Phil Neville has urged the Portland Timbers to be extra ruthless in closing out video games, with the Colorado Rapids subsequent up in MLS.
The Timbers have endured a tough begin to the 2025 season, successful simply one in all their 4 video games to date, leaving them twelfth within the Western Convention.
They gave up a lead of their 1-1 draw with struggling LA Galaxy final weekend, and Neville acknowledged there are nonetheless components of Portland’s recreation that must be fine-tuned.
“We’re a group that’s nonetheless studying,” he stated. “We’re a group that must be somewhat extra ruthless and present extra braveness on the ball.
“Our defending is excellent in comparison with final yr. Everybody’s working for one another, however we quit an excessive amount of floor and house.”
On the highway to the Rapids
: Nature Unites
: https://t.co/nEQobRtjuH pic.twitter.com/rWif6c7Eat— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) March 20, 2025
Colorado, in the meantime, are fourth within the desk and have made an unbeaten begin to MLS this season, with two wins and two attracts to date.
They’ve gained their final two matches, each on the highway, however needed to battle again for a 3-3 draw in opposition to FC Dallas of their earlier house outing.
Head coach Chris Armas is wanting ahead to being again on house soil and expects the Timbers to offer them a tricky problem, regardless of their rocky begin.
“We’re excited to get house and play in entrance of our followers,” Armas stated. “Fairly truthfully, we’re excited for the match-up in opposition to Portland.
“They put us in a tricky recreation each time. They’re not solely properly coached, with Phil, however they’ve weapons up the pitch and are harmful in transition, however they’re additionally organized and exhausting to interrupt down.
“It’ll be a great problem for us. We’re wanting ahead to it.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colorado Rapids – Adam Beaudry
Zack Steffen earned plaudits final weekend as he solely allowed one purpose in opposition to the San Jose Earthquakes regardless of Colorado conceding 21 pictures contained in the field.
He’s away on worldwide responsibility this week, leaving Adam Beaudry to step up to speed in purpose in opposition to the Timbers in what could be his first MLS look of the season.
Portland Timbers – Santiago Moreno
Santiago Moreno recorded his thirty fifth profession regular-season help for the Timbers on Sunday, surpassing Diego Chara (34) for third-most within the membership’s MLS historical past, behind solely Diego Valeri (91) and Sebastian Blanco (51).
House discipline, house crowd and a shot at three factors
See you on Saturday » https://t.co/6Efb8KdrdJ#Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/5CDBjEZSUv
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 20, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: COLORADO RAPIDS WIN
The Rapids ended a five-match winless run in opposition to Portland in all competitions (D1 L4) with a 2-1 victory in September. Colorado haven’t gained consecutive video games in opposition to the Timbers since successful the primary three all-time conferences in 2011-12.
With eight factors (W2 D2 L0), Colorado are off to their finest begin to a season since 2012 (9 factors). The Rapids have by no means collected greater than 10 factors from their first 5 matches of a season earlier than (10 in 2010, 2014 and 2021).
The Timbers, in the meantime, have gained solely two of their final 18 away matches in all competitions (D6 L10) courting again to mid-March 2024, together with going winless in eight straight on the highway (D3 L5). Portland haven’t gone greater than eight right away video games with no win in all competitions since a 16-match run in 2016.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Colorado Rapids – 43.2%
Draw – 26.7%
Portland Timbers – 30.1%
