Austin FC will carry a three-match winning streak into Saturday when they host the surging Portland Timbers in a matchup between two of MLS’ hottest teams.
The Verde (4-2-0, 12 points) return home after a 1-0 win in St. Louis on Sunday. Myrto Uzuni scored on an assist by Osman Bukari for the match’s lone goal while Brad Stuver stopped two shots to earn his third clean sheet of the season.
It was the first MLS goal for Uzuni, whom Austin signed in January from Spanish second division side Granada CF for a reported $12.3 million transfer fee. It was seemingly only a matter of time until the Albanian international broke through for his new team.
“I’m always working, hard work,” Uzuni said. “I put everything on the pitch, so I think I’m deserving. In the last games I didn’t have luck. At home I hit two posts. I’m working hard for this moment and I hope more goals are coming.”
It’s Austin’s first three-match winning streak since it won four straight matches June 30-July 12, 2022, in a campaign in which the Verde advanced all the way to the Western Conference final.
Portland (3-2-1, 10 points) has won two consecutive matches and earned seven points in its past three contests.
The Timbers head to Austin after a 3-1 win at home over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday. Antony Alves Santos scored two goals and Felipe Mora added a goal and two assists for Portland in the win as the Timbers put nine shots on goal to just one for Houston.
“Teams will continue to strengthen, and we need to make sure that we’re in that mindset as well — that’s really important,” Timbers coach Phil Neville said. “This is a marathon. We’re only six games in. We’ve got to get a bigger (squad) and more depth to our group and more quality. I think that’s the challenge for us for the next three or four weeks.”
The Timbers captured the first match between the sides this season 1-0 in the Pacific Northwest. Portland owns a 6-3 all-time edge over the Verde, with one draw in the series.
–Field Level Media
