After a relative saw off in the first half, one in which the Whitecaps created the better chances, only one team seemed to come out for the start of the second, and it wasnt the home team. Its an issue that has crept up from time to time for Vancouver, the most notable example being their July game with Chivas at BC Place. In that game, they conceded off a corner in the very early stages of the second half. Momentum turned, and the Whitecaps never got it back. The momentum turner against Portland also occurred early in the second half. Pedro Morales, who by his own high standards had probably his least effective home game since joining the club, took a knock, fell to the turf, and remained down with his boot off for a good two minutes. There was confusion, there was concern. An awful thought crossed my mind, as it probably did the managers, and seemingly Morales teammates too. If the skipper was seriously hurt, then the Portland game was inconsequential, the Whitecaps season would be in serious jeopardy. The Caps played for a few moments with 10 men, and then for a few more with the skipper hobbling. Not long after, Alvis Powell drifted in front of Andy OBrien to glance home the first, and eventual game winner for the Timbers. It was a double sucker punch. Concern for the captain, some discombobulation in his absence, and then the whammy of a goal against. Having been blanked in four of the last five, the realization will have sunk in to the young Whitecaps: that coming back would be a tall order. If that was the games defining moment, the consensus theme from the latest Cascadia clash was how badly they missed Gershon Koffie. In Carl Robinsons three-man central midfield set-up, one of the two holding pivots has to be able to provide something going forward. At one point, assistant coach Martyn Pert seemed to be begging Russell Teibert to try and penetrate, rather than constantly deferring to teammates laterally or behind him. Thats where Koffie was sorely missed. But the most worrisome matter from Saturday was the continuation of a franchise trend to come up short in big home games during the seasons run in. Last year, it was a devastating loss to RSLs second string team before 2-2 draws with Chivas and Portland when they needed maximum points. Even in 2012 when they made the playoffs, the Whitecaps lost 2-0 at home to Dallas, and later, 1-0 again to the Timbers, who have yet to lose in Vancouver. They even spoiled the BC Place grand opening in 2011. From here, the biggest question will be whether the higher ups acquiesce to the mounting demand by fans and media to bring in a goal scorer. At this stage, and with their cap maxed, thats a tall order, and would mean moving a young asset, something theyve been loathe to do. Waiting until the off-season when the cap situation improves and more high end strikers are available would probably be the more prudent long term approach. Thats a tough sell to an impatient fan base, especially as season tickets come up for renewal. Jason Vargas Mets Jersey ." Those traits were clear to the 24,071 at Olympic Stadium on Saturday as the Impact dominated the scoring chances but settled for a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls in a battle of still-winless Major League Soccer teams. Juan Lagares Jersey .J. -- After getting permission from his 7-year-old daughter, New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has retired after an 11-year career that included two Super Bowl championships. http://www.metssale.com/mets-yoenis-cespedes-jersey/ . These teams will see plenty of each other in the next few weeks as three of the Canucks next nine games are against the Wild (after today they meet February 9th in Minnesota and again February 16th at Rogers Arena). Dwight Gooden Mets Jersey . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. Tim Tebow Jersey .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana.The Detroit Lions have lost their best defensive player for this weekends NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL suspended defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh one game without pay for stomping Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.dddddddddddd The NFL called the play a non-football act. Suh, who has a history of violent acts on the football field as well as suspensions, will reportedly appeal the decision. More to follow. ' ' '