PORTLAND, Ore. – A midweek showdown between the New England Revolution and Portland Timbers could go a long way in determining the playoff fates for both sides.
New England (10-10-11, 41 pts.) enter Wednesday night’s match at Providence Park perched in the seventh and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the eighth-place Chicago Fire and with a game in hand. Portland (13-13-5, 44 pts.), meanwhile, are currently below the postseason line based on goals scored, as they’re tied with the San Jose Earthquakes on points, wins, and goal differential for the West’s final spot.
Matchday Guide | Everything you need to know ahead of the midweek clash in Portland
NBC Sports Boston will televise the match and stream the action live on NBCSportsBoston.com and the NBC Sports mobile app, while radio listeners can tune into 98.5 The Sports Hub (English) and 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA (Portuguese).
Revolution Postgame Live will begin immediately after the final whistle on NBC Sports Boston, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will take calls during 30 minutes of postgame coverage.
Current Form: Revs and Timbers both in battles for final playoff spots in East and West
Both the Revs and Timbers have everything to play for in the regular season’s final two weeks.
New England played to a fifth draw in their last seven games (1-1-5) this past weekend, settling for a single point at home in a 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake. Despite registering 23 shots – including 18 in a frantic second half – the Revs couldn’t find the breakthrough against an RSL side content to sit deep and soak up pressure.
Highlights | Revs and RSL settle for a point apiece in 0-0 draw
“I think we have to move the ball quicker, just be a little bit sharper, and spread them out,” said Juan Agudelo, who came off the bench to play the final 24 minutes against RSL. “Our wide guys have got to get chalk on their boots, as they say, and it’ll open up space centrally. But we definitely had our fair amount of chances that game.”
There was some good news, however, as results around the East continued to help the Revs, who now know that four points from their final three games will clinch a spot in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
“The mindset is four points, any way we can,” said Agudelo. “Understanding what it’s going to take, whether we’re up and defending the lead, or we’re down and we have to come back.”
“We’re still in the thick of things,” added sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena. “We look forward to closing out these next three games and getting the points we need to be in the playoffs.”
Portland find themselves in a similar spot heading into their final three games as the crowded Western Conference sees them just six points out of second place, but also currently out of the playoff picture.
The Timbers, who spent the majority of the first half of the season on the road while Providence Park renovations were completed, will be wrapping up a 10-game home-stand on Wednesday night. They’ve gone 4-4-1 through the first nine games, including 0-2-1 in their last three without scoring a goal.
“They seem to be the same team they’ve had in the past,” Arena said of the Timbers, last year’s Western Conference champion. “They have a bunch of good attacking players. They’re a dangerous team. I know they’ve had difficulty putting the ball in the back of the net lately, but I have no doubts that they’ll be very dangerous on Wednesday.”
Past Meetings: Revs, Timbers have played to six draws in nine all-time meetings
New England and Portland have been about as evenly matched as two sides could be dating all the way back to their first-ever meeting in 2011, as six of their nine all-time meetings have finished in draws.
The Revs’ lone win against the Timbers came back in 2012 – Jay Heaps’ first-ever victory as head coach – and since then the sides have played to five draws in six meetings, including three straight 1-1 stalemates.
New England’s last visit to Providence Park was two-and-a-half years ago, when Lee Nguyen’s 84th-minute goal canceled out Diego Valeri’s first-half volley.
Injury Report: Arena says Revs will rotate roster through busy three-game week
With a midweek, cross-country trip sandwiched between home games on either weekend, Arena said he’ll use a bit of the Revolution’s depth as they aim to clinch a playoff berth in the final two weeks of the season.
“We’ll rotate players,” Arena said on Monday morning before the Revolution’s afternoon charter flight. “We haven’t finalized anything yet, but we’ll certainly make changes over the next couple of games.”
Gustavo Bou will be in the mix as Arena and his staff make those decisions, as the 29-year-old forward is “doing fine” according to Arena after recovering from a minor knock to play 45 minutes off the bench against RSL.
Final Thoughts: Mancienne says Revs will “treat the game like a final” in Portland
“Treat the game like a final,” Michael Mancienne said when asked about the Revs’ approach on Wednesday. “Make sure we give everything to try and get the three points. It’s massively important.”
