The eighth playoff spot in the MLS Western Conference is up for grabs when Portland Timbers host Real Salt Lake City on Wednesday, October 22.

The hosts last won the MLS Cup 10 years ago, while the visitors last took the trophy home in 2009, so both will be desperate to end that drought, but they have to first get into the playoffs.

Match preview

A poor run of results in the back end of the regular season condemned the Portland Timbers to this Wild Card game.

Victory for Phil Neville ’s men on decision day would have seen them already in the playoffs, but a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of conference winners San Diego left the Timbers facing this one-off knockout fixture.

For the second season in a row, Portland must battle their way into the playoffs, largely thanks to for

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