Phil Neville has praised Portland Timbers’ resilience and has urged them to maintain combating after they face Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS on Saturday.
The Timbers got here from behind twice to salvage a 3-3 draw with Actual Salt Lake final weekend, which means they’ve misplaced simply one in every of their final 5 matches.
Nonetheless, they’ve struggled on the street, failing to win any of their 4 such matches within the league.
Portland sit eighth within the Western Convention, however Neville has a lot increased ambitions than simply making the playoffs.
“We don’t quit in any recreation and that’s a very particular high quality, and it’s a high quality that not many groups have,” Neville stated.
“They’ve contributed all through the season and angle is so essential. The character of this group is unbreakable, however we’ve received to get the following bit [defending] proper.
“We’re not simply pushing for the playoffs, we’re in it to win it and if we preserve that togetherness, we’re going a great distance.”
ONCE AGAIN! Vancouver Whitecaps FC have the perfect Italian #VWFC | #VANvTOR pic.twitter.com/b2Qt6Darp4
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) September 26, 2024
In the meantime, Vancouver gained the Canadian Championship title for the third yr in a row on Wednesday, beating Toronto FC 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
In MLS, they’ve gained simply one in every of their final 4 matches, sitting two factors above their opponents, and head coach Vanni Sartini is hoping to discover a steadiness between celebrating their triumph and getting ready for Saturday.
“I’m going to have a drink and realizing that Saturday is so essential, sadly, we will’t actually get loopy as a result of we’re in crunch time,” stated Sartini.
“It’s not like final yr when it was in the midst of the season, and you can quote-on-quote throw away the following recreation.
“It’s so essential for Saturday that we’ve to rejoice, however with some restraint.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld
Ryan Gauld has recorded an help in every of his final 4 common season matches for the Whitecaps, the second time he has executed so in his profession (additionally July 2022).
No participant in Vancouver’s historical past has recorded an help in 5 straight regular-season video games.
Portland Timbers – Evander
Evander has contributed to not less than one aim in 11 straight common season matches, a membership file for the Timbers.
There have been solely two longer streaks in MLS historical past: Josef Martínez (15 straight) in 2019 and Sebastian Giovinco (12 straight) in 2018.
A free kick of the best high quality.
Evander’s strike is the @ATT Aim of the Matchday winner. https://t.co/KUnX8ck0L3 pic.twitter.com/joWECpN2ih
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) September 25, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN
The Whitecaps and Timbers have every recorded a house win towards the opposite already this season. Because the begin of the 2018 season, Portland have gained eight instances towards the Whitecaps, with Vancouver successful seven (one draw).
Certainly, the Whitecaps have gained 4 of their final 5 residence Cascadia Cup matches (L1), together with a 3-2 win over Portland on March 30. Vancouver had gained simply two of their earlier 10 matches towards the Seattle Sounders and Timbers in Vancouver (D4 L4).
In the meantime, Portland’s 3-3 draw at Actual Salt Lake on Saturday marked the eleventh time this season the Timbers have didn’t win a match by which they scored a number of targets. Solely LA Galaxy in 2018 (12 instances) have endured extra such video games in a single season in MLS historical past.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Vancouver Whitecaps – 43.6%
Draw – 26.8%
Portland Timbers – 29.6%
