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Portland set for big test against RSL

Oct 16, 2014 - 7:09 PM Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - The Portland Timbers will aim to strengthen their odds of locking down a playoff berth when the club welcomes Real Salt Lake to Providence Park on Friday.

Portland enters the weekend one point back of the fifth and final postseason slot, currently occupied by Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

And with the Whitecaps set to take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, a home win against Salt Lake would keep the pressure on Vancouver.

The Timbers accomplished that feat last time out by claiming a comfortable 3-0 victory over San Jose, but the 'Caps managed to keep pace with an impressive win at Seattle Sounders FC.

"I think it's nice to just go into the game and believe that you have to get three points," Timbers head coach Caleb Porter said of the club's current situation. "I think that's the way we are approaching it. We are not going to rely on anything other than what we can control. It's kind of nice because perhaps having that second game if you know you can maybe get a tie and still be OK than I think sometimes psychologically that plays in your mind. But every game from here out is going to be important, the last two are going to be important, it's going to come down to the last game. I believe. Unless Vancouver slips up in their next two and if they do and we beat Salt Lake, it's over, we're in. Regardless we are going to focus on our business and keep putting pressure on Vancouver to follow suit."

Real Salt Lake already has a postseason spot secured, a significant accomplishment given that the club is under the guidance of a first-year head coach in Jeff Cassar.

"It's been a learning year for me, personally, and I'm so pleased for the guys in the locker room to have qualified," Cassar said. "If you would have said 'would you take 52 points' at the beginning of the year, I would have jumped at it. Super pleased where we are at. We have some business to finish up at the end of the year, we have a lot to play for still, and now it's getting ourselves ready to head into the playoffs and position ourselves right."

Attempting to gain a better position means that the Claret and Cobalt will have plenty at stake in Friday's contest. Salt Lake, entering the match in third place in the Western Conference with 52 points, will be keen to avoid dropping to fourth place and being forced to participate in the dreaded play- in match.

"If we want to avoid that play-in game and stay in the third spot, these next two games are crucial," RSL defender Nat Borchers told reporters. "This one against Portland is the biggest for sure."

Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman likened Friday's clash to a playoff match in and of itself, stating that it is a virtual must-win for both sides.

"This game with Portland is about as close as you get to a playoff game before it actually is one," Beckerman told RSL's official website. "Ultimately, if they don't win, their season's done, so to take a team's season, it's a tough task. It'll give us good practice going into the playoffs."

Salt Lake has had Portland's number in recent meetings between the two clubs, claiming three wins from their last four encounters.

But the most recent contest between RSL and Portland ended in favor of the Timbers, who ran out to a 3-1 road victory at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 7.