On October 10, 2010, Vancouver Whitecaps FC eliminated the Portland Timbers – in Portland – from the USL playoffs for the second straight year.
In almost any other rivalry in the world, that result would have been grounds for a lot of grumbling and frustration. But the mood among Timbers fans that night was buoyant, even celebratory. Next season, they knew, their team would finally play in Major League Soccer.
Traveling members of the Southsiders, one of the Whitecaps' major supporters groups, joined members of the Timbers Army at the familiar Bitter End bar for a night of celebration.