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MLS CUP PLAYOFFS RECAP | Portland Timbers beat Real Salt Lake 3-1 in wild Wild Card Game to advance in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs

Final_16x9 (RSL)
Felipe Mora tallied first half brace, Kamal Miller scored a goal as Timbers move on to play San Diego FC in Round One Best-of-3 series

PORTLAND, Ore. – Felipe Mora tallied a first half brace, Kamal Miller headed in a late goal and the Portland Timbers defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1 in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Wild Card Game Wednesday night at Providence Park.

The TImbers now advance to the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series against San Diego FC. The three-game series begins Sunday in San Diego at Snapdragon Stadium with Game 2 held at Providence Park on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 6:30pm PT.

Tickets for Game 2 at Providence Park will go on sale on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 12pm PT.

Full recap and boxscore to follow.

Timbers Advance

Portland is set to face San Diego FC (No. 1 seed) in the Round One Best-of-3 Series. The Timbers will play the first match of the series on the road at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 26 with a 6:30pm PT kickoff. Portland will then return home to host San Diego at Providence Park on Saturday, Nov. 1 with a 6:30pm PT kickoff. Single-game tickets for the Nov. 1 match go on sale to the public Thursday, Oct. 23, at 12pm PT on www.timbers.com. As the higher seed, San Diego FC will play host to Game 3 on Sunday, Nov. 9 if necessary.

Portland in the Postseason

Tonight’s victory marked Portland’s 12th win in MLS Cup Playoffs, and its first since 2021. Notably, it also marked the fourth time the Timbers have won their first match of a playoff campaign (2013, 2018, 2021, 2025). Making their ninth appearance in an MLS postseason, the Timbers are 12-7-7 all time in the playoffs, including three MLS Cup appearances (2015, 2018, 2021) with their first league title coming in 2015.

Mora the Goalscora

Felipe Mora notched his fifth career brace for the Green and Gold to give Portland the lead in tonight’s match. It marked his first multi-goal playoff match and his fourth MLS playoff goal overall. In 157 appearances across all competitions, Mora has registered 52 goals for the Timbers.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR – Felipe Mora, 24th minute: After having a set-play header on frame saved, Felipe Mora buried his own rebound into goal with a low right-footed shot.

POR – Felipe Mora, 35th minute: Felipe Mora’s header at the far post was saved before tapping the rebound across goal from close range.

RSL – Justin Glad (Diogo Gonçalves), 39th minute: Diogo Gonçalves crossed the ball into the box and Justin Glad flicked it with his head it into the far post.

POR – Kamal Miller (Ariel Lassiter), 82nd minute: Ariel Lassiter curled an in-swinging cross into the far post where Kamal Miller headed the ball unmarked into goal.

Notes

  • Portland advanced to the Round One Best-of-3 Series in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
  • Tonight’s victory marked Portland’s 12th win in MLS Cup Playoffs, and its first since 2021.
  • Notably, it also marked the fourth time the Timbers have won their first match of a playoff campaign (2013, 2018, 2021, 2025).
  • Making their ninth appearance in an MLS postseason, the Timbers are 12-7-7 all time in the playoffs, including three MLS Cup appearances (2015, 2018, 2021) with their first league title coming in 2015.
  • Felipe Mora registered his sixth and seventh goals of the 2025 campaign.
  • Notably, it was Mora’s sixth and seventh goal against the RSL.
  • Mora’s seven goals against RSL are the most by an active Timber.
  • Mora notched his fifth career brace for the Green and Gold.
  • It marked Mora’s first multi-goal playoff match and his fourth MLS playoff goal overall.
  • Kamal Miller scored his second goal of the 2025 campaign.
  • Notably, it marked K. Miller’s first-ever postseason goal.
  • Ariel Lassiter tallied his second MLS assist of 2025 and his first in MLS Cup Playoffs.
  • Diego Chara started in his 23rd postseason game for Portland, most of any Timber in history.
  • With his start tonight, Chara has the fourth most postseason starts among active field players in the league.

Next Game

Next up, the Timbers will face San Diego FC in the Round One Best-of-3 Series of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Portland will play the first match of the series on the road at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 26 with a 6:30pm PT kickoff. Every match in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs will air on MLS Season Pass and will be made available for free for Apple TV subscribers as well as local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (No. 8 seed) vs. Real Salt Lake (No. 9 seed)

October 22, 2025 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Mora, 24
POR: Mora, 35
RSL: Glad (Gonçalves), 39
POR: K. Miller (Lassiter), 82

Misconduct Summary:
RSL: Caliskan (caution), 23
RSL: Vera (caution), 74
RSL: Yedlin (caution), 79
RSL: Luna (caution), 84
RSL: Katranis (caution), 88

Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis, D Mosquera, D Surman, D K. Miller, D Fory, M Chara, M Ayala (Paredes, 78), M Da Costa (Ortiz, 86), F Mora (Kelsy, 86), F Antony (Lassiter, 78), F Velde (Fernandez, 90)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Crépeau, D Zuparic, D, E. Miller, M Smith

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Mora, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Mora, 4); FOULS: 13 (Antony, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 6

RSL: GK Cabral, D Yedlin (Russell, 88), D Glad, D Vera, D Katranis, M Luna, M Ojeda (Barea, 78), M Caliskan (Eneli, 46), F Gozo (Cruz, 65), F Gonçalves, F Olatunji (Agada, 65)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Stajduhar, D Quinton, D Junqua, M Ruiz

TOTAL SHOTS: 23 (Gonçalves, 5), SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Cruz, 2); FOULS: 17 (three players tied, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 5

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Assistant Referees: Cory Richardson, Nick Uranga
Fourth Official: Ismir Pekmic
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Attendance: 16,243