What MLS has always brought to the table by way of action and surprise will mean this Saturday at Providence Park won't be anything different. The Portland Timbers, on one side, are fighting for a playoff position, while St. Louis City SC is doing the same to close the gap and seize the last opportunity to make the Western Conference playoffs this season. It's in every shot and every save that tension lies, as the fate of both teams will be at stake.
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Timbers' Drama: Fortress or Last Stand?
Let's start with the Portland Timbers. This team has genuinely made Providence Park its fortress in 2024. It's easy to believe in a win this Saturday with them holding an eight-game unbeaten streak at home under their belt. Since May, no one has beaten them at home. And don't be mislead—home domination is what has kept the Timbers alive in this playoff race. There is an elephant in the room, though: Is this streak enough to guarantee a happy ending?
The numbers are decent, but reality bites hard. The Timbers log in with a 10-9-6 record, and to be honest, that does not really impress. Seven of those wins were at home, proving just how much they do actually lean on the energy in the building. But for a team with aspirations to more than making the playoffs, that's not enough. They need to show they can win on the road too. And so far, they have come up short. The match against St. Louis City SC is their chance to prove they are something more than just good hosts.
St. Louis CITY SC: The Final Push
On the other side, St. Louis CITY SC comes into this with very high expectations but has gotten lost with injuries and inconsistency. While losing 4-2 to Club América in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 might have been hard to take in, it gave them the much-needed reality check: improve their acts, and do so fast.
Now all eyes turn to interim coach John Hackworth, with the nigh impossible task of trying to salvage this season. St. Louis, with 13 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses, needs consistency in results like never before to stop their playoff spot from slipping away. Goalkeeper Roman Burki and center-back Tomas Totland will cement their defense. The midfield will be dependant on Eduard Löwen, who is in top form to fashion the required chances for the two strikers up-front in Marcel Hartel and Simon Becher.
Speaking of Löwen, he has been an engine for this very team. With 10 goal contributions in 18 matches, Löwen is that player who can tip the scales. If he is having his game, then the chances of CITY SC skyrocket. But at the same time, they need a collective effort to overcome the Timbers; a team can't rely on only one star shining bright.
This won't be the first Portland and St. Louis battle this season, but it's arguably one of the most critical. Their last meeting ended in a goalless draw at CITYPARK—a game that probably many are looking to forget. Since then, both teams changed.
Portland, since that draw, has found the back of the net 25 times across various competitions. On the other side, St. Louis has scored 17 in the same span, evidence that the Timbers' ability to score has improved vastly. Also, St. Louis has the historical edge after posting a 2-1-1 all-time record against Portland. The last time around saw St. Louis on top, 3-1, behind top performances from Löwen, Hartel, and Becher.
But now? Will this be a repetition, or are we due for a new chapter written? Portland has a home-field advantage, and as we have mentioned, Providence Park is a fortress. CITY SC will, however, have a hunger for victory.
As players take the field, one thing is quite apparent: this isn't just an average game. It's a dogfight at which every move can make all the difference. And in the end, only one will be walking away with playoff dreams still alive.