PORTLAND, Ore. – With less than 30 minutes to go in last Saturday’s game, the Portland Timbers were down a goal, facing another week outside MLS’ Western Conference playoff picture, and were about to give three points to a Sporting Kansas City team that would be back in the playoff hunt. Two goals and a week later, the Timbers can climb has high as third place in the West with a win on Sunday against D.C. United at Providence Park.
They would need some help. The San Jose Earthquakes would have to lose at New York City FC while Seattle Sounders FC would need to drop their home game to the New York Red Bulls.