Music: {allcanada} WHITECAPS TIE TIMBERS 2-2 IN FINAL GAME AT SWANGARD

Saturday, October 2, 2010

{allcanada} WHITECAPS TIE TIMBERS 2-2 IN FINAL GAME AT SWANGARD

BURNABY, B.C. - Second-half substitute Cody Arnoux's goal enabled the Vancouver Whitecaps to make their final regular-season game at Swangard Stadium a memorable one.

Arnoux's headed goal in the 68th minute Saturday helped the Whitecaps to a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers before a sellout crowd at the little stadium they'll vacate once their fate in the USSF Division-2 playoffs is decided.

"There were three others guys fighting for it, so I had to get up for it," said Arnoux, who entered the game at the start of the second half.

After 24 seasons at Swangard, the Whitecaps (also known briefly during that time period as the 86ers) are moving to Major League Soccer, the highest pro level in North America. Vancouver plans to split home games next season between Empire Field -- a temporary facility -- and B.C. Place Stadium, depending on when the former dome's new retractable-roof installation is complete.

The game served as a post-season preview. Portland and Vancouver will meet next week in a two-game, home-and-away aggregate playoff.

"It helps us a lot," said Whitecaps coach Teitur Thordarson, very happy with the way his team played. "These games between us and Portland have always been very intense."

Terry Dunfield also scored for the Whitecaps (10-5-15), who received an outstanding effort from goalkeeper Jay Nolly.

Kalif Alhassan and Bright Dike replied for the Timbers (13-7-10), who overcame a 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 second-half lead in front of 5,435 fans. The Timbers, who are also moving to MLS next season, have now gone 10 games without a defeat.

Arnoux, one of 10 new Whitecaps brought in during mid-season as Vancouver management starts evaluating players for next season, dove to head home a bending cross from Kyle Porter. It was Arnoux's first goal as a Whitecap.

The 22-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina native, who joined Vancouver in August after being released from English Premier League Everton's reserves, expressed his relief by jumping into the crowd behind the Portland net.

"I think you can tell from the celebration that I was just so happy to get it on and get going here in Vancouver," he said.

In addition to being an important regular-season finale showing, he said, Saturday's result also demonstrated that the Caps, who had lost two straight and have struggled to score lately, can come back from a deficit against the Timbers as the playoffs loom.

"We've backed down a little bit after having great starts, and I think it's really important that we came back and fought," he said. "It just gives us a lot of confidence ... knowing that we have to play these guys again."

Dunfield gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute as he connected on a high Martin Nash header as it touched the ground.

"I think we, tactically, did things very well in the first half, but started to get tired in the middle of the second half," said Thordarson, who made five second-half substitutions.

"We started to open up a little bit too much. That's when they got those ones."

Alhassan drew the Timbers even at 1-1 just a minute into the second half. Vancouver defender Greg Janicki's wayward header came right to Alhassan, who calmly stroked a low shot past Nolly from 12 yards out.

In the 64th minute, Dike took a through ball from Ryan Pore and beat the Whitecaps' offside trap to give Portland a 2-1 advantage.

After Arnoux tied things, Nolly made point-blank saves Stephen Keel, in the 74th minute and Dike in the 86th to preserve the point.

"Their goalkeeper came up with some world-class saves -- Jay Nolly, terrific game today, obviously," said Portland coach Gavin Wilkinson. "He's done that against us many times."

Notes: Vancouver has brought in 10 new players since June. The playoffs will likely have a strong bearing on how many stick with the team next season, because the Whitecaps retain rights to their current crop in MLS. ... Vancouver fullback Wes Knight played after being doubtful due to a sore back ... Whitecaps centre back Mouloud Akloul returned to action after missing 27 games with a fractured ankle as he subbed on in the 81st minute ... The Timbers played their final four regular-season games on the road while their stadium, PGE Park, is undergoing renovation for the club's move to MLS next season.