SoccerWhitecaps and Timbers set to continue rivalry

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The Vancouver Whitecaps enter their final season of Division 2 soccer hoping to go out with a bang - by winning another championship.

The Whitecaps have twice finished on top of the playoff pile in recent memory, lifting the USL First Division trophy in 2006 and 2008. Last season they made it to the final, only to lose to their Canadian rivals, the Montreal Impact. This year's post-season provides an opportunity to add to their trophy cabinet before making the step up to Major League Soccer next season.

It won't be easy for the Whitecaps, though - their first-round opponent in the USSF Division 2 playoffs is the Portland Timbers, a team they have failed to beat this season.

Tough time vs. Timbers

In four regular season games between the two teams this season, Portland has won twice while the other two have ended in draws. Throw in a 2-0 loss in pre-season play, and the psychological edge shifts in favour of the Timbers.

The Whitecaps shouldn't be intimidated though - they have made wholesale changes to their squad throughout the season in preparation for their entrance into MLS, and they are still coming together as a team. Head coach Teitur Thordarson deserves a great deal of credit for keeping the team moving in the right direction, despite the changes in personnel. 

It is always a bit of a gamble making so many changes during a season, because it is generally better to give players a full pre-season in order to acclimatize to their new surroundings. The game is littered with stories of players joining clubs midway through a season, only to fail to live up to expectations.

Thordarson has managed to avoid that hazard, though, and he will be hoping that his team can come together at the right time to make a run at another championship. He was rewarded for his efforts over the last few seasons when the club announced that he would be their coach in MLS. I think it is a smart move on their part, because it ensures continuity and brings stability, both important as the club moves up a level. 

There is reason for optimism amongst Whitecaps fans, regardless of how this season plays out. Obviously Vancouver wants to win another championship, and that is their priority for the rest of this season. But the club have continued to keep one eye on next season and have brought in players who they feel can make that transition.

I have to admit that I like a few of their signings.

Terry Dunfield brings grit and determination in midfield, and he has even managed to get himself on the score-sheet a few times since he joined the team in August. He should be able to handle the step up to MLS, and he is the type of player that fans really get behind.

So too is Davide Chiumiento.

Whitecaps building for next season

If he can demonstrate the same level of skill and flair in Vancouver that he did during his time in Switzerland, he could be a very exciting addition to the Whitecaps roster. He is not match fit, having only joined the team in the last few weeks, so it is difficult to judge how well he will do based on what he has shown so far. Early indications are that he could be a very useful signing.

That being said, Portland coach Gavin Wilkinson labelled Chiumiento a luxury player, suggesting that the Swiss midfielder is only interested in attacking, rather than helping out his team defensively. 

Clearly Sir Alex Ferguson does not have an exclusive license on playing mind games with opponents.

Having spent last weekend in Seattle watching the Sounders play Toronto FC, I am excited about the prospect of covering the west coast rivalry between the Sounders, Timbers and Whitecaps. 

It is sure to add value to MLS, and creating rivalries is essential to the growth of the game in North America. The banter between rivals can be fierce at times, and Portland has already upped the ante by displaying this sign within walking distance of Seattle's Qwest Field. Let the fun and games begin.

But for now, there is work to be done. Vancouver and Portland play the first game of their playoff series on Oct. 7 in Vancouver, followed by the return leg in Portland on Oct. 10.

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