BEAVERTON, Ore. – It’s been almost two years since the Portland Timbers dropped a point to Real Salt Lake, and while that period only encompasses three games, the one-sided nature of those games speaks to the changing dynamic between the two clubs.
Over those matches, RSL has been outscored by Portland 9-2. They've never led the Timbers since Giovanni Savarese took over. Six different Timbers have scored in that time, while even the teams' meeting in this February’s preseason Mobile Mini Sun Cup preseason tournament produced a rout. That 3-0, meaningless loss feels eerily appropriate within the context of the teams’ recent results.