(6) Portland Timbers (14, 13, 7, 49 points) vs (3) Real Salt Lake (16, 13, 5, 53 points)
Saturday October 19, 2019 7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Portland Timbers at a glance
The Portland Timbers are looking forward to extending their winning streak over the Claret and Cobalt on another epic battle at always difficult Rio Tinto Stadium.
With back to back seasons the Timbers being dominant over Real Salt Lake, the need to pull another win on the road is a must for Giovanni Savarese and company.
By displaying and upper edge over RSL, still, the Portland side does come as the overall favorite.
As the new playoff format instituted by MLS, a win you move on, a loss you get to see the remainder of the postseason at home and plan for next year to be more generous and filled with good fortunes.
Somehow this Rose City side is one strong team when it plays on the road, as for them this is it!
No turning back and not laid back in their quest of making a dash towards the league semifinals if not repeat in the finals once again but with LAFC in the way, if these make it all the way to the conference final.
No room for error for these hardened Timbers looking to move on to the next level and whenever these deliver a win on the postseason, these are suddenly possessed and playing with their best game.
Nothing will get in the way of these Timbers, coming with its elite starting eleven now that their Talisman Diego Valeri fully recovered and ready to make a start to deliver his postseason magic.
GK Steve Clark, Jorge Moreira, Larry’s Mabiala, Bill Tuiloma, Jorge Villfaña; Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes; Sebastian Blanco, Diego Valeri, Dairon Aspirilla; Jeremy Ebobisse
Real Salt Lake at a glance
For the Claret- and- Cobalt ending the season with consecutive wins, that momentum for sure will be looking forward to making it enough to drive on and pull a valuable win at home.
As RSL in August saw manager Mike Petke being fired, after using improper language over league officials, in the end, the work performed by interim manager Freddy Juarez paid off positively.
Still, the question arises for RSL, when they are to face a side that in the regular season swept them and raises many questions, still, I do not discard this team fight and spirit to deliver an upset.
In the end, the team with the most fight and puts the best strategy in the field will be the victor, just one game and if it finishes tied, still the Portland Timbers can have the upper edge in sudden death.
Overall will RSL deliver on Nick Rimando’s final postseason as the lad will retire at the end of the season, and can they pull one for one of the best in the game goalkeepers in American soccer history.
GK Nick Rimando, Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Nedum Onuoha, Donny Toia; Jefferson Savarino, Kyle Beckerman, Everton Luiz, Corey Baird; Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach
Meetings
August 31, 2019, Portland Timbers 1-0 Real Salt Lake
May 4, 2019, Real Salt Lake 1-2 Portland Timbers
October 21, 2018, Portland Timbers 3-0 Real Salt Lake
October 6, 2018, Real Salt Lake 1-4 Portland Timbers
Forecast
The Portland Timbers come as slim favorites, but anything can happen
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
