After dropping its first two matches against Austin FC by a combined score of 7-2, the Portland Timbers have won three straight in the fixture including both games last season. Austin FC has yet to score at Providence Park, being shut out 3-0 and 1-0 in road games against the Portland Timbers.
The Portland Timbers have won three of their last four games in all competitions (L1) including a 2-1 road win against St. Louis City SC on Saturday. Prior to its current run, Portland had won just one of its previous 10 matches in all competitions (D3 L6) dating back to last September.
Austin FC has been shut out in each of its last three away matches and in seven of its last eight road games dating back to last season (including playoffs). Since joining MLS in 2021, Austin FC has been held scoreless in 19 of its 39 all-time away matches in MLS play, more than everyone except Inter Miami FC (22).
Yimmi Chara and Evander each notched goals in the second half of Portland’s 2-1 victory on Saturday. This season, 11 of the Portland Timbers 13 goals have been scored after halftime with only St. Louis City SC (13) scoring more second-half goals in 2023.
Emiliano Rigoni scored Austin FC’s opener in the team’s 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes over the weekend. There have been 16 different Argentinean goal-scorers in MLS this season with Austin FC being the only to have three or more of those players (Rigoni, Sebastian Druissi and Maximilano Urruti).
