Caps close out ‘super week’ with tie against Timbers

PORTLAND, ORE. — Sebastian Fernandez scored from the penalty spot as the Whitecaps closed out their pre-season schedule with a 1-1 tie against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.

Fernandez, one of coach Carl Robinson’s two Uruguayan signings, beat goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts with a low drive in the 79th minute after substitute Kekuta Manneh drew a penalty.

Portland’s Will Johnson opened the scoring three minutes after Caps’ goalkeeper David Ousted bungled Johnson’s rather routine free kick.

It was a spirited end to the preseason, played at a decent pace and with a handful of crunching tackles — a few from Whitecaps rightback Ethen Sampson, who’s trying to earn his first professional contract.

Played in front of an announced crowd of 14,000 at Providence Park, it was also the best test yet for a young Caps team trying to jell under a new coach.

“They have a very organized team who’ve been together for a year, plus one or two additions this year, so they know what they’re doing,” Robinson said of Portland.

“We’re still in the early stages of what we’re doing, but I thought you saw in glimpses, what we’re trying to change — the mentality, the playing style, the ethos. It’s working, but it will continue to be a work in progress, and it’s exciting. “We’ve had a super week here.” The Caps claimed the inaugural Rose City Invitational with a record of 2-0-1. Vancouver beat 10-man Jamaican side Portmore United 5-1 a week ago, and the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 on Wednesday.

Vancouver opens the MLS season at home to the New York Red Bulls on March 8.