Brian White and Jonathan Rodriguez each scored a goal in the first half as the Vancouver Whitecaps and the visiting Portland Timbers recorded a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

The draw was enough to secure Vancouver (13-9-8, 47 points) a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs for the second straight year. The Whitecaps advanced to the postseason with a record of 6-2-4 in their final 12 games of the regular season.

Portland (12-10-9, 45 points) would have secured a playoff spot with a win, but the Timbers are still in good shape to reach the postseason. The Timbers are in ninth place in the Western Conference, eight points ahead of 10th-place FC Dallas.

Just three minutes into the game, Sebastian Berhalter’s cross found White open in the penalty area. White converted the chance to score his 15th goal of the season and his tenth goal in his last nine games.

After Vancouver struck early, Portland responded late in the first half. In the 43rd minute, Rodriguez fired a shot into the penalty area that was deflected into the Whitecaps’ net by defender Björn Inge Utvik.

Rodriguez was also hot, as 10 of his team-leading 16 goals came in his final 12 games of the regular season.

Both teams were missing a star player on Saturday. Portland midfielder Evander served a one-game suspension for caution, and Vancouver’s Ryan Gauld did not play due to a knee injury.

The Whitecaps seemed to miss Gauld’s absence, as White’s goal marked one of only three shots on goal for Vancouver in the game. White missed a second goal in the 52nd minute as his breakaway attempt ended in a shot off the goal post.

Portland outscored Vancouver 13-11, including a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Timbers also failed to hit the goalpost in the second half when Felipe Mora’s attempt failed to hit the goal in the 59th minute.

–Field level media