Neville backs Timbers to deliver ahead of crucial Wild Card clash

Portland Timbers boss Phil Neville has reaffirmed his belief in his side ahead of their Wild Card showdown with Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, with an MLS playoff place at stake.

Both sides are desperate to end long title droughts — Portland last lifted the MLS Cup 10 years ago, while RSL’s only triumph came in 2009.

A poor run of form at the end of the regular season left Portland narrowly missing out on a top-seven spot on goal difference.

Phil Neville’s team could have booked their playoff place on Decision Day, but a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Western Conference winners San Diego condemned them to the knockout route.

For the second consecutive year, the Timbers find themselves fighting for survival after managing just one win in their final ten matches. Neville’s men are currently winless in five, with three losses in that stretch, and their recent record against Real Salt Lake offers little encouragement.

“We’ve got a team that we believe so much in. I will never lose faith in this team in terms of the ability and the confidence,” said Neville during pre-match press conference.

“We’re going to need courage and bravery, and we’re going to need incredible spirit.

“It is not about the opposition, it’s about us.”

Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, scraped into the Wild Card fixture by the narrowest of margins, edging San Jose Earthquakes on total wins after finishing level on points.

It has been a below-par campaign by their standards, marking the first time in four seasons that they have finished outside the top seven.

Pablo Mastroeni, who has been part of the club’s coaching setup since 2021, still has a chance to rescue the season if his side can overcome the Timbers and earn a playoff tie against San Diego.

RSL’s recent form has been mixed, with two wins, two defeats and a draw in their last five outings. However, they remain unbeaten in their last three meetings with Portland, a run that should give them confidence as they look to spring an upset and keep their playoff hopes alive.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers - Antony

Antony and Kevin Kelsy have each scored a team-high seven goals for the Timbers this season, equalling the fewest by a season leader in team history (Kris Boyd – seven in 2012). Along with being the joint-scoring leader, Antony’s eight assists tied David da Costa for the most in the team in 2025.

Real Salt Lake – Diego Luna

Luna led Real Salt Lake’s scoring charts in 2025 with nine goals — more than double the tally of any of his team-mates, three of whom finished with four apiece.

RSL were one of only two MLS clubs, along with Toronto, to have just a single player reach the five-goal mark. It also marked the first time in the team’s history that only one player managed to score five or more goals in a season.

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

Portland and Real Salt Lake will face off in the playoffs for the fourth time, with RSL having progressed on two occasions (2013 and 2019) and Portland once (2021).

The only away victory in their postseason meetings came in 2013, when RSL earned a 1–0 win in Portland during the second leg of the Western Conference Final.

This season, Portland collected 44 points from 11 wins, 11 draws, and 12 defeats. The Timbers have shown remarkable consistency over the past four MLS campaigns, finishing each year with between 43 and 47 points and placing between eighth and tenth in the West.

Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, reached the playoffs for the 12th time in 15 seasons — and the fifth straight year — despite managing just 41 points. That total is their lowest in a full MLS campaign since 2015, when they also finished with 41.

Among teams to qualify for the postseason in a 34-match season, only Atlanta United in 2024 did so with fewer points (40).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 47.0%

Draw – 26.3%

Real Salt Lake – 26.7%