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Sunday Discussion: Despite their best efforts down the stretch, the Portland Timbers control their first-round playoff destiny.

Sunday Discussion: Despite their best efforts down the stretch, the Portland Timbers control their first-round playoff destiny.
Photo: Kelsey Baker

It's safe to say that the second half of the Portland Timbers 2025 MLS season has been a disappointment. After getting off to their best-ever start to an MLS season through 10 matches, Phil Neville's team has taken a nose-dive post-Leagues Cup, taking a paltry nine points from a possible 27 since July 25.

But with just one match remaining – A Decision Day home clash vs San Diego FC – the Timbers somehow, some way, have the ability to qualify outright for the first round of the playoffs with a win or draw.

Yes, you read that correctly. After losses for FC Dallas (8th) and Real Salt Lake (9th) last night the Timbers (7th) need just one point against the MLS newcomers to skip the play-in game and mathematically cement themselves as at least the 7th-seed in the Western Conference, with an opportunity to move as high as 6th depending on how Austin FC fare in their final two matches against LAFC and San Jose.

Despite this fact, it's hard to feel too excited about their prospects against whoever they play in the first round based on how the previous two-and-a-half months have gone. The forwards appear as though they've forgotten how to score goals, the midfielders look like a mess out-of-possession and sloppy when they have the ball, leaving the defenders largely on their own to cling to positive results.

So many things, preventable and unpreventable, have contributed to Portland's poor performances and results this Fall that we could be here all day talking about them. Luckily we've got some time on our hands during this international break from Timbers soccer, and I want to open this post up as a discussion space for you, dear Stumptown Footy subscribers, to speak freely on where you're at with the team.

Here are a few questions I have to start the conversation:

What, in your opinion, is the biggest factor in the Timbers' disappointing second half of the season?

Do the Timbers ~actually~ have a quality enough squad to accomplish their stated club goals of competing for trophies and deep playoff runs?

Do you have any hope in the Timbers making it out of the first round of the playoffs?

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