Austin FC v Portland Timbers: Neville keen to build momentum and avoid complacency

Portland lost two of their first four league games this season (W1 D1), with their sole win coming against Austin on matchday two, but have since won their last two on the bounce.

They sit sixth in the Western Conference on 10 points and would leapfrog Austin if they win at Q2 Stadium on Saturday.

After the Timbers won their last road match 3-0 against the Colorado Rapids, Neville is keen to keep the streak going.

"Road games are about momentum, both ways, both winning and losing," he said. "Hopefully, the game in Colorado has given us confidence.

"I think you saw against Houston that was the case, but it's about building momentum, keeping and maintaining our form and making sure there's no complacency.

"We've still got a lot of work to do as I don't think we're near the level we should be, but we feel as if we're in a good place."

A wild matchup in Austin pic.twitter.com/zE8J33WTj3

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) April 4, 2025

As for Austin, they are second in the table with 12 points, just one point below early leaders Vancouver Whitecaps after six games.

Austin are on a three-game winning streak but struggling for goals this season, with their last home win the only time they have scored more than once in a match this term.

Head coach Nico Estevez believes their victory over San Diego showcased their ability to create chances, and he hopes they can start taking more of them.

"I think it's going to be a very different game to the one we played against them [in Portland]," he said.

"We need to keep building into the team we want to be. In the last game at home, we created more chances, and we're still working on scoring more goals.

"We have to keep evolving and progressing in the way we're doing because if we keep these steps, we can become a very solid team."

Austin have faced only 16 shots on target this season, the second-fewest in MLS (Vancouver Whitecaps – 14).

A league-low 23.9% of the shots Austin have faced this season (16/67) have been on target with the 4.5% opponent conversion rate (three goals allowed on 67 shots) second lowest in MLS, with Brad Stuver making an impressive start.

Felipe Mora (one goal, two assists) recorded three goal contributions in a regular-season match for the second time in his Timbers career (also in August 2024 vs. St. Louis City SC).

Only Diego Valeri (11 times) has done so more times for Portland in regular-season MLS play.

¡Nos vemos sábado, Austin! pic.twitter.com/kH6bxqmK0C

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) April 3, 2025

Austin have won three straight matches for the first time since a club-record four-match winning streak in June-July 2022. All six of Austin's matches this season (W4 L2) have been decided by a one-goal margin.

Portland have lost only one of their last eight matches against Austin (W6 D1) after losing their first two meetings with the Verde. The Timbers have won their last three matches at Austin, the only visitors to win three straight regular-season matches at Q2 Stadium.

After losing their season-opening match on February 22, Portland collected 10 points in five matches in March (W3 D1 L1). The only Western Conference team to earn more points than the Timbers last month was Minnesota United (11).

However, they will have to overcome Austin's impressive defence if they want to extend that run, with only St. Louis City conceding fewer times than them.

Austin FC – 43.2%

Draw – 26.7%