San Diego FC heads to Portland fired up and full of confidence. After a 2–1 home win in the first leg, the California side is one step away from a historic spot in the Western Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup. If they win again on Saturday, they’ll close out the series and move on. But Providence Park, home of the Portland Timbers, has never been an easy place to play. San Diego will have to prove that even as newcomers, they’ve already learned how to act like a big club.
Timbers tries to breathe at the end of the season
Portland takes the field under pressure, needing a win to keep its season alive. Phil Neville’s team hasn’t won in nine straight games and has managed just one victory in its last ten. Confidence is low, but there’s still a bit of hope: the strength of their home field. Providence Park usually lifts the team, and even though their form has dipped, that atmosphere could help balance things out. The Timbers finished the regular season in eighth place and reached the playoffs after beating Real Salt Lake in the Wild Card round.
The numbers don’t lie. In three meetings with San Diego, Portland has lost twice and drawn once, with a goal difference of 6–1. Still, there are reasons to believe. The team has scored in five of its last six home matches and has a decent record in penalty shootouts, in case the game ends level.
San Diego grows at the right time
San Diego is living its best moment of the season. The team seems to have matured quickly and even imposed itself on the road, beating Portland 4–0 just a few weeks ago. Consistency has become its biggest strength. Mikey Varas has found the balance every coach looks for.
And now the team gets a major boost: Hirving “Chucky” Lozano is back. The Mexican star, the club’s first-ever Designated Player, returns from suspension and is set to reunite with Anders Dreyer. Together, they combined for 28 goals and 29 assists during the regular season , numbers that show exactly why San Diego has become one of the most dangerous attacking sides in MLS.
The squad’s confidence is obvious. The first-leg win revealed a mature team, capable of controlling the pace without losing focus. Even away from home, San Diego feels comfortable. They’ve already won recently in the same stadium and know exactly how to face this opponent.