In search for a place in the MLS Cup finals, two western Conference outfits River Salt Lake and Portland Timbers are set to lock horns this weekend at Providence. Showdown schedules for 5th December 2021 at 02:30 EAT.
The Timbers had a good run in the regular season where they finished the in the 4th place with 55 points. The home side is in five game winning streaks as they head into this game, however before that they lost two matches in a row and they will be expecting another win.
Giovanni Savarese’s men will be looking to continue from where they left after 0-1 MLS Cup Playoffs victory against Colorado Rapids. In that match, Portland Timbers had 45% possession, 12 shots with four of them on target and a late goal by Mabiala (90′). Colorado Rapids got 10 shots with three of them on target.
River Salt Lake on the other hand finished the regular season at the edge of playoffs qualifiers with 48 points and they continue to defy the odds, advancing to this stage of the postseason for the first time since 2013.
The Royals head into this match on the back of 1-2 MLS Cup Playoffs victory versus Sporting Kansas City in their previous outing. In that match, Salt Lake had 55% possession, 11 shots with five of them on target and goals scored by Julio (72′) and Wood (91′). Sporting Kansas City got five shots with two of them on target and a goal by Russell (24’) were the scorer for Sporting Kansas City.
Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake head to head
These two teams have 36 matches against each other since 2011, in the 36 matches; Portland has 14 wins, Salt Lake 13 wins and nine stalemates.
- Salt Lake 1-3 Portland 04/11/21
- Portland 6-1 Salt Lake 26/09/21
- Portland 3-2 Salt Lake 08/08/21
- Salt Lake 2-1 Portland 15/10/20
- Portland 4-4 Salt Lake 30/08/20
Home
- Colorado 0-1 Portland
- Portland 3-1 Minnesota
- Portland 3-0 Austin
- Salt Lake 1-3 Portland
- Portland 2-0 San Jose
Away
- Kansas City 1-2 Salt Lake
- Seattle 5-6 Salt Lake
- Kansas City 0-1 Salt Lake
- Salt Lake 1-3 Portland
- Salt Lake 3-4 San Jose
Portland Timbers team news
The home team will miss out the services of Ismaila Jome, Jeff Attinella, Andy Polo, Hunter Sulte, Eryk Williamson and Sebastian Blanco all ruled out through injuries.
River Salt Lake team news
For the visitors, Everton Luiz is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards while Zack Farnsworth remains on the sidelines with injury.
Prediction and odds
We reckon that it will be a close game with victory for Portland Timbers at full-time.
- Portland Timbers win
- Draw
- Both sides to score
