Since the NASL Portland Timbers debuted in 1975, the various incarnations of the Timbers have been to the league final three times: 1975, 2015, and 2018. But those matches took place in San Jose, Columbus, and Atlanta. The Timbers have never held a league title match at home.
But all that may change after the Supporters Shield winners the New England Revolution were defeated Tuesday night by New York City FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Because of that result, the Timbers are the highest remaining seed left in Major League Soccer, as they finished with the fifth best record in the league this year, and the four teams that were above them in the final standings have all lost.
So if the Timbers can defeat Real Salt Lake at Providence Park on Saturday, they will host either the Philadelphia Union or New York City FC on Saturday, December 11 at Providence Park in the MLS Cup final.
