Cifuentes praises Portland Timbers ahead of crucial test: 'Our togetherness is our greatest strength'

Portland Timbers head coach Marti Cifuentes has praised the unity and team spirit his players have shown throughout the season ahead of the crucial Austin FC fixture that will decide their MLS Cup Play-off fate.

Heading to Texas for the final match of the regular season, Portland sit 8th in the Western Conference. The Timbers have the chance to overtake LA Galaxy and claim a direct play-off place with this match, but they also face the risk of dropping out of the play-in places altogether, as Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United sit just two points behind them.

A win against Austin, who sit 14th in the Western Conference with no play-off hopes remaining, would take Portland straight into the play-offs regardless of results elsewhere.

Cifuentes, who took charge in July, said he was proud of the work ethic his players have embraced regardless of results:

"There is always a direct link between confidence and results. Generally, the better you play, the more the results come. The more you win, the more your confidence grows. What I want to give my players credit for is this: even in the periods when things were not going well, the team kept improving every week. The lads kept working with the same belief and determination. They embraced the philosophy we want to put on the pitch. So this is not just about a head coach coming in and saying 'We are going to do this'. We revised certain things along the way and right now they have found good form. In football, and in sport in general, yesterday does not matter; the past stays in the past. What matters is focusing on the match in front of you and doing what is required."

Portland claimed a crucial 3-1 victory over Houston Dynamo in their last league outing, while Austin lost 4-1 to LA Galaxy in their most recent match, in which Žan Kolmanič was shown a red card.

Players to watch

Austin FC – Christian Ramirez: Austin have conceded 63 goals this season, the worst defensive record in the club's history, while managing only 42 goals at the other end. Ramirez and Myrto Uzuni are the team's top scorers with 9 goals apiece. Ramirez will take the field looking to reach double figures in MLS again after a long gap, having last done so with Minnesota United in 2017.

Portland Timbers – Kristoffer Velde: Portland scored two goals in the final half-hour against Houston, with Velde contributing to the scoring after the 60th minute for the fourth time this season. The Norwegian leads the team with 11 goals in total, followed by Kevin Kelsy on 9.

Match prediction: Portland Timbers to win

Portland hold a 6-4 advantage (2 draws) in the overall head-to-head record against Austin. After a 6-match unbeaten run against their opponents, the Timbers have won just 1 of the last 4 meetings (1 draw, 2 defeats). However, Portland have not lost away at Austin since 2021, and they will go into the match with nothing less than victory in mind as they look to secure their play-off place without waiting on results elsewhere.