Minnesota United faces Portland Timbers in a crucial match with major Western Conference implications. Coach Eric Ramsay emphasizes a ‘cup final’ mentality as his team vies for the top spot, while Portland aims to disrupt their plans. Key players like Robin Lod and Felipe Carballo are set to influence the game, with Minnesota favored to win based on their strong home record.
Minnesota United is gearing up for a crucial clash against the Portland Timbers, with head coach Eric Ramsay instilling a cup final mentality within his squad. The Loons are eyeing the top spot in the Western Conference and understand the significance of every remaining match.
Fresh off a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, Minnesota United is now within striking distance of conference leaders San Diego FC, who have already secured their playoff berth. A win against the Timbers this weekend would guarantee the Loons a place in the postseason, setting the stage for a thrilling end to the regular season.
Ramsay has been vocal about the team's ambition to win trophies, fostering a belief that they are well-positioned to compete for silverware. "We talk about winning trophies because we are positioned to do so, and we have been positioned to do so for a while," Ramsay stated. "It’s an ambitious group. I’m an ambitious coach."
He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on their current situation, acknowledging the challenges of consistently reaching this stage of the season. "This is a situation that we have to try and take advantage of as a club. It’s not a situation when you consider where we are in the table and the Open Cup you are in every year."
"It’s really difficult to come through a situation like this and we have done a really good job getting ourselves in this position. We have to make sure that we treat every game between now and the end of the season as a cup final, and we will see where that takes us."
"We are really motivated to take that spot above us now. We have a group of players who are really motivated to take that spot, and we will see what happens over the course of the next six huge games for us in the MLS."
cleaning up from last night pic.twitter.com/mL4xbjaQKS
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) August 24, 2025
Minnesota's quest for the top spot has been aided by their upcoming opponent, Portland, who held San Diego to a goalless draw in their previous match. The Timbers, however, are also battling for a playoff spot, currently sitting sixth in the Western Conference despite a recent run of three games without a win.
Portland coach Phil Neville has identified key areas his team needs to control to stifle Minnesota's attack, recalling their recent 1-1 draw. "In terms of game plans, we are going to be as disciplined and as tactically aware as we were in the last game," Neville said. "I think when we last played Minnesota we played well."
"We saw what they were about. Brilliant deliveries from set-plays. They recruited well and the profile of players they have got. You are probably defending against six players who are over six-foot-one, six-foot-two."
"They have height and physicality, which is an issue. We are going to keep the ball in play, and we are going to try and not make any needless fouls in our own half."
Players to Watch
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Robin Lod has been a standout performer for Minnesota, contributing significantly to their attacking efforts. His seven goal contributions are only surpassed by Kelvin Yeboah (nine), Joaquin Pereya (10), and Tani Oluwaseyi (17) within the team. Lod's impact was evident in the win over Real Salt Lake, where he scored a goal and provided an assist. This marked his sixth regular-season game with a goal and an assist, surpassing any other player in the club's MLS history.
Portland Timbers – Felipe Carballo
Felipe Carballo made an immediate impression for Portland after his loan deal with the New York Red Bulls was not renewed. Despite not scoring, Carballo's creativity was on full display in his debut. He created more chances (three) than any other Timbers player in their goalless draw against San Diego, highlighting his potential to influence the game.
Match Prediction: Minnesota United Win
Minnesota boasts an impressive home record against Portland, having never lost to them in the Twin Cities. They have won seven of their eight previous home encounters, with the Timbers managing to score in all but one of those matches. The Loons have also been in good form recently, collecting 23 points from their last 12 games, winning their last two. Since matchday 17, only San Diego (26 points) and Charlotte FC (25 points) have accumulated more points.
Portland, on the other hand, has struggled for goals away from home, failing to score in six of their last eight away matches in all competitions. They have only managed two away goals during this period, which dates back to mid-May.
Opta Win Probability
Minnesota United – 49.3%
Draw – 25.5%
Portland Timbers – 25.2%