PORTLAND — Larrys Mabiala, Diego Chara and Sebastian Blanco scored and the Portland Timbers clinched a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
Both teams went into the game needing a win would secure a spot in the playoffs outright without help from other teams. Portland would also clinch with a tie.
“It feels good because it’s been hard work during the entire season, and the guys have worked very hard to get to this point,” said first-year Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese. “So I’m very proud for them.”
The Timbers won’t know where they’re seeded until next weekend’s final regular-season match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.