Two late goals lift Whitecaps to 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Timbers

By Canadian Press on April 4, 2026.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps scored twice in injury time, rallying to beat their regional rivals the Portland Timbers 3-2 on Saturday.

Sebastian Berhalter fired the game winner in past Portland ‘keeper James Pantemis in the 96th minute from the top of the penalty area.

Four minutes earlier, star midfielder Thomas Muller converted a penalty kick to level the score at 2-2.

Juan Mosquera had a goal and an assist for Portland (1-4-1), scoring in the 37th minute, then helping out on David Da Costa’s goal in first-half injury time.

Edier Ocampo gave the Whitecaps (5-1-0) an early lead with his first goal of the season six minutes into the Major League Soccer match.

The home side controlled 61.1 per cent of possession across the game and outshot Portland 22-9, with a 9-4 edge in on-target shots.

Both sides were playing their first game following a two-week break for the March international window.

The ‘Caps got off to a solid start, with Ocampo scoring six minutes in.

Vancouver ‘keeper Yohei Takaoka sent a long kick up the field and his Portland counterpart Pantemis came up outside of the penalty area to challenge. Ocampo collected the ball before Pantemis could get to it and took a couple of strides before rolling a low shot in to give the home side an early 1-0 lead.

The Whitecaps controlled play through much of the first half, but the visitors pushed late in the frame and capitalized on their chances.

Mosquera levelled the score at 1-1 in the 37th minute, sending a rocket of a shot soaring into the top corner of the net off a corner kick.

He then helped out on Da Costa’s tally in first-half injury time. Vancouver defender Mattias Laborda blocked a cross but couldn’t clear the ball and Mosquera was there to pick it up and get it off to Da Costa, who sent a sharp-angle shot in from the side of the six-yard box to give the Timbers a 2-1 lead.

The Whitecaps controlled 54 per cent of possession across the first half and outshot the Timbers 11-8, but on-target shots were even at 4-4.

Vancouver pressed in the second half, hemming the Timbers in their own end and creating several chances that Portland blocked or quickly headed out of harm’s way.

Striker Brian White came close in the 54th minute off a corner kick. Midfielder Berhalter swung the ball in and White headed it down and toward the goal, only to see it bounce back up directly into Pantemis’ hands.

Portland got a prime chance midway through the second half when Laborda was called for a foul at the top of the penalty area. Kristoffer Velde took the free kick from the corner of the box, sending his shot directly into the Whitecaps’ wall in front of the goal.

A corner kick in the 89th minute proved fateful for the ‘Caps.

Berhalter swung the ball in and Ocampo drilled a shot into a defender at the top of the penalty area, who was called for a handball. Referee Joe Dickerson signalled for a penalty kick.

Muller stepped up to take the shot in the first minute of injury time, stutter stepped, then fired a left-footed shot in past Pantemis for his third goal of the season.

Four minutes later, Berhalter chipped a left-footed shot off from the top of the penalty area, sailing the ball in to give Vancouver a late 3-2 lead with his fourth goal of the season.

NOTES

Saturday marked the second meeting between the two clubs this season. The ‘Caps beat the Timbers 4-1 in Portland on March 7. … Striker Bruno Caicedo made his Whitecaps debut, coming on for Cheikh Sabaly in the 71st minute. … An announced crowd of 25,465 took in the game at B.C. Place.

UP NEXT

Timbers: Host Los Angeles FC on Saturday, April 11.

Whitecaps: Host New York City FC on Saturday, April 11.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press