(11) Portland Timbers (8,11,9, 33 points) vs (10) Austin F.C. (9,12,6, 33 points)
Sunday September 17, 2023 KO 5:55 PM PST
Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
Portland Timbers Briefly
What a start for manager Miles Joseph and coming with a very important win that gives the Green and Gold a boost of confidence to an all time high. Now, the Timbers are looking at another tough test on the road.
There are still six games left in the 2023 campaign where every match is important for the Rose City side as the team must continue its current form.
Many state that defense wins games and in the LAFC match, we saw a couple of defenders stepping up their game with Larrys Mabiala redeeming himself with the first goal of the match with a difficult, but amazing header.
With Claudio Bravo doing the same and scoring in the second half with a beauty of a goal, the Andean is looking to improve his game as well looking very developed by displaying a one-of-a-kind game.
As positives are piling up, still nothing has been won as the Rose City side is really looking to seize a spot among the teams making it into the postseason with very little time left. The team is writing a new chapter under its new man in the helm.
With every match and point being on the line, the Green and Gold needs to take advantage of every minute of its matches and perform big just like they are playing line in a cup final!
Despite the offensive game not being on point, I recognize the all-around effort the offensive game is currently giving under the new manager and making the difference in the end.
There is a lot to gain with a win against Austin FC and maybe with some scores elsewhere, we can see the Rose City Boys occupying a spot in the postseason, something that looked improbable not too long ago.
Photo Credit Austin F.C.
Austin F.C. Briefly
For manager Josh Wolff, it has been an average season so far with his Verdes. The Texas side has been struggling to be above the postseason spots and right now they are leading the Timbers on goal difference.
It has not been a dream season and the team could use some motivation and focus in the remaining games of this campaign coming almost to an end. Austin needs to step-up their game for the better because in the end they could miss out.
Still, the team has managed to overcome some of its important players being sidelined with injuries, but in the end, wins could become very pivotal for this team if they are to make it into the postseason.
In the end, Austin F.C. has the advantage playing at home, but with a resurgent Portland Timbers side, we can see in the end a very contested affair between these two teams, with no room for error.
A draw won’t be enough for either sides as both sides will be looking for the win and a loss will be horrible for both of them could very well derail their playoffs aspirations.
Meetings
05/06/2023 Portland Timbers 2-2 Austin F.C.
08/31/2020 Austin F.C. 1-2 Portland Timbers
03/12/2022 Portland Timbers 1-0 Austin F.C.
Forecast
The way the Portland Timbers are playing with no doubt they can come out with a big win
