PORTLAND, Ore.
– With four regular-season matches remaining, the Portland Timbers have secured one of the eight postseason berths in the USSF Division-2 Pro League. The Timbers became the next team in the league to clinch a playoff spot following results from around the league over the weekend.
The Timbers (11-7-8, 41pts) currently sit in third place in the USL Conference and trail the second-place Rochester Rhinos (48pts) by seven points. In the overall league standings, Portland ranks fourth, but shares the same points total as the NASL Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps (41pts) in second.
The top eight clubs in the USSF D-2 Pro League – regardless of conference alignment – advance to the postseason, with the two conference leaders occupying the top two seeds. Along with the Timbers, the Austin Aztex, and Rochester have each clinched a playoff spot.
The USSF D-2 Pro League playoffs begin in early October, following the conclusion of the league’s regular-season schedule on Oct. 3. The league will announce additional details about the postseason, including playoff format and dates, at a later time. The Timbers will also unveil playoff details, regarding venue, tickets and kickoff times, at a later date.
Portland will compete in the postseason for the seventh time since 2001, and will make its third playoff appearance in the last four seasons.
The Timbers finish their regular-season schedule with four consecutive road matches, starting Saturday against the Carolina RailHawks at 4 p.m. (Pacific).
