PORTLAND, Ore. – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 continued its undefeated start to the season with a 3-1 win on Friday night against the Portland Timbers 2 at Providence Park. WFC2 took the lead inside the opening minute as Kyle Greig’s shot deflected home off a defender. Former T2 midfielder Fatawu Safiu extended the visitors’ lead with a beautiful free kick in the 19th minute that curled inside the left post, but eight minutes later Portland pulled a goal back when Kharlton Belmar centered for Neco Brett’s third goal of the season. T2 almost leveled twice in the second half, only for WFC2 to clear off the line and goalkeeper Spencer Richey to make a great save, and when Jordan Haynes scored with 16 minutes it wrapped up the win for the visitors.

Scoring:
1’ – VAN – Kyle Greig
19’ – VAN – Fatawu Safiu
27’ – POR – Neco Brett (Kharlton Belmar)
74’ – VAN – Jordan Haynes

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Vancouver lived dangerously a bit after taking an early two-goal lead, but in the end the goals by Kyle Greig and Fatawu Safiu proved enough to see off T2. Portland will feel a little unlucky not to have found an equalizer before Jordan Haynes’ third for the visitors, but Will Seymore was well positioned on the goal line to clear Taylor Peay’s header from a corner, while Spencer Richey’s scrambling save to deny Neco Brett his second of the night was right out of the top drawer.

• 2. Greig was brought in this offseason by WFC2 to provide leadership, and scoring punch to an attack that scored only 39 goals in 28 games a season ago. With his eighth goal of the season on Friday night, Greig now has Vancouver on pace for 67 goals this season. The goal also saw the veteran forward reach a personal landmark, as he recorded his 30th regular-season goal in his fourth season in the league.

• 3. After starring for T2 a season ago, Safiu will certainly be pleased to have notched what proved to be the game-winner for WFC2 against his former team. Injuries have limited Safiu so far this season, but when he has seen the field, he’s shown what he’s capable of, with Friday’s goal adding to his one goal and one assist performance against the LA Galaxy II last month.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Kyle Greig, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – The forward set the side on the right track less than a minute in with his eighth goal in eight games this season, and the 30th of his USL career, to lead WFC2 to victory at Providence Park.

Upcoming Games:

May 26: Portland Timbers 2 vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2, 10 p.m. ET, Providence Park

May 25: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at Saint Louis FC, 8:30 p.m. ET, World Wide Technology Soccer Park