Portland Timbers’ comeback victory over St. Louis Metropolis of their final league fixture despatched a “robust message” to the remainder of the MLS, so says head coach Phil Neville.
The Timbers discovered themselves a objective behind because of Akil Watts’ Fiftieth-minute strike, with Antony restoring parity at Windfall Park 5 minutes later.
And within the first minute of second-half stoppage time, David Ayala snatched all three factors for Portland to maneuver them as much as fourth within the Western Convention standings.
“I feel the final two video games have proven one other facet to us that’s actually necessary in the long term, is the power to come back again from being a objective down, undergo some adversity, reply to the adversity,” stated Neville.
“And I’ve received to say, I feel scoring a late objective, for me, is best than profitable the sport 3-0 as a result of it sends an actual robust message to all people.”
Neville additionally had some robust reward for match-winner Ayala, saying: “I assumed Ayala was the perfect central midfield participant within the MLS.
“I do know we joke about it, however I feel he produced the efficiency in the present day. And Antony, who they received tight to, produced a second of magic.”
Friday night time footy within the Rose Metropolis
: Without end Inexperienced & Gold
: https://t.co/w8TrvSLRFA
: https://t.co/MahBfHQmTW pic.twitter.com/lEOWdWBG9A— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) June 11, 2025
The Timbers face the San Jose Earthquakes this weekend, who themselves struggled towards St. Louis of their final MLS encounter, dropping 2-1 to David Critchley’s facet.
That consequence noticed a six-game unbeaten league run (W3 D3) come to an finish, although Bruce Enviornment’s staff might be loads rested, having performed seven video games all through Could.
The Earthquakes sit eighth within the Western Convention in what’s Enviornment’s debut season on the helm, and he believes enhancements have been made since his arrival.
“I feel the staff has improved, and I’m trying ahead to seeing what sort of staff we might be within the second half of the season,” Enviornment stated.
“Yeah, it was very tough. These are performs that shouldn’t occur. We conceded two very poor targets. The staff performed very nicely in the course of the month of Could.
“They’ve battled actual laborious. They’ve carried out an actual good job. Martinez’s objective was clearly an excellent objective.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Antony
Antony, who scored the primary objective in Portland’s win on Sunday, has 14 objective contributions this season (eight targets, six assists), tied for second-most in MLS (Lionel Messi – 17).
Solely Diego Valeri (15 in 2018 and 2019) recorded extra within the first half of a season within the Timbers’ MLS historical past.
San Jose Earthquakes – Josef Martinez
Martinez got here off the bench to attain San Jose’s solely objective of their defeat to St. Louis final outing, taking his tally to seven within the MLS this season.
Certainly, it was the Venezuelan’s twelfth strike as an alternative. For the reason that begin of the 2022 marketing campaign, solely Dejan Joveljic can match that complete.
MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN
The Timbers got here from behind to beat St. Louis final outing, their second straight come-from-behind win. That is the second time Portland has recorded comeback wins in two straight regular-season matches within the membership’s MLS historical past, and the primary since July 2014.
San Jose has gained two straight matches towards Portland in all competitions for the primary time in membership historical past (41 conferences). The Earthquakes had gained simply certainly one of their earlier 14 towards the Timbers in all competitions (D3 L10).
And regardless of their eight-match unbeaten run throughout all competitions coming to an finish of their final recreation, San Jose have scored in 15 of their final 16 matches in all competitions courting again to March.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 58%
Draw – 21.8%
San Jose Earthquakes – 20.2%