The Portland Timbers are in scenic Sandy, Utah where tonight they will take on Real Salt Lake in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. With Diego Valeri returned from injury, their winless streak broken just in time to stay above the red line, and an opponent that they beat twice during the regular season, the Timbers are in as good a spot as any of the road teams for today’s playoff match.
Of course, heading on the road is always a dicey prospect in Major League Soccer and the Timbers will do so without the services of striker Brian Fernandez who remains suspended after voluntarily entering the league’s substance abuse program.