PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps served up another wild one on Saturday night at Providence Park.
The two Cascadian rivals added to the intensity from their recent meetings with a match that saw two goals, five bookings, two late sending-offs, chances galore for both sides and end-to-end action in the midst of the Rose City's sweltering summer heat wave.
The end result was a share of the spoils. And despite the feeling that they had done enough to take all three points, Vancouver will be the happiest of the two teams after fighting back from trailing at the half.
"Again, it didn't disappoint today," 'Caps coach Carl Robinson told reporters after the game. "It was a very good game of football by two good teams trying to win the game. Obviously it had a little bit of everything. An enjoyable game to watch if you're a neutral.
"It was important that we didn't get beat today because we had two defeats on the trot. But the character on this team and in this young group is absolutely fantastic. We might not win every game, which is clear, but when I ask them to respond they certainly will respond. It's credit to the guys today."
Heading into the half a goal down, and having seen chances go to waste for his side yet again, including a Kekuta Manneh effort that was cleared off the line just before Portland opened the scoring, Robinson must have felt it was going to be another one of those days.
"I did, because the first goal is crucial in any game," Robinson admitted. "We're very good when we get the first goal and we didn't want to give them the initiative. We went behind and I challenged them at half time to step up another level and continue doing what we were doing.
"You've got to weather the storm when you come to Portland. They're a fantastic team. Very well coached and they put you under pressure, and that's what they did today. We bent, but we didn't break."
Robinson was delighted with the way his side responded, grabbing the equalizer from perhaps the unlikeliest of sources in defensive midfielder Matias Laba.
"It's pleasing because after the first half, I thought we were the better team, but we were 1-0 down," Robinson said. "That's what happens when you play against experienced teams that have got experienced players.
"[Then] Mati Laba pops up with the goal, which is an absolutely phenomenal strike. He can do it. I saw him score one in Toronto in 18 months, so I know he can do it. He's had 18 months here now, so that's his goal tonight!"
It was the Argentine's first MLS goal for the Whitecaps, and his second overall for the club, to go along with his match-winner in May's Canadian Championship second-leg tie with FC Edmonton.
"In the first half we played better than them," Laba said after the match. "We played with confidence, we had the ball, we did a good job, but we were [still] losing 1-0. So we just had to push more.
"I looked forward and I had space. I shot the ball with confidence and it was nice to score. I love playing these games. The atmosphere is amazing. It's similar to South America, too, so I like these games."
Michael McColl covers the Vancouver Whitecaps for MLSsoccer.com.
