Marti Cifuentes believes the only thing missing from his Portland Timbers team is the final product in attack after their disappointing defeat to Atlanta United last time out. 

Portland were beaten 1-0 by the Five Stripes at Providence Park, with Aleksey Miranchuk's 28th-minute strike enough to compound the Timbers to a 12th defeat of the season. 

That is despite Portland registering an expected goals (xG) total of 2.3 from their 21 shots at Lucas Hoyos' net to Atlanta's tally of 0.85 from their 10 attempts. 

It was a result that left the Timbers in a precarious position in the Western Conference, with Cifuentes' side ninth in the division, but the Seattle Sounders, San Diego FC and Austin FC are all within striking distance.

Portland's struggles against teams below them in the standings has been a recurring theme in 2026, and ahead of a trip to PayPal Park to face the San Jose Earthquakes, Cifuentes wants his team to take their chances when they arrive. 

"We created more shots, we regained the ball higher up the pitch and there was a lot of positives, but that does not explain the whole history," Cifuentes said. 

"The whole history is that we need to be better in front of goal and we need to be more clinical. We need to be better in how we break down low blocks and so on. 

"It's going to be a good challenge against San Jose because of the situations we are talking about. There are a lot of situations, but I do not want to spend my time there. 

"I want to be focused, be positive and have a lot of energy to go to San Jose that are having a good season, and try to leave there with a good feeling."

San Jose, meanwhile, kept their playoff push going with a 2-2 draw against 10-man Los Angeles FC, with Reid Roberts scoring a 98th-minute equaliser for Bruce Arena's side. 

Son Heung-min had given LAFC the lead before Aaron Long was sent off, but Denis Bouanga doubled the visitors' lead eight minutes into the second half at Levi's Stadium. 

However, substitute Preston Judd halved the deficit, before Roberts' drive from distance nestled into the bottom-right corner to seal a share of the spoils. 

The Earthquakes are fifth in the West and just two points off fourth-place FC Dallas, and Arena believes their draw with LAFC was a true test of his team's character against a difficult opposition. 

"The fact that we went down two goals and came back and got a point out of the game is a tremendous test of character and competitiveness on our part," Arena said. 

"I thought LAFC did an outstanding job in trying to close out the game. So give both teams credit. This was a really good MLS game today. A lot of quality out there.

"I think that was a very entertaining game for the people here, and to see players like Son [Heung-min] and [Denis] Bouanga and [Hugo] Lloris, he was fantastic.

"And to see quality like [Timo] Werner and have those kinds of players on the field, that was enjoyable and a great setting. The fan base was great. So a good day for MLS."  

PLAYERS TO WATCH

SJ Earthquakes – Reid Roberts

Roberts scored at 97:32 to secure a deserved point against LAFC last time out.

It was the latest result-changing goal by an Earthquakes player in an MLS match since Shea Salinas (97:34) scored a match-winning goal on July 15, 2020, in the MLS is Back Group Stage against the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Portland Timbers – Kristoffer Velde

Among players currently on the Timbers roster, Velde leads Portland in both goals (eight) and assists (nine).

With another assist, Velde would become the fifth player in club history have 10+ assists in a single MLS regular season, joining Diego Valeri (five), Sebastian Blanco (twice), Evander and Santiago Moreno.

MATCH PREDICTION: SJ EARTHQUAKES WIN

San Jose are unbeaten in their last four games with Portland (W3 D1) across all competitions, including a 3-1 win away from home in May. The Earthquakes have never swept the season series, while the four-match unbeaten run is their longest in the fixture since the Timbers joined MLS in 2011.

The Earthquakes' 12 victories this season are their most wins in a single season since the team's 13-win campaign in 2019. After having 11 wins in 2025, it marks the first time San Jose have recorded double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons since 2012 and 2013.

Portland, meanwhile, have failed to record a clean sheet on the road this regular season, one of four MLS teams without one. The Timbers have never gone a full MLS regular season without a road clean sheet after equalling their club record with five during the 2025 season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

SJ Earthquakes – 46%

Draw – 26.7%

Portland Timbers – 27.3%