By Canadian Press

‘Good teams push through’: Whitecaps continue points hunt vs. Portland Timbers

May 9, 2019 | 11:58 AM

VANCOUVER — As Marc Dos Santos readies his Vancouver Whitecaps for a rivalry matchup this week, another task nags at the back of the coach’s mind.

Dos Santos still needs to find the perfect bottle of B.C. wine for Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese.

The pair will meet for the first time in Major League Soccer on Friday, but they have a long competitive history dating back to their days as bench bosses in the North American Soccer League.

Savarese’s New York Cosmos won the league championship over Dos Santos’ Ottawa Fury FC in 2015. But in 2017, Dos Santos got revenge when his San Francisco Deltas beat the Savarese-led Cosmos to hoist the trophy.

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Their time playing against one another also spurred a tradition of leaving a nice bottle of wine for the visiting coach.

“He’s a good man, he’s a good coach,” Dos Santos said of Savarese at training this week, adding that the Timbers coach was the first to send him a personal message when Dos Santos got his first Major League Soccer win last month.

It’s unique that the long-time friends are now with staunch rivals, the ‘Caps coach added.

“We could have been coaching any other teams,” he said. “Me being on one side and Gio on the other, it’s quite special.”

The Whitecaps (2-5-3) and Timbers (3-5-1) both come into Friday’s contest in similar positions, with recent success after disappointing starts to the season.

Vancouver notched their first road win against the Colorado Rapids last week and have taken points from four of their last five games. Portland, meanwhile, is riding a three-game win streak after posting a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

When the clubs meet up this week, fans can expect to see a tactical, emotional game, Dos Santos said.

“They’re in their best moment of the season and we’re in our best moment of the season so far,” he said.

Both teams will be hungry for the win, added ‘Caps midfielder Russell Teibert.

“It’s a rivalry game,” he said. “And they always play us hard. Any time we go there or they come here, it’s a tough matchup, it’s a grind and you have to be prepared for it.”

Tough calls have plagued the Whitecaps this season, with video reviews resulting in goals being called back and penalty kicks being awarded to opponents. Last week’s game in Colorado saw both scenarios, but Teibert said there’s still lessons to be taken from the matchup.

“It’s the never give up. It’s that attitude, that relentless attitude that if there’s time on the clock, there’s an opportunity to get a goal and get the result,” he said of the 3-2 victory, which came after Andy Rose put away his first goal of the season in the 87th minute.

“A lot of things didn’t go our way that game, a lot of adversity,” Teibert said. “But good teams push through. And we definitely had to push through some adversity last game.”

Part of the ‘Caps recent success has come from the team growing together, Rose said.

The midfielder has been in a unique position to watch the transformation, having been sidelined for five weeks after suffering a facial fracture and concussion on March 16.

Despite some tough early results this season, ‘Caps players didn’t hang their heads or stop working, Rose said.

“I know it’s a cliche these days to say ‘Trust the process’ but that’s exactly what it is,” he said. “You have to come to work every day willing to work, willing to learn, willing to sacrifice yourself for the team, be selfless, and learn exactly what (Dos Santos) and the coaching staff want from us.”

The process isn’t over yet, Dos Santos said.

“It takes time,” he said. “We’re far. Let me highlight that — we’re still far from what I want the Whitecaps to be about one day. But every day is closer and closer.”

PORTLAND TIMBERS VS. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

FRIDAY, B.C. PLACE

CUP CLASH: The Whitecaps, Timbers and Seattle Sounders are all locked in another battle for the Cascadia Cup, awarded annually to the team that triumphs over their Pacific Northwestern rivals. Seattle and Vancouver are currently tied in this year’s race after battling to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting of the year. The ‘Caps are the all-time Cascadia Cup champs and are looking to the trophy to their case for the seventh time.

HISTORIC POINTS: Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri scored his 70th MLS goal last week, moving him into an elite club. With 71 career assists, the Argentine national is now the ninth player in league history to tally at least 70 goals and 70 helpers.

THE NEW GUY: The Whitecaps won’t face the newest Timbers player this week. Portland signed forward Brian Fernandez as a designated player on Monday, but the 24-year-old is currently suspended after getting into a shouting match with a fan while with his former team, Club Necaxa in Mexico.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press