The 2015 edition of the Cascadia Cup kicks off Saturday when the Portland Timbers take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place (5pm PT, ROOT SPORTS). Vancouver and Portland are also renewing a rivalry that started on May 16, 1975 when Barry Powell and Tony Betts scored the goals in a 2-0 Portland victory at Vancouver's Empire Stadium. Let's dive into five numbers in the latest Quick Strikes by Simple:
2 After finishing 2014 with three straight shutouts, Portland has held its opponents to zero goals in two of its first three matches this season. With two shutouts under his belt, Adam Kwarasey is tied for the MLS lead in clean sheets among goalkeepers.
3 In each of its three matches with Vancouver in 2014, Portland scored exactly three goals. In the 40-year history of the matchup, last season was the first time Portland scored three goals in three consecutive matches. Fanendo Adi and Maxi Urruti both notched a pair of goals while five other Timbers found the scoresheet.
7 Dating back to its final USL season in 2010, the Timbers are currently on a seven-match unbeaten streak in games played at Vancouver with a record of 4-0-3. The streak includes five MLS games where Portland is 3-0-2, including three shutouts.
13 After finishing the 2014 season with the third most shots on goal in MLS, Portland has picked up where it left off last season. Through three weeks, the Timbers once again have the third most shots on target with 13 in the league, trailing only FC Dallas and Saturday's opponent, Vancouver.
87 When Portland and Vancouver match up on Saturday, they will be playing just 87 days into the calendar year. That is the earliest the two clubs have ever played a league match against each other. Prior to Saturday, the earliest in a year that the Northwest rivals have played was April 8 in the 1977 season opener.
