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Portland Timbers coach Phil Neville is “wanting ahead to bouncing again” after a defeat to Austin FC, as a win or a draw in opposition to FC Dallas shall be sufficient to safe a spot within the MLS playoffs.
Portland fell to a 1-0 defeat at residence to Austin, who they’re vying with for the ultimate play-off spot within the Western Convention.
Whereas The Timbers could have a second likelihood to safe their spot in opposition to the Seattle Sounders ought to they fail to realize factors in opposition to Dallas, Neville will hope to enter the ultimate day with it already wrapped up.
Portland at the moment sit six factors forward of Austin, that means a draw in opposition to Dallas shall be sufficient.
“We’re wanting ahead to bouncing again,” Neville informed the press. “We’ve certified for the playoffs barring a miracle.
“We’ve received to return to what we do finest and that’s placed on a convincing present at residence on Sunday.”
The person within the opposition dugout, Peter Luccin, is much extra upset together with his aspect’s current defeat, which noticed them mathematically dominated out of playoff competition.
Dallas misplaced 3-2 to the San Jose Earthquakes midweek, which places them eleventh within the desk and out of attain of their opponents.
Luccin’s aspect had saved the scores stage at 1-1 till the 79th minute when San Jose scored two in fast succession earlier than Dallas pulled one again. It left the interim head coach pissed off with the show.
“[I’m] very upset, very unhappy, mad on the identical time. With Austin beating Portland, our situation was excellent, profitable this sport and going to Portland simply 5 factors away and making an attempt to beat Portland. It’s so disappointing,” he stated, through Massive D Soccer.
“The purpose that we conceded, the possibilities that we missed. Very, very upset. I haven’t had time to speak with the gamers, it’s a evening to undergo a bit of bit. We didn’t deal with enterprise and it’s all on us.”
We regroup for Sunday.
Hear what the gaffer needed to say: https://t.co/fLTEvof69H pic.twitter.com/dHgtn6ek4q
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 3, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Evander
Attacking midfielder Evander has the second-most assists within the league with 14 in 26 appearances, solely behind FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta, who has 16 in 30 appearances.
The Brazilian ranks joint-sixth within the league for probabilities created having produced 81 throughout the season, whereas he has additionally scored 15 objectives.
Dallas – Peter Musa
Musa is the highest goalscorer for Dallas this season (15), with 3 times the variety of objectives than his highest-scoring team-mate, Paul Arriola.
He was on the scoresheet final time the 2 sides met in a high-scoring encounter that noticed Dallas win 3-2.
MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN
Portland have misplaced simply considered one of their 15 all-time residence matches in opposition to Dallas (W9 D5), going unbeaten within the final seven (W4 D3).
Dallas have scored simply two complete objectives in these seven visits, following a 3-1 victory of their solely win at Portland in April 2016.
Regardless of failing to attain at residence on Wednesday, Portland’s 39 objectives at Windfall Park this season within the MLS is their most in a single common season for the reason that membership joined the league in 2011.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 54.2%
Draw – 23.5%
Dallas – 22.3%
