Phil Neville wants lessons to be learned after his Portland Timbers team was hammered 4-1 last week by the Vancouver WhiteCaps.
The 2025 ml season of Portland came on a gloomy start at home.
They were returned early to 10 men when Kamal Miller received his marsorders.
Miller's 11th minute Rode Card was the second fastest red card shown each player in a seasonal match in competition history after Maxime Chanot was only broadcast in the opening match of New York City FC in 2020.
Portland, who is opposed to Austin FC on Saturday, then capitulated into a heavy loss, but Neville believes that his team can use the defeat as a learning curve.
As reported by Oregon Live, Neville said: “I think those younger players will have learned a lot.
“Sometimes as a young player you need such an experience. I think my first game in football, I thought I was a really good player, and then went to Aston Villa, First Premier League match, and I think we were 3-0 lower after 20 minutes.
“I thought,” Oh wow. ” It is a real check, and today was probably a check for many of our players in terms of what is needed to compete.
“I think it is better to feel it in the first game – although it hurts – then later in the season, if it can be painful.”
The child on the block.
Congratulations to Ian Smith on making his professional debut pic.twitter.com/zrk6sohpz0
– Portland Timbers (@timbersfc) February 25, 2025
Portland also lost a lot of Vancouver in the play -offs last season, and defender Zac McGraw repeated the sentiments of Neville.
“Fortunately, this loss happened last year at the last game of the season, and we were eliminated,” said McGraw.
“This year it is the start of the year, so we can actually improve it. There are many new boys in the dressing room and many new boys in the field, but we have been together all the preseason. They are going to adapt.”
Austin defeated Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in their opening match.
Players to watch
Portland Timbers – Antony
Antony took a comfort for Portland against the Whitecaps and converted with his only shot of the game.
He registered 0.64 expected goals, which was by far the highest of every Portland player in that game.
Austin FC – Osman Bukari
Austin's winning goal against Kansas City came through a Bukari header in the second half.
Since the start of last season, 11 of the 40 goals of Austin FC (28%) have been scored via headers, the highest percentage in MLS.
Bukari had three shots against SKC, more than all his teammates.
Match prediction: Portland Win
Despite their heavy defeat of the opening day, Portland is supported by the OPTA Supercomputer.
That is also despite the fact that Austin ended an end of six games without winning against Portland (D1 L5) with a 1-0 win in Providence Park last October.
It was Austin's very first victory in Portland after losing twice and once to sign in their first three visits.
Austin won their season opening match for the second time in club history. The only previous season Austin won their season opener was the only time they made the play -offs because they opened with two straight victories in 2022.
Opta wins probability
Portland Timbers – 46.4%
Austin – 27%
Drawing – 26.6%
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