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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Secure No. 4 Seed in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with 3-1 Road Win over Real Salt Lake

November 4, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


SANDY, Utah - The Portland Timbers secured the No. 4 seed in the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with tonight's 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. Sebastián Blanco registered a brace and forced an own goal to go ahead by three in the first half. The Timbers will play their final match of the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 7 against Austin FC.

Portland Clinched Playoffs

With the win, Portland (16-13-4, 52pts) secured the No. 4 seed in the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference and have earned a home playoff match. The Timbers clinched a spot in the playoffs on Tuesday, Nov. 2 after LAFC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC played to a 1-1 draw. It marks Portland's fifth consecutive trip to the playoffs, and the seventh time (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) in the club's MLS history. Notably, head coach Giovanni Savarese has gone to the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the club and is the only head coach in Portland history to record consecutive postseason appearances. The Timbers play their regular-season finale against Austin FC on Nov. 7 at Providence Park.

Making Club History

Portland recorded its 16th victory of the 2021 campaign, the most wins in an MLS regular season in club history. Previously, the Timbers recorded a club-best 15 wins in the 2018, 2017, and 2015 campaigns.

Comeback Campaign

In his 23rd appearance (11th start) this season, Sebastián Blanco recorded a brace to help Portland clinch a home playoff match. Since returning from his ACL injury mid-season, Blanco has tallied six goals and six assists for the Timbers, including one game-winning goal and three game-winning assists.

Portland vs. Real Salt Lake

Tonight's match marked Portland's third consecutive win against Salt Lake, sweeping them in the 2021 campaign. The Timbers outscored RSL 12-4 this season. All-time, Portland leads the series against Real Salt Lake 12-8-8, and is even on the road with a record of 6-6-2. In three appearances against Salt Lake this season, Blanco has registered two goals and three assists. Additionally, he has seven goals and six assists in 10 career matches against RSL. Yimmi Chara has recorded two goals and two assists in three appearances against Salt Lake this year.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Sebastián Blanco (Cristhian Paredes, Yimmi Chara), 17th minute: Yimmi Chara delivered a corner kick to the center of the box to the head of Cristhian Paredes. He flicked it towards to the back post for Sebastián Blanco to fire a header into the back of the net.

POR - Own Goal (Aaron Herrera), 38th minute: Blanco drove with the ball down the right wing, cutting it past his defender towards the end line to fire a low cross into the six-yard box. In an attempt to clear the ball, Real Salt Lake's Aaron Herrera misdirected it into the back of his own goal.

POR - Sebastián Blanco (Jaroslaw Niezgoda), 45th minute: Blanco dribbled up the middle of the field, slipped a pass into the box for Jaroslaw Niezgoda, immediately got it back near the penalty spot and played a one-time pass into the corner of the goal.

RSL - Albert Rusnák (penalty kick), 88th minute: Claudio Bravo was whistled for a handball in the box. Albert Rusnák stepped up to take the penalty kick for RSL and converted the attempt.

Notes

The Timbers are 16-13-4 (52 pts) this season.

With the win, Portland secured the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference for the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

The Timbers clinched a spot in the playoffs on Nov. 2, off of a 1-1 draw between LAFC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

It marks the fifth consecutive season Portland has gone to the postseason, and seventh overall.

Head coach Gio Savarese has clinched playoffs in each of his four seasons with the club.

The Timbers recorded 16 wins in a regular season for the first time in club history.

Portland is 12-8-8 against RSL all-time, and 6-6-2 on the road.

The Timbers swept Salt Lake in the 2021 campaign 3-0-0, outscoring them 12-4.

Blanco registered two goals tonight, his fifth and sixth of the season.

Blanco recorded his third career brace for the Timbers.

In 10 matches played against RSL, Blanco has recorded seven goals and six assists.

Paredes tallied his second assist of the season.

Y. Chara's assist registered as his sixth of the year.

In three appearances against Real Salt Lake this season, Y. Chara has recorded two goals and two assists.

Niezgoda tallied his first assist of the 2021 campaign.

Niezgoda is the 18th player to record an assist for Portland this season.

Dairon Asprilla is the only player to appear in all 33 matches for Portland this season.

Timbers assistant coach Miles Joseph coached his 300th MLS match, and tallied his 50th win with Gio Savarese.

Claudio Bravo will miss the next match due to yellow card accumulation.

Next Game

The Timbers will close out their regular season on Sunday, Nov. 7 against Austin FC at Providence Park. The match kicks off at 3:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will feature a local broadcast on FOX 12 Plus with radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (16-13-4, 52pts) vs. Real Salt Lake (13-14-6, 45pts)

Nov. 3, 2021 - Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy, Utah)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Real Salt Lake 0 1 1

Portland Timbers 3 0 3

Scoring Summary:

POR: Blanco (Paredes, Y. Chara), 17

POR: Own Goal (Herrera), 38

POR: Blanco (Niezgoda), 45

RSL: Rusnak (penalty kick), 88

Misconduct Summary:

RSL: Ruiz (caution), 36

POR: Tuiloma (caution), 82

POR: Bravo (caution), 87

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Van Rankin, D Tuiloma, D Zuparic, D Bravo, M D. Chara ©, M Paredes (Fochive, 75), M Y. Chara (Loria, 88), M Blanco (Moreno, 75), F Asprilla, F Niezgoda (Mora, 61)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D Bonilla, D Mabiala, D McGraw, M Valeri

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Blanco, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Blanco, 2); FOULS: 15 (Bravo, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4

RSL: GK Ochoa, D Glad, D Holt, D Herrera, M Brody (Meram, 46), M Luiz (Julio, 84), M Ruiz, M Chang (Menedez, 76), M Rusnak, F Kreilach ©, F Rubin (Wood, 61)

Substitutes Not Used: GK MacMath, D Morgan, D Toia, D Silva, M Besler

TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Rusnak, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Rusnak, 3); FOULS: 7 (Seven players tied, 7); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1

Referee: Chris Penso

Assistant Referees: Gjovalin Bori, Mike Rottersman

Fourth official: Victor Rivas

VAR: Fotis Bazakos

Attendance: 18,405

Weather: Sunny, 56 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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