Timbers, San Diego FC jostling for points in tight playoff chase

Field Level Media|published: Tue 18th August, 22:07 2026

Aug 13, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy (19) celebrates a goal during the first half against Tijuana during the Leagues Cup Phase One match at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

The Portland Timbers will try to rebound from their first defeat under new manager Marti Cifuentes on Wednesday night when they host a San Diego FC side without its most influential player.

Portland (7-9-3, 24 points) announced the hire of the Spaniard Cifuentes back on July 21, though he has only taken over the role in the club's last two matches.

The Timbers fell 2-1 at the Chicago Fire on Sunday, after they began life under Cifuentes three days earlier with a 3-1 Leagues Cup home win over Club Tijuana of Liga MX.

And while Cifuentes said it was two early errors that led to both Chicago goals on Sunday evening, he also suggested the loss shows where he needs to leave his mark with his new team.

"I think it's two situations that we should've defended better despite some individual mistakes," Cifuentes said. "But my job is to create a structure that sustains those individual mistakes."

With the defeat, the 10th-place Timbers remained a point below the Western Conference playoff line and saw a four-match MLS unbeaten streak under interim manager Jack Cassidy snapped.

San Diego (6-7-6, 24 points) has won three straight in all competitions following their 1-0 victory at Los Angeles FC on Saturday via Anders Dreyer's 89th-minute penalty.

That goal also extended San Diego's MLS unbeaten run to three matches and pulled them into a three-way tie with Portland and Seattle beneath the playoff line.

But Dreyer was sent off for his second yellow card eight minutes after scoring that decisive tally, meaning manager Mikey Varas' group will be without the Danish attacker.

Dreyer has eight goals and nine assists in his and San Diego's second season in MLS. In the club's expansion campaign, he had 19 goals and 19 assists to finish second in MLS MVP voting behind Inter Miami's Lionel Messi.

"He's such an influential player for us, and we're analyzing that tactically right now about how to replace him, specifically against Portland," Varas said. "And ultimately it's a great opportunity for someone else to step up and for us to find out exactly who we are in a real tough match without him."

That might include leaning further on Marcus Ingvartsen, who holds the team lead with 11 goals.

Kevin Kelsy paces Portland with nine goals.

--Field Level Media

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