Orlando v Portland: Neville insists they will be ready to go after cup defeat

Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville is hoping his side can put their midweek extra-time defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes in the U.S. Open Cup behind them ahead of a trip to Orlando City this weekend.

The Timbers lost 1-0 in San Jose after conceding in the 117th minute on Wednesday to end their participation in the tournament.

"We were just let down by a lack of concentration – lazy defending – at the end when we didn't sprint back in with our man," said Neville, as quoted by Oregon Live.

"We've come all the way to San Jose. We’ve put in a hell of a shift. And to get beat in the 117th minute, for me, is probably the worst I've felt all season – the most disappointed I've felt all season.

"I think we can show more composure, more quality on the ball. That's something we just need to keep working on.

"But I think the most important thing now is to accept it, lick our wounds and make sure that we're ready for Orlando on Saturday."

Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja, meanwhile, is looking for an improvement on their own cup defeat, having lost 3-2 at home to Nashville SC.

"We have to be on our toes all the time. We have to keep going," he told a press conference.

When asked about his message to the team in the wake of the defeat, he said he would not change it too much from what he said in reaction to their MLS victory over Inter Miami last weekend.

"Similarly to what I told them two days ago when we beat Miami," he said.

"This game, we need to let it go and focus on the next one. We have to turn around quick, the bitterness or frustration that we have, it doesn't guarantee you anything.

"We need to lose, turn the page and move on."

Back in the Den Saturday night @WaltDisneyWorld | #VamosOrlando

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 22, 2025

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Orlando City – Luis Muriel

Luis Muriel is Orlando's second-highest goalscorer this season with six goals, including two in his last two matches.

The Colombian has also bagged two in his last four home games and averages a squad-leading 3.1 shots per match.

Portland Timbers – Santiago Moreno

Santiago Moreno is one of four Portland Timbers players to have scored four or more goals so far this season.

All four of the 25-year-old's goals have come in his last six MLS appearances.

MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO WIN

Orlando City are unbeaten in 11 straight regular-season matches (W5 D6), conceding just eight in those games.

Orlando can equal the longest regular-season unbeaten run in the club's MLS history, 12 straight from August to October 2020.

At home, Orlando have gone six without defeat (W4 D2) since an opening-day defeat to Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union.

Portland Timbers are winless in their last two road trips, having drawn 0-0 at Real Salt Lake last time out and lost 4-1 away to the San Jose Earthquakes earlier this month.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 53.7%

Draw – 23.8%

Portland Timbers – 22.6%