Daniel Pereira's goal catapults Austin past Portland

Daniel Pereira scored his first MLS goal since 2022 and Austin FC stayed alive for the MLS Cup playoffs with a 1-0 win at the Portland Timbers on Wednesday night.

Brad Stuver made 10 saves to keep himself and Austin clean for the eighth time this season and move the Verde to within six points of ninth-place Portland with two games to go.

Even if Austin (10-13-9, 39 points) won its last two games and Portland (12-11-9, 45 points) lost its last two games, the Verde's chances of surpassing the Timbers and securing the ninth place are slim To secure a spot and the finals, the Western Conference's wild card berths are remote. Austin would also have to make up for the current 18-goal goal difference deficit to Portland.

Portland's Evander failed to record a goal or assist for the first time in 12 games as the Timbers fell at home for the first time all season.

It wasn't for lack of chances: the hosts led 26-7 in shots and 11-1 in shots on goal, but saw a 10-game home unbeaten streak end and a win would have catapulted the Timbers into seventh place can be the wildcard places.

This dominance of chances was evenly distributed between both halves. In the middle, Austin accidentally took the lead just before half-time thanks to Pereira's goal in the 42nd minute.

The chance came to Pereira when he grabbed the ball after Kamal Miller's attempt to clear an earlier Austin challenge ended up just about 10 yards inside the penalty area.

Pereira won the ball from Jonathan Rodriguez, then moved left and unleashed a hopeful shot from about 25 yards out.

From there, it hit Miller's leg and caused a significant change in direction, wrong-footing goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who could only watch as it shot over the goal line.

Stuver intervened several times after half-time to keep the visitors in the lead, his best success coming when he saved two goals from Rodriguez. Evander also tested Stuver's goal from distance twice and only forced routine saves.

–Field level media