The Portland Timbers came oh so tantalizingly close to raising MLS Cup at home last year. But as we all saw, the dream wasn’t meant to be as they tragically fell in penalty kicks. It was an emotional end, followed by an emotional farewell bid to club legend Diego Valeri.
Despite the heartbreak, the Timbers have decided to run it back once again, keeping their core together for another run at a championship. The lack of turnover, and the strengths of the roster reveal that the outlook for this team is still the same: contending for hardware and winning trophies.