The Portland Timbers won the MLS Cup in 2015, but fell to Atlanta United FC in the final.
It was a great performance. Giovanni Savarese said the guys were motivated. They performed very well today, they understood the moment that was at stake.
Real Salt Lake won the MLS Cup in 2009. Since joining the league in 2005, the team has made five trips to the conference finals. Salt Lake had won all three of their previous playoff matches against the Timbers, including the last meeting in 2019.
The Timbers swept Salt Lake in three meetings during the regular season.
The conference final will be played between Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City. The team had a perfect record in its previous four road matches.
I'm very proud of being a part of this group. Nobody gave us a chance when the season started. "No one gave us a chance in the playoffs either," said Mastroeni. It's great to have the mental strength to overcome the perception of who we are. I couldn't be more proud of the effort and commitment of this group that I was able to lead.
When Freddy Juarez left for a position with the Seattle Sounders, Mastroeni was promoted to interim coach. The Colorado team lost in the conference semifinals to the Timbers.
Mora's goal in the fifth minute gave Portland the lead. Mora scored after the defender tried to clear the ball from out in front of the goal. Mora has 12 goals this year.
The Timbers scored an insurance goal in the 61st minute. The ball hit the post and caromed off the back of the goalkeeper.
Mora said that he was going to the championship game. It was important for us to get this win because we've done a lot of hard work this year.
Clark made three saves in the game. The Timbers were without Dairon Asprilla because of a red card. The availability of Portland's Sebastian Blanco was uncertain because of a hamstring injury, but he was available as a sub. This season, he has seven goals and seven assists. He was given more rest before the final after being kept out of Saturday's game.
"Hosting the title game is very important for us to be at home,'' Mora said. Being with our fans makes us feel good. It's going to be important to play in the final.
Albert Rusnak missed the past two games because of the league's health and safety protocol. Rusnak had 11 goals.
