Timbers left with bittersweet feeling after victory over Whitecaps

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports Last night’s 1-0 victory for the Portland Timbers over the Vancouver Whitecaps was the definition of bittersweet. Yes, Portland winning the match gave them sole possession of first place in the Western Conference. Yes, the Seattle Sounders fell to third in the process thanks their loss to the Colorado Rapids. From a standings perspective, there was no better way to start the week.

But it’s all clouded by the fact that towards the very end of the match, two key players for Portland went down and only one got up. While Diego Valeri popped right up after momentarily going to the ground, the Timbers training staff brought out the stretcher for Jaroslaw Niezgoda,…