Timbers put end to Whitecaps’ season

VANCOUVER — The Whitecaps will have a long time to think about where their offence went after being eliminated in the MLS Western Conference semifinal.

Fanendo Adi scored in the 31st minute as the Portland Timbers advanced with a 2-0 victory over Vancouver at B.C. Place on Sunday night.

The Whitecaps failed to score a single goal in the two-game semifinal with their Cascadia Cup rivals. The first game was a scoreless draw at Providence Park last Sunday.

Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson said the reason his team lost was simple — if you can’t put the ball in the net, your chances aren’t good.

“When it’s not your day, it’s not your day, and today it wasn’t our day,” said Robinson. “When you don’t score a goal over two legs, unless you’re lucky and go to penalties and win, you’re not going to win a game of football. It’s what happens.

“And not just tonight, but for a number of games this year. That’s something I’ll have to go back to with my staff in the off-season and try and bring in some more goals. Because it cost us, especially tonight, and that’s something you’ve got to take on the chin.”

The atmosphere in BC Place was electric with 27,837 fans cheering on the Whitecaps in their first MLS home playoff game. Vancouver’s Kekuta Man- neh came out on fire with two glorious chances to put the home side on the board first.

But instead of Manneh scoring, he suffered an ankle injury after a collision with Portland defender Nat Borchers at 20 minutes. He returned soon after, but was forced to exit for good in obvious pain and was replaced by Mauro Rosales.

That changed the complexion of the game and Portland scored soon after. It stunned the crowd and put immense pressure on Vancouver, which then needed two home goals to counter the Timbers’ away-goal.

“We let them score, it made our situation tougher,” said Rosales. “It was a crucial game for us and this kind of game you have to step up.”