that the team did anything in last years tournament.

Overall it was a pretty boring game for about 80 minutes. Once Montreal was given a red card everything seemed to change. As you would expect.

Marcus Haber finally got his first goal of the season with the 'Caps which will hopefully get him on a roll as the boys in blue and white have had quite a significant amount of trouble scoring from open play. I'm having a difficult time thinking of an example for you. When the Whitecaps have scored it has been from set pieces and corners and I believe this is the first goal scored by someone who wasn't a fullback.

Montreal do not look anything like defending champions. They definitely have discipline issues. 3 red cards in 2 games and now they have to go play TFC again next week... Good job Impact way to give the fans something to cheer about! It was funny to see the Southsiders splash Montreal's Peter Byers, with beer as he ran toward them with his finger his mouth. Almost as good as the Croatian guy getting punched by the fan.

I was very impressed with the turn out last night at Swangard, it was actually the loudest I've heard it this season.