Football Season Guide

Having played some exciting football, Portland were considered as one of the most entertaining sides in 2024. In fact, only three teams scored more than Portland’s 65 goals in 34 games. Yet, the team paid for their defensive frailties with a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Vancouver in the play-ins after finishing ninth in the West. Franchise player Evander, who recorded 15 goals and 19 assists in 2024, departed the team. Major blow, but he's been replaced by a talented David Pereira and it remains to be seen how the new signing would cope. Meanwhile, the roster has been freshened up with the departures of a few backup players, who have been replaced by new faces. Despite Evander’s departure, Portland have managed to keep their spine intact, as 10 of their 11 starters are expected to stay put. Evander may have made his teammates better in the final third, but the talent is there to exploit, as Santiago Moreno, Felipe Mora and Jonathan Rodríguez, all of whom stood out last season, will be called to step up. Their frontline is definitely Portland’s major strength heading into the 2025 campaign. Last season, Moreno, Mora, Rodríguez and Antony combined for 42 goals and 22 assists. What they need to work on is their defensive issues, as just two of the 18 teams that made the playoffs last season conceded more goals than Portland (56).