Whitecaps, Timbers to face off in play-in match in Portland

Portland Timbers midfielder Evander (10) and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Alessandro Schopf (8) vie for the ball during an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The Vancouver Whitecaps will begin their post-season campaign with a play-in game against the Timbers in Portland on Wednesday. (Sean Meagher / The Oregonian / AP / The Canadian Press)

The Vancouver Whitecaps will begin their post-season campaign with a play-in game against the Timbers in Portland on Wednesday.

The 'Caps (13-13-8) ended the regular season with a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday and finished eighth in Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings.

The eighth and ninth spots from each conference meet in a play-in game this week, with the winner going on to face the No. 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs.

Each eighth-place team was set to host the play-in game, but Vancouver announced Friday that its home stadium, B.C. Place, is not available, so the club will cede home-field advantage to Portland (12-11-11), the ninth-place team.

The 'Caps and Timbers split their three-game series during regular-season play, with each side taking a win, a loss and a draw.

The first round of the MLS playoffs is set to begin next weekend.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2024.