Portland Timbers 2-1 Real Salt Lake: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Portland Timbers won it

Real Salt Lake struck first through Juan Manuel Sanabria in the 18th minute, set up by Morgan Guilavogui. Portland Timbers levelled at 1-1 in the 56th minute through Felipe Mora, set up by Ariel Lassiter. Portland Timbers turned it round: Felipe Mora made it 2-1 in the 67th minute, set up by Kristoffer Velde.

It was 0-1 at half-time, and the second half turned the match the other way.

Felipe Mora scored twice.

The lead changed hands once.

Morgan Guilavogui of Real Salt Lake was sent off in the 34th minute. The referee, E. Arreguin, showed 3 yellow cards: 2 to Portland Timbers and 1 to Real Salt Lake.

Portland Timbers: M. Cifuentes Corvillo, 4-1-4-1 · Real Salt Lake: P. Mastroeni, 3-4-3.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 0.29 for Portland Timbers and 1.97 for Real Salt Lake.

Portland Timbers scored about 1.7 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Real Salt Lake created the better chances, 1.97 xG to 0.29, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

Portland Timbers had 6 shots on target, Real Salt Lake 2.

Portland Timbers had 61% of the ball and turned it into the win.

A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Portland Timbers came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.7 and conceding 1.9 a match, with 1.51 expected goals for and 1.40 against, and had won 32% of their matches.

Real Salt Lake came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 1.6 a match, with 1.47 expected goals for and 1.64 against, and had won 35% of their matches.

Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Kristoffer Velde (Portland Timbers), rated 8.8 by Sportmonks, with 1 assist.

Portland Timbers

• Kristoffer Velde 8.8 1 assist
• Felipe Mora 7.5 2 goals
• Ariel Lassiter 7.4 1 assist
• David Da Costa 7.4
• José Luis Caicedo Barrera 7.3

Real Salt Lake

• Juan Manuel Sanabria 7.7 1 goal
• Rafael Cabral 7.0
• DeAndre Yedlin 7.0
• Diego Luna 7.0
• Stijn Spierings 6.8

The lowest-rated starter was Zavier Gozo at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Portland Timbers: St. Louis City vs Portland Timbers Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS
• Real Salt Lake: Austin vs Real Salt Lake Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake

What was the score in Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake?

Portland Timbers 2-1 Real Salt Lake (half-time 0-1), MLS, Sunday 26 July 2026.

Who scored in Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake?

Juan Manuel Sanabria 18', Felipe Mora 56', Felipe Mora 67'.

Did Moneyball predict Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake?

Kristoffer Velde, rated 8.8 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake?

E. Arreguin.