Portland Timbers v FC Dallas: Neville hopes to bounce back and clinch play-off spot

Portland Timbers coach Phil Neville is “looking forward to bouncing back” after a defeat to Austin FC, as a win or a draw against FC Dallas will be enough to secure a place in the MLS playoffs.

Portland fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Austin, who they are vying with for the final play-off spot in the Western Conference.

While The Timbers will have a second chance to secure their spot against the Seattle Sounders should they fail to gain points against Dallas, Neville will hope to enter the final day with it already wrapped up.

Portland currently sit six points ahead of Austin, meaning a draw against Dallas will be enough.

“We’re looking forward to bouncing back,” Neville told the press. “We’ve qualified for the playoffs barring a miracle.

“We’ve got to return to what we do best and that’s put on a convincing show at home on Sunday.”

The man in the opposition dugout, Peter Luccin, is far more disappointed with his side's recent defeat, which saw them mathematically ruled out of playoff contention.

Dallas lost 3-2 to the San Jose Earthquakes midweek, which puts them eleventh in the table and out of reach of their opponents.

Luccin’s side had kept the scores level at 1-1 until the 79th minute when San Jose scored two in quick succession before Dallas pulled one back. It left the interim head coach frustrated with the display.

"[I’m] very disappointed, very sad, mad at the same time. With Austin beating Portland, our scenario was perfect, winning this game and going to Portland just five points away and trying to beat Portland. It’s so disappointing,” he said, via Big D Soccer.

“The goal that we conceded, the chances that we missed. Very, very disappointed. I haven’t had time to talk with the players, it is a night to suffer a little bit. We didn’t take care of business and it’s all on us.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Evander

Attacking midfielder Evander has the second-most assists in the league with 14 in 26 appearances, only behind FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta, who has 16 in 30 appearances.

The Brazilian ranks joint-sixth in the league for chances created having produced 81 across the season, while he has also scored 15 goals.

Dallas - Peter Musa

Musa is the top goalscorer for Dallas this season (15), with three times the number of goals than his highest-scoring team-mate, Paul Arriola.

He was on the scoresheet last time the two sides met in a high-scoring encounter that saw Dallas win 3-2.

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

Portland have lost just one of their 15 all-time home matches against Dallas (W9 D5), going unbeaten in the last seven (W4 D3).

Dallas have scored just two total goals in those seven visits, following a 3-1 victory in their only win at Portland in April 2016.

Despite failing to score at home on Wednesday, Portland’s 39 goals at Providence Park this season in the MLS is their most in a single regular season since the club joined the league in 2011.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 54.2%

Draw – 23.5%

Dallas – 22.3%