Michael Bradley and Pedro Morales come up big as Toronto FC and Whitecaps pick up wins

At a time when their teams needed them most, Michael Bradley and Pedro Morales came up big late in games on Saturday as the MLS regular season enters its final month.

Toronto FC went down 2-0 inside 20 minutes but roared back in the second half to claim a 3-2 win over Portland.

Bradley set up the tying goal from a free kick, swinging in a ball that was headed in by Nick Hagglund to tie the game 2-2. With the game still tied in the 89th minute, Bradley stood over another free kick in a promising position. This time he went for goal and his shot ended up in the back of the net, completing TFC's improbable comeback.

"These are the kind of days that can change seasons," said Bradley. "We're still right in the thick of it.

When the goal-starved Whitecaps watched Real Salt Lake open the scoring in the 57th minute, it appeared it wasn't going to be their day.

Morales had missed a golden opportunity to put Vancouver ahead in the 4th minute and then had a penalty kick saved right before halftime. When Erik Hurtado was taken down inside the box in the 62nd minute, Morales had an opportunity to redeem himself and did exactly that. Morales stepped up to the spot again and cooly slotted his shot in the bottom left corner of the goal to bring the Whitecaps level. In the 78th mintue he scored his second goal of the game, deflecting a shot from Steven Beitashour past the Salt Lake keeper to lift Vancouver to a 2-1 win.

"In the second half I felt so much better — more confidence in my play," said Morales. "I had two important goals for the team."

The push for the playoffs is on in both cities. Toronto now has 40 points and sit in 6th in the Eastern Conference, just one point back of New York for 5th. The Whitecaps return to 5th in the West, taking advantage of the Timbers' loss, and have a one point edge over their Cascadia rival with four games to play.

Bradley will get some help down the stretch as Jermain Defoe is expected to return to the side for their next game October 4 against Los Angeles while Morales will hope that his performance will give the young Whitecaps a boost as they try to hold off Portland.

Designated players so often can make the difference between three points and no points. That was certainly evident in Toronto and Vancouver's wins on Saturday.