KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Zarek Valentin was prepared for Thursday’s celebration.

After the final whistle blew in Kansas City, Valentin ran to the sideline and grabbed the dog mask that he had brought with him to the game. He proudly wore the mask as the Portland Timbers celebrated their Western Conference Championship victory over Sporting Kansas City on the field at Children’s Mercy Park. 

It was the same type of mask that Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long and offensive tackle Lane Johnson started wearing during their NFL playoff run last season. The Eagles had been counted out and called an underdog throughout the playoffs and they made the decision to lean into the label. Philadelphia went on to win Super Bowl LII.

Now, the Timbers are embracing the underdog label as well. 

“We are OK with being underdogs,” said Valentin, an Eagles fan and Pennsylvania native. “We like that role.”

Despite upsetting FC Dallas on the road in the knockout round of the playoffs and ousting the Seattle Sounders in an epic Western Conference semifinal series, the Timbers were given just an 8 percent chance of winning the 2018 MLS Cup by statistical website FiveThirtyEight at the start of their last series against Sporting Kansas City. 

Even after the Timbers played Sporting Kansas City to a scoreless draw in the first leg of the series, FiveThirtyEight gave Portland only a 33 percent chance of ousting Kansas City on the road in the second leg to advance to the MLS Cup. 

And after the Timbers beat Kansas City 3-2 to book their spot in the 2018 MLS Cup Thursday, FiveThirtyEight put their odds of beating Atlanta United on the road at only 41.9 percent. 

“I think everyone has written us off,” said Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell after Thursday’s game. “Again, tonight, no one gave us a chance and I’m sure no one is going to give us a chance in the MLS Cup Final.”

Atlanta United earned an incredible 69 points in the 2018 regular season and finished as runner-up for the MLS Supporters’ Shield. They ousted the Supporters’ Shield-winning New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Championship series to advance to the MLS Cup. 

Even though Portland found a way to draw with Atlanta 1-1 on the road in June, Atlanta United remains the obvious favorite heading into the 2018 MLS Cup on Dec. 8 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But the Timbers are used to the underdog label by now.

Portland was considered an underdog throughout the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, but the club defied the odds by going on to win the Cup. 

Now, Portland is one game away from another MLS Cup title. And the Timbers believe that they can beat the odds once again.