Portland woods will try to secure a direct playoff spot when they face Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening.

After failing to win any of the last five meetings between the two teams, the Rapids will be looking to beat the Oregon team this weekend and continue their impressive home streak.

Game Preview

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Colorado Rapids kept their Western Conference title dream alive on September 1, twice coming from behind to secure an impressive 3-2 win over Dallas on their return to league play.

In an action-packed match at Toyota Stadium Logan Farrington And Petar Musa scored on both sides Rafael Navarrogave Dallas the lead in the 11th minute, but Navarro equalized in the 76th minute before Darren Yapi completed the comeback in the third minute of injury time.

This followed an impressive season in the Leagues Cup, which saw Colorado Rapids secure third place at Subaru Park on August 25 when they narrowly defeated Philadelphia Union on penalties in the third-place match, following a thrilling 2-2 draw in normal time.

After two away games Chris ArmasThe team now returns to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, where they are undefeated in each of their last eight games, recording six wins and two draws since a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on May 12.

Colorado Rapids have won 13 and drawn five in their 27 MLS matches to date, earning them 44 points. That puts them in fourth place in the Western Conference, eight points behind first-place Los Angeles Galaxy, albeit with a game in hand.

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The Portland Timbers, on the other hand, returned to winning ways last time out, narrowly beating the Seattle Sounders 1-0 when the two teams faced each other at Providence Park.

After a goalless first half Juan Mosquera finished off a well-played team goal with a cracker from long range, giving Seattle its ninth league defeat of the season and the hosts three important points in their fight for the playoffs.

Portland’s Leagues Cup journey previously ended with a 3-1 loss to St. Louis City in the round of 32 on August 10, two weeks before a thrilling 4-4 ​​stalemate with St. Louis in the second of two consecutive cup and league doubleheaders.

Phil Neville‘s side have recorded 11 wins and seven draws in their 27 MLS games so far, earning 40 points and sitting eighth in the West, one point behind seventh-placed Houston Dynamo, who clinched the final automatic playoff spot, and six points ahead of Dallas, who sit just outside the play-in spots.

While Saturday’s visitors will be looking to pick up where they left off against Seattle and move into the top seven, they have lost all of their last three away games and have only two wins in 12 MLS away games since mid-March.

However, recent results against Colorado should give the Portland Timbers plenty of optimism heading into the weekend, as they have won three games in a row and are unbeaten in their last five meetings since a 2-0 loss in May 2022.

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:

Colorado Rapids form (all competitions):

Portland Timbers Major League Soccer form:

Portland Timbers form (all competitions):

Team News

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Navarro and Yapi both scored against Dallas but will sit out this weekend’s match after exceeding the yellow card limit with their bookings at Toyota Stadium.

Navarro, who scored 13 goals and provided one assist in 27 league games, was to be replaced by Omir Fernandezwhile we should see an unchanged back four Keegan Rosenberry, Lala’s Abubakar, Andreas Maxso And Jackson Travis shielding Zack Steffen in the goal.

Due to injury, Armas cannot rely on the services of Sam Vines and the French striker. Kevin Cabralwho are currently recovering from thigh or arm injuries.

As for Portland Timbers, Canadian defender Zac McGraw missed the last game against the Seattle Sounders due to a leg injury and his participation in this weekend’s encounter is very doubtful.

Also on the club’s injury list is the 27-year-old defender Marvin Loriawho has not played since a knee injury in early August.

Possible Colorado Rapids starting lineup:
Steffen; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Maxso, Travis; Ronan, Larraz; Harris, Mihailovic, Lewis; Fernandez

Possible starting lineup for the Portland Timbers:
Crepeau; Mosquera, Zuparic, Miller, Bravo; Ayala, Chara; Moreno, Evander, Antony; Toye

We think: Colorado Rapids 2-1 Portland Timbers

With only four points separating the two teams in the conference table, we expect a neck and neck contest this weekend as both teams look to build on their form as the season draws to a close.

However, the Rapids have been tough to crack at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season and we’re tipping them to end their winless streak against Neville’s men.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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