News Summary
The Portland Timbers achieved a crucial 3-1 victory against Real Salt Lake at Providence Park, advancing to the next round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Felipe Mora scored two goals, helping the Timbers regain their competitive edge after a tough season. They will face San Diego FC next in a best-of-three series, with the first match set to take place shortly. This win marks a significant turnaround for the Timbers as they move forward in the postseason.
Portland, Oregon — Timbers Advance After 3-1 Win Over Real Salt Lake in MLS Playoffs
The Portland Timbers secured a critical victory on Wednesday at Providence Park by defeating Real Salt Lake with a score of 3-1 in the MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Wild Card Game. This win allows the Timbers to move forward to the next round of the postseason, as they now prepare to face San Diego FC in a best-of-three series.
Key Details of the Match and Series
The series against San Diego FC will begin with a game on Sunday in San Diego. The second game will take place at Providence Park in Portland on November 1, starting at 6:30 PM PT. Tickets for the match will be available to the public starting Thursday, October 23, at 12 PM Pacific, and can be purchased through SeatGeek.
All games in this first round will be broadcast live on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, with commentary available in both English and Spanish. Local radio stations will also provide coverage, with 750 The Game broadcasting in English, and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM offering Spanish commentary.
Significant Contributions and Match Highlights
The Timbers entered the playoff game as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, and the victory marked their first playoff series advancement since 2021.
Felipe Mora was instrumental to the result, scoring two goals in the match—his first goals since May—breaking a scoring drought that had lasted several months. Mora’s first goal came in the 24th minute, converting on a rebound following a header saved from a free kick by Kristoffer Velde. His second goal, which extended Portland’s lead to 2-0, occurred in the 36th minute after another rebound opportunity.
The visitors, Real Salt Lake, managed to cut the lead in the 39th minute when Justen Glad headed a goal into the top corner, providing some hope for the Salt Lake side. Despite this, Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis made multiple crucial saves throughout the match to preserve Portland’s advantage.
The Timbers’ third goal came in the 82nd minute, with Kamal Miller heading in a cross from Ariel Lassiter, sealing their victory and ending a challenging run where the team had recorded only their second win in the last 11 matches.
Team and Playoff Context
The victory was a significant achievement for the Timbers, ending a winless streak in the playoffs that extended to eight matches for Real Salt Lake, which included three losses and five draws. It also marked a notable rebound for Portland, who had struggled in recent performances but managed to secure their first playoff series win in over two years.
The match was also noted for controversial officiating, including a missed handball call against Real Salt Lake in the first half, which was a point of discussion but did not alter the outcome.
Next Steps and Additional Information
Tickets for the second game at Providence Park go on sale to the public on Thursday, October 23. Fans are encouraged to purchase early as demand is expected to be high. For those unable to attend, the game will be accessible via live broadcast, ensuring fans can follow Portland’s postseason journey.
This college concludes the Portland Timbers’ advancement in the playoff tournament, setting up a high-stakes matchup against the top-seeded San Diego FC, with the outcome aiming to determine which team advances further into the MLS Cup competition.
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Additional Resources
- Portland Timbers Official Match Recap
- OregonLive: Mora Leads Timbers
- The Guardian: Timbers vs Real Salt Lake
- KSL Sports: Portland Advances
- Sports Illustrated: 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Predictions
- Wikipedia: Major League Soccer
- Google Search: Portland Timbers 2025 playoffs
- Google Scholar: Portland Timbers history
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Portland Timbers
- Google News: Portland Timbers
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