Minnesota United v Portland Timbers: Ramsay seeking cup final mentality to clinch top spot

Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay has urged his team to treat their final six MLS fixtures like cup finals as they eye a spot at the Western Conference summit.

Ramsay watched on as his side earned a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake last time out, moving them within three points of leaders San Diego FC, who have already sealed their place in the playoffs.

The Loons know a victory over the Portland Timbers this weekend will confirm their spot in the postseason, with favourable league fixtures to come in their final five MLS matches.

And Ramsay revealed he has instilled belief in his players that they can go on to lift trophies, insisting that his side are aiming to finish at the top of the pile in the West.

“We talk about winning trophies because we are positioned to do so, and we have been positioned to do so for a while,” Ramsay said. “It’s an ambitious group. I’m an ambitious coach.

“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 charge to the summit was helped by this weekend’s opponents Portland, who held San Diego to a goalless draw at Snapdragon Stadium last time out.

The Timbers themselves are in the midst of a playoff battle of their own, sitting sixth in the Western Conference despite failing to win their last three league games.

Portland take on Minnesota just over a month after their 1-1 draw at Providence Park, and Timbers boss Phil Neville highlighted the areas his team must control to stop the Loons.

“In terms of game plans, we are going to be as disciplined and as tactically aware as we were in the last game,” he 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

Lod has been in impressive form for Minnesota, with his goal contribution tally of seven only bettered by Kelvin Yeboah (nine), Joaquin Pereya (10) and Tani Oluwaseyi (17) for the Loons.

He recorded a goal and an assist in Minnesota’s triumph over Real Salte Lake. It was Lod’s sixth such regular-season game, two more than any other player in the club’s history in the MLS.

Portland Timbers – Felipe Carballo

Having seen the New York Red Bulls not renew his loan deal, Carballo made an instant impact on his first outing for Portland, despite not getting on the scoresheet.

Indeed, no Timbers player created more chances than Carballo (three) in their goalless draw with San Diego, and he will be keen to make his mark again here.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota have never lost a home match against Portland, winning seven of the previous eight meetings in the Twin Cities (D1) despite the Timbers scoring in all but one of those matches.

The Loons have also collected 23 points over their last 12 matches (W7 D2 L3), including winning their last two regular-season contests. Only San Diego (26 points) and Charlotte FC (25 points) have collected more since that run began on matchday 17.

Portland, meanwhile, played out a scoreless draw at San Diego last time out, the sixth time the Timbers failed to score in their last eight away matches in all competitions. They have just two away goals in that time, a run that dates to mid-May.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 49.3%

Draw – 25.5%

Portland Timbers – 25.2%