Game three back in San Diego court, will the Portland Timbers deliver?

NOVEMBER 1, 2025 – PORTLAND, OR: MLS playoffs wildcard Saint Lake City at Portland Timbers by Diego G Diaz.

(8) Portland Timbers vs (1) San Diego F.C.

Sunday, November 9, 2025, KO 6:00 PM PST/ 9:00 PM EST

Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California

Portland Timber Briefly

The way Gabe Guerra delivered in stoppage time for the equalizer goal somehow bought the Portland Timbers some time, and looking forward to game three back to play at Snapdragon Stadium back in America’s Finest City.

For manager Phil Neville, it’s now or never as the man has the capacityto deliver and there’s no tomorrow as he knows that in the end, he needs a win to move onto the conference semifinals and maybe against Seattle or Minnesota.

Somehow, Kristofer Velde has become the lead man in the offensive game for the Portland Timbers, as well as looking for Gabe Guerra to become a luxury substitute when the game is in the clutch and the team has its back against the wall.

This team has many talented players, but with Velde the man shows off his Champions League experience and so far, the man has contributed enormously when the game is into that stage, and the man has become a leader in the offensive game.

Still, this team is looking to move on to the next stages and maybe make a glorious run in the postseason, and who knows make a run to MLS Cup, who can tell in the end!

This is a do-or-die situation for the Portland Timbers and their manager Phil Neville. So far, he has become the leader the Green and Gold needed, and he can really deliver in tough times.

Photo Credit: San Diego F.C.

San Diego F.C. Briefly

Not what manager Mikey Varas envisioned in the penalty shootout after seeing his team’s defensive overlaps and mistakes that in the end cost his Chrome and Azul the game after making a comeback and with minutes away from victory!

Still, several players are missing in the time of truth, and some of them are missing penalties, looking like the members of the Mexican National Team missing their penalty kicks in the end.

With Onni Valakari, Marcus Ingvarsteen, and Jeppe Tverskov missing their share of penalties. it’s back to the drawing board to see how to solve this situation if both sides come to the always infamous penalties.

With the game in this situation, I do see how this game will be won: if the visitors put up a fight and look to win it via penalty kicks, and the Portland Timbers win it in the end. Still, Cristhian Paredes and Omir Fernandez were the ones who missed it for the Rose City side.

San Diego FC will miss its starting goalkeeper, CJ Santos, and maybe one or two, but in the end. Can they deliver? There’s one way to find!

Forecast

It’s now or never for the Portland Timbers as well as for San Diego F.C.!