In a thrilling turn of events last week, the Timbers orchestrated a remarkable comeback from a two-goal deficit, securing a 2-2 draw against the formidable Seattle Sounders. This spirited performance brought them tantalizingly close, just four points away, from clinching a coveted playoff spot. Meanwhile, on the flip side of the pitch, LAFC had a tough outing, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against Inter Miami. This stumble dropped them to third place in the standings, trailing the Sounders by a solitary point. As the Timbers stand on the brink of history, they have seven regular-season matches left to dodge the perilous fate of consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance—a feat they've managed to evade only once before in 2011 and 2012. Notably, a significant portion of these remaining clashes, precisely four of them, will take place at the hallowed Providence Park, where they've triumphed in six out of seven games this season. Interim manager Miles Joseph, despite his initial hiccups marked by a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps, has masterminded a commendable resurgence. The Timbers have amassed four out of a possible six points in their last two fixtures, reflecting their newfound tenacity. However, it's worth noting that the Timbers have found themselves in a bit of a conundrum when facing LAFC. Recent history hasn't favored them, with no victories in their last four meetings, including a rather disheartening three consecutive losses. Yet, it's not all gloom for the Timbers; they've managed to outshine the reigning MLS Cup champions in two out of their last three home encounters. Last week's exhilarating draw against Seattle marked a significant milestone for the Timbers. It was their first domestically earned point when trailing at halftime this year. Furthermore, they've showcased remarkable resilience, remaining undefeated in the 2023 regular season when leading after 45 minutes. Throughout the season, the Timbers have garnered vital contributions from their bench, with substitutes netting nine goals, placing them third in this category among MLS teams, trailing only St. Louis City (11) and Atlanta United (11).On the other hand, LAFC has had its share of trials and tribulations. They recently endured a rare defeat at home, courtesy of an Eastern Conference opponent. The indomitable Lionel Messi orchestrated this upset, contributing two assists for Inter Miami. This marked LAFC's second successive domestic defeat, relegating them to third place in the Western Conference standings. They now find themselves trailing the Sounders by just one precarious point. Adding to the pressure, St. Louis City looms large, leading by a substantial seven points, with a mere eight matches left in the season. LAFC's road struggles have been apparent throughout this MLS campaign. They've managed to scrape together just one point from their last four away matches and secured a paltry three victories as visitors in 2023. Frequently, they've encountered the disheartening scenario of trailing at halftime during their away games, winning only one of these contests all year. As the regular season unfolds, the Timbers seem poised to defy the odds and secure their playoff berth. Their recent displays of resilience promise an electrifying homestretch. Conversely, LAFC faces a daunting challenge as they grapple with issues on the road and adapt to the absence of key players. Predicting 2-1 or 2-2 here.

上周，在一场激动人心的比赛中，森林队在落后两球的情况下成功逆转，以2比2战平了强大的西雅图海湾队。这种精神饱满的表现让他们离梦寐以求的季后赛席位只有4分之遥。与此同时，在球场的另一边，LAFC经历了一场艰难的比赛，以3:1输给了国际迈阿密。这次失误使他们在积分榜上跌至第三位，落后海湾队1分。当森林人站在历史的边缘时，他们还剩下七场常规赛来避免连续一个赛季没有进入季后赛的危险命运——这是他们在2011年和2012年之前成功避免的一次。值得注意的是，这些剩余的冲突中有很大一部分，确切地说是其中的四场，将在神圣的普罗维登斯公园举行，他们在本赛季的七场比赛中取得了六场胜利。临时主教练迈尔斯·约瑟夫，尽管他最初的表现不佳，以3-2输给温哥华白鳍鲨为标志，但他已经策划了一个值得称赞的复兴。森林人在过去的两场比赛中已经拿到了6分中的4分，这反映了他们新的韧劲。然而，值得注意的是，当面对LAFC时，木材队发现自己陷入了一个难题。最近的历史并不看好他们，在最近的四次交锋中没有取得胜利，包括令人沮丧的三连败。然而，对木材公司来说，情况也不全是悲观的;在最近的三次主场交锋中，他们有两次击败了美国职业足球大联盟杯卫冕冠军。上周对阵西雅图的激动人心的平局对森林人来说是一个重要的里程碑。这是他们今年在半场落后的情况下首次在国内赢得积分。此外，他们表现出了非凡的韧性，在2023年的常规赛中，在45分钟领先的情况下保持不败。整个赛季，森林队都从替补球员那里获得了至关重要的贡献，替补球员打进了9个进球，在美国大联盟球队中排名第三，仅次于圣路易斯城队(11个)和亚特兰大联队(11个)。另一方面，LAFC也经历了考验和磨难。他们最近在主场遭遇了一场罕见的失利，对手是东部的对手。不屈不挠的梅西精心策划了这场比赛，为国际迈阿密贡献了2次助攻。这标志着LAFC在国内连续两场失利，使他们在西部排名第三。现在他们发现自己只落后海湾人一个危险点。更大的压力是，圣路易城队在本赛季只剩下八场比赛的情况下，以7分的优势领先。LAFC的道路斗争在整个MLS运动中都很明显。在过去的四场客场比赛中，他们只勉强拿到了一分，而在2023年的客场比赛中，他们只取得了微不足道的三场胜利。他们经常在客场比赛中遇到半场落后的令人沮丧的情况，全年只赢了一场这样的比赛。随着常规赛的展开，森林人似乎准备好了挑战机会，确保他们的季后赛席位。他们最近表现出的韧性预示着一场激动人心的冲刺。相反，LAFC面临着艰巨的挑战，因为他们正在努力解决路上的问题，并适应关键球员的缺席。预测2比1或2比2。