Having been shut out in their past two matches, it didn't take long for the Timbers to end that streak, when in the 7th minute, a through ball from Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar found Dan Antoniuk making a run through the box, and though Antoniuk could not control the pass, the deflection fell to the feet of forward Byron Alvarez, who buried the tight-angle shot inside the near post, and the Timbers had an early 1-0 lead.

Five minutes later the Whitecaps had their first good scoring opportunity when a high chip into the path of forward Jason Jordan was just barely punched out by Timbers goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who reached the ball just before Jordan as the players then collided as the ball was knocked clear. One minute later it was the Timbers on the attack again, with an Alcaraz-Cuellar cross being hit just wide by Antoniuk from about 10 yards out. For the next stretch of the match, the Timbers would be in control, getting several dangerous crosses into the Whitecaps box, but not getting any good chances as the Whitecaps defense and goalkeeper Josh Wicks kept the Timbers from putting any more shots on goal.

In the 23rd minute, the match would turn on a red card to Portland midfielder, who was judged by referee Kari Seitz as having shown too much cleat when lunging for a free ball that he did win, but Poltl was shown a straight red and the Timbers would have to try to protect their one goal lead while shorthanded. The Whitecaps had a good opportunity to level the score in the 27th minute when Jordan had a good look from about 15 yards out but his shot was deflected wide right off a Timbers defender. Five minutes later, former Timber Jeff Clarke had an open look from near the top of the box, but his hard low shot was blocked by Timbers midfielder Aaron Lines.

In the 35th minute, the Whitecaps very nearly tied the score when a header from Martin Nash forced a reaction save by Saunders, and Jordan was right there with an open net in front of him but his header was just over the bar and the Timbers still had their 1-0 lead.

But it wouldn't last, as just two minutes later, a low cross from the left side from Nash found Jordan open about 6 yards out, and he would one-touch the cross into the far side of the net, and the Timbers and Whitecaps were level at 1-1, which is where it would stand at the half.

The Whitecaps nearly took the lead in the 48th minute when Jordan slipped in behind the Timbers defense, but Saunders charged to the top of the box and blocked the shot just as it came off the Whitecap striker's foot. Two minutes later the Whitecaps had another good chance on pass off a free kick, with Steve Kindel's shot being blocked by Lines as he retreated into the Timbers box.

In the 63rd minute, the Timbers had their first good chance of the half when a cross from Alcaraz-Cuellar was headed just wide right from 10 yards out by Shaun Higgins. Five minutes later the Timbers had another good chance when a cross from Scot Thompson found Antoniuk unmarked about 10 yards out, but his header was right at Wicks and easily saved.

In the 69th minute, Ian Fuller had a good look for the Whitecaps as he turned at the top of the box, but hit his shot just a yard or two over the bar. In the 72nd minute, Clarke had another good chance for the Caps with a hard low shot from near the top of the box that required a diving save by Saunders to tip the ball past the left post. On the ensuing corner kick, Kevin Harmse was open fromm about 12 yards out but put his header wide to the right.

The last good chance of the match would be for the home side during 2nd half stoppage time, when a pass was dropped from Antoniuk to Higgins, open near the top of the Whitecaps box, but the Timbers midfielder mis-hit the last good chance of the match, and the match would end in a 1-1 draw.

Josh Saunders recorded two saves for the Timbers, while Josh Wicks had three for the Whitecaps