The Portland Timbers head into MLS Decision Day with their backs against the wall. Phil Neville’s team needs at least a point against San Diego FC this Saturday at Providence Park to secure a direct playoff spot and avoid the Wild Card drama. The challenge couldn’t be tougher. On the other side, San Diego, the breakout story of the season and the best expansion team in MLS history, is chasing a milestone of its own: finishing its first year among the top two in the Western Conference and breaking the single-season record for away wins.
Portland treating it like a final
Portland’s campaign has been the definition of inconsistency. With 11 wins, 11 draws, and 11 losses, everything is still up for grabs heading into the final match. Sitting seventh in the West, any slip-up could undo months of work. The 1–0 loss to the Seattle Sounders last weekend left a sting and exposed a team that’s won just once in its last ten matches. Still, Providence Park remains the place keeping fans hopeful. The Timbers have won three of their last five home games and have only lost twice in their own stadium since February. And if there’s one thing that place never lacks, it’s energy.
San Diego playing for history and proving its champion mentality
San Diego FC travels to Oregon with numbers that would turn heads in any league. Eighteen wins, nine losses, and six draws in their debut season, impressive for any club, but almost unbelievable for a newcomer. Under coach Mikey Varas, San Diego has become a model of efficiency and composure on the road, racking up 11 away victories, tied with FC Cincinnati for the most in MLS this season. A win in Portland would put them in an elite club of teams with at least 12 road wins in a single campaign, something only the 1998 LA Galaxy has ever achieved. It could also tie the all-time MLS record for away points.
At the heart of it all are two names driving the story: Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano. The Danish playmaker is in top form, tied with Lionel Messi at the top of the assist charts with 18. Lozano, meanwhile, has become the heartbeat of San Diego’s attack, the spark that keeps their debut season burning bright.