Everything was set up for a Thursday night hangover on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park. On just two days rest after playing one of the greatest games in MLS history, the Portland Timbers—not to mention their fans—had every reason to be emotionally and physically drained.

And everyone in green and gold was drained. The early kickoff coupled with a forecast full of Cascadian drear made for a slightly subdued atmosphere, Thursday's hero Adam Kwarasey was laid low with the flu, and it was impossible to miss the precautions that the Timbers were taking from the get-go to try to save their bodies and keep the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal tight and under control.

But it didn't take long for muscle memory to kick in. Soon enough the Timbers remembered that, despite everything, they can still run circles around the Whitecaps—and in the end, it didn't take long for Portland to start playing Vancouver off the field.

It finished 0-0 between the two rivals, but the implications of the scoreless draw all break the Timbers' way. Thanks to the away goals tiebreaker, a win or any draw in which Portland scores will see the Timbers through next weekend in British Columbia.

More than that, though, the dominance with which Portland played against so many factors on Sunday was what had Caleb Porter marauding in front of the Timbers Army at full-time and promising that the team would have at least one more home game in 2015. Sunday was a Timbers teaser. Next weekend, back at full rest and full strength, we'll see the real thing.

That's not to belittle what the Timbers accomplished in their second playoff game of the season. Despite Porter's insistence whenever he got the chance to make his case that fatigue was not an issue for his team, it quite clearly was.

Diego Valeri said as much after the match, and from the conservative nature of the Timbers' game-plan, it was clear that the major concern here was holding serve and making sure Thursday didn't decide Sunday. That's why, even though they got shutout at home, Portland was pleased as punch with its performance.

Alvas Powell was, in a welcome move, reigned in at fullback, Darlington Nagbe was dropped deeper to facilitate play next to Jack Jewsbury, and Portland refused—despite several clear opportunities—to break forward with numbers and open up counter-attacking possibilities for the Whitecaps.

Without those counter-attacking options, and with plenty of attacking firepower of their own consigned to the bench, Vancouver's offense was nominal at best. Led by the super-human Nat Bochers, Portland's defense was hardly troubled all night.

The Whitecaps, thanks to a tough spine anchored by mountain man Kendall Waston, remain tough to break down—though they were a post-length away from capitulating (sound familiar?) on a late Maxi Urruti strike—but they're not built to chase goals. They're hardly built to be favorites in a series of this magnitude.

Sunday represented a terrific chance for the 'Caps, who were fully rested, and knew they needed to score an away goal. They should have put the Timbers under pressure. Instead, they spent the second forty-five minutes hanging on for dear life.

Statistically, Darlington Nagbe's game was historically good. Thanks to his new position, Nagbe has played the last month with the tenacity of a man who has finally been let out of jail after five years. He's just getting better and better—and his presence creates all kinds of problems for Vancouver, who can hardly afford to start luxury player who doesn't defend at the #10 spot next weekend.

Things were encouraging around Nagbe as well. Valeri was especially bright, as was Rodney Wallace, and Dairon Asprilla came on for the painfully bad Lucas Melano and most likely earned a starting spot for the second leg with a tenacious performance.

To say this Timbers team is confident right now would be an understatement. This team is bordering on giddy—equal parts eager to rest and eager to knock the Whitecaps' teeth out next Sunday.

In the hierarchy of Cascadia, Seattle might be—based on stadium size, attendance, payroll, and star power—Portland's big brother. Maybe not. But there's no question that Vancouver is Portland's little brother. The Timbers' dominance of the Whitecaps is unrivaled by their record against any other MLS club. In six games at BC Place, Portland has lost only once—and that on a fluky last-minute goal earlier this year.

To put it simply, it should be hard for Portland to screw up this series from here. One Timbers goal next Sunday means that Vancouver is going to have to score at least two to advance on what is arguably the best defense in the league.

Portland has nothing to fear next Sunday. They'll have Kwarasey—immortalized by another brilliant Timbers Army tifo on Sunday—back in goal, and Diego Chara back in the midfield engine room to provide another dose of drive and industry to compliment Nagbe.

Yesterday's was the trap game. The Timbers had plenty to fear, but they figured out quickly that Vancouver just isn't that scary. After the heart-stopping marathon against Kansas City, Sunday was just what the doctor ordered for the Timbers. But now, from here on in, it's the Timbers who will be running the show.