📈 Nelson unstoppable in debut display as Vancouver leads Portland | OneFootball

Vancouver Whitecaps have begun their 2025 MLS season with a bang as they lead Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers 4-1 in the second half.

After Timbers defender Kamal Miller was shown a straight red just 11 minutes into the match, goals from Ryan Gauld, Pedro Vite, and Sam Adekugbe set the Whitecaps on course for a massive result.

But Jayden Nelson, too, has started the campaign brightly by assisting on all three goals on his return to the league.

The Canadian international now pulls ahead of not only Lionel Messi, but Chicago's Jonathan Bamba, and Philadelphia's Kai Wagner, and level with San Jose's Cristian Espinoza in the MLS assist chart thus far.

Not done there, Nelson then bagged a goal himself after picking up the ball at the halfway line before driving into the final third before dispatching his effort past Maxime Crepeau at the near post.

Nelson (22), who first began his top-flight career with Toronto, then plied his trade for Norwegian giant Rosenborg before returning to MLS with Vancouver in the run-up to the season.

What a way to reintroduce yourself to the North American top flight.

📸 Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images