Austin FC will bring their third straight wins on Saturday as they host the surgent Portland Timbers in a matchup between two of MLS’ hottest teams.
Verde (4-2-0, 12 points) will return home after a 1-0 victory at St. Louis on Sunday. Miletojuni scored on the only goal of the match with an assist from Ottoman Bukari, and Brad Stever stopped two shots to get his third clean sheet of the season.
This was Uzni’s first MLS goal in January, signing from Spanish second division Granada CF in January with a transfer fee of $12.3 million. It was only a matter of time until Albanian International broke through for his new team.
“I’m always working, hardworking,” Uzni said. “I put everything on the pitch, so I think I deserve. I had no luck in the last game. I hit two posts at home, working hard at this moment.
Austin has won four consecutive games since Verde’s four consecutive wins from June 30 to July 12, 2022, before winning four consecutive games.
Portland (3-2-1, 10 points) won for the second straight time, earning seven points in the last three contests.
The Timbers head to Austin after a 3-1 victory at the Houston Dynamo on Sunday. Antony Alvez Santos scored two goals, Felipe Mora added Portland’s goal and two assists in the victory, while the Timbers scored nine shots on Houston’s only goal.
“The team needs to continue to strengthen and make sure we’re in that mindset too. That’s really important,” Timbers coach Phil Neville said. “This is a marathon. We only have six games. We have to gain greater (team) depth to the group. I think that’s the challenge for the next three or four weeks.”
The Timbers won their first match between the sides 1-0 this season in the Pacific Northwest. Portland owns Verde’s 6-3 best-ever edge, with one draw in the series.
– Field-level media
