Austin FC II Outlook
Austin FC II earned its 11th shutout win of the season in front of its home crowd last Sunday, defeating San Jose Earthquakes II. Diego Abarca scored his seventh goal of the season in the 73rd minute, and Verde & Black had a strong defensive showing that kept Earthquakes II off the board in a 1-0 result.
Austin FC II now turns to face Portland Timbers 2 for the only time this season. Last season, the teams met twice with Timbers 2 collecting four of the six available points, as the Verde & Black picked up two points in their first meeting and Portland secured a win in the second. Now, sitting only six points apart in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference Standings, the Verde & Black will look to bolster their claim to the No. 1 seed in the postseason with only four matches left in the regular season.
Portland Timbers 2 Outlook
Portland Timbers 2 earned two points over Ventura County FC on Sunday night. Timbers 2 scored first but found themselves having to equalize off a penalty kick to send the match to a shootout, where Portland made four of its attempts to collect the extra point.
With a playoff spot already clinched, Portland Timbers 2 will be looking to catch Austin and earn home-field advantage for the playoffs. Portland is riding an eight-match unbeaten streak, providing high stakes for Sunday’s match as the team aspires to keep their impressive run going.
