The Timbers won all four matches against Real Salt Lake in 2021, including in the Western Conference Final, by a combined 14-4. Portland became the second team in the last 15 seasons to play a team four or more times (incl. playoffs) in a season and win every meeting after LA Galaxy vs. Seattle in 2010 (P4 W4).
The Timbers lost their last home match, 3-1, to the Galaxy on April 3, ending an eight-match unbeaten run at Providence Park including last season’s playoffs (W5, D3, including a penalty shootout loss). The Timbers haven’t lost two in a row at home since September 2019.
Real Salt Lake equaled the largest margin of defeat in the club’s MLS history in a 6-0 loss at New York City FC on Sunday. It was the fifth time RSL has allowed six goals in a match in MLS, and the first since a 6-1 loss at Portland last September.
Sebastián Blanco has a career-high seven goals and a career-high seven assists against Real Salt Lake in his MLS career (including playoffs). No other player has more goal contributions against a single team than Blanco’s 14 against RSL since he entered MLS in 2017.
Three of the six goals Real Salt Lake conceded against New York City FC on Sunday were on set plays (2 penalties, 1 corner). Only league-worst San Jose (7) has conceded more set piece goals than RSL (6, tied with Columbus and Montreal) in 2022.
