The Vancouver Whitecaps made a habit of coming back on Saturday.
Coach Vanni Sartini returned to the sidelines while dynamic forward Fafa Picault scored and assisted upon his return from international duty.
The club staged a late rally and came from behind to win 3-2 against their regional rivals, the Portland Timbers.
Picault emphasized the importance of showing character when allowing opponents back into the game and downplayed the 3-2 score as a true reflection of their performance, highlighting the significance of the team's unity and ability to secure a result.
Ryan Gauld and Picault scored during the first half for the ‘Caps (3-1-1), while the Timbers (2-3-1) responded with goals from Evander and substitute Felipe Mora in the second half.
Ryan Raposo came off the bench in the 81st minute and netted the winning goal in the 87th, securing Vancouver's first home victory of the Major League Soccer season.
With the score tied at 2-2, Picault retrieved a rebound inside the six-yard box and passed it to Raposo, who scored the winning goal with a right-footed shot, sealing the victory for the Whitecaps.
Ali Ahmed credited the team's previous experiences for helping them secure the victory, emphasizing the importance of composure and staying true to themselves.
“I think this group has gained some experience these last couple of years,” he said. “I think that came in handy today, just the chance to stay composed, not get rattled and just be ourselves.”
Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made two saves while Maxime Crepeau stopped two shots for Portland.
Despite the Timbers controlling 57 per cent of the possession, the ‘Caps outshot the visitors 13-11, including a 6-4 advantage in on-target attempts.
Gauld scored in the second minute on Saturday at B.C. Place as fans were still entering the venue.
Ahmed passed the ball through the Timbers defense to Gauld at the side of the six-yard box, where Gauld's shot deflected off Portland’s Zachery McGraw but ultimately found the back of the net.
Alessandro Schopf's ball into the penalty area hit McGraw and went behind Gauld, presenting Picault with an opportunity to score and extend Vancouver's lead to 2-0.
This goal marked Picault’s second of the season.
After joining as a free agent in January, Picault took some time to adapt to Vancouver’s system, according to Sartini.
Sartini acknowledged Picault's efforts and adaptation to the team's system, emphasizing the challenges of adapting to a new approach at 33 years old.
Portland responded early in the second half as Cristhian Paredes capitalized on a defensive breakdown and set up Evander for a goal, narrowing the score to 2-1.
Mora, who substituted for Antony in the 64th minute, equalized the score in the 78th minute.
Evander delivered a curved pass, and Mora positioned himself in front of Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon to use his head and score near the goal line.
Sartini mentioned that his team had a period of reduced energy in the middle of the second half, but the coach admired the way the ‘Caps performed in the first 45 minutes.
He expressed, "If I were to compare it to a city, it would be Florence. This is how beautiful the first half was. If I were to compare it to a person, it would be my wife, that's how beautiful it was… If it were an idea, it would be socialism, this is how beautiful it was," he stated.
Sartini made his comeback to the sidelines after being absent for the first four games of the regular season due to suspension. Numerous fans stood and cheered as the coach walked onto the field. He responded by waving and clapping for the crowd.
"The cheers from the audience when they introduced me… beautiful, beautiful. And I'm speechless," he remarked. "And I'm so thankful to the fans and so happy we can celebrate together at the end."
The Whitecaps will continue a four-game homestand when they host Toronto FC on April 6. The Timbers are set to visit Sporting Kansas City on April 7.
