The Portland Timbers are back in the MLS Cup final, three years after winning in 2015. It didn’t take them long to rebound from the rocky conclusion to Caleb Porter’s tenure, which ended somewhat mysteriously after the 2017 season. Giovanni Savarese, Porter’s replacement, has proven adept, or at least adept enough to navigate a tricky, inconsistent Western Conference.
Portland have earned their trip to Atlanta for this year’s final by adopting an identity reminiscent of Porter’s greatest successes: They’re pragmatic, they defend tightly in midfield and they release speedy attackers into space.
It’s never been a complicated formula.