Timbers beat Houston 3-1 to jump into playoff spot; Wilson's 2 goals send Thorns in as No. 6 seed (Nov. 2)
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The Portland Timbers beat the Houston Dynamo 3-1 Sunday night at Providence Park and moved into eighth place in the Western Conference, a playoff spot.
Vincent Janssen had a goal and two assists, and David Da Costa and Kristoffer Velde also scored.
Portland closes the regular season at Austin FC on Decision Day, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. Pacific.
The Thorns beat the Houston Dash 2-0 behind two Sophia Wilson goals, earned the No. 6 seed and play at the Washington Spirit in the NWSL quarterfinals Sunday, Nov. 8.
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PORTLAND - It was a good Sunday for Portland soccer. The Thorns won in Houston in the afternoon to lock in their playoff seed, and the Timbers beat Houston at home that night to climb above the MLS playoff line with one game left.
Timbers climb into a playoff spot
Vincent Janssen had a goal and two assists as the Timbers beat the Houston Dynamo 3-1 before 22,936 at Providence Park, according to the club's match recap. The win lifted Portland (12-14-7, 43 points) from 11th to eighth in the Western Conference, The Associated Press reported.
David Da Costa opened the scoring in the 25th minute, roofing a shot from the left side of the box after a through ball from Janssen. Janssen then sent a long ball over the top for Kristoffer Velde, who finished in the 65th minute for his team-leading 11th goal. Agustín Bouzat pulled one back for Houston in the 71st, and Janssen headed in a Da Costa corner in the 78th to seal it.
It was Portland's third straight win, its first three-game winning streak since June 2024, and the Timbers have scored three goals in each of those games, the club said. Portland finished its home schedule 9-4-4, and defender Finn Surman was named the Supporters' Player of the Year for the second straight season. Houston, already in the playoffs, sits fifth in the West on 51 points, per the Dynamo. Fans can find Timbers gear on Amazon.
What's next: The race is tight. Three points separate the six teams from seventh through 12th in the West, all chasing the last three playoff spots, according to the Timbers. Portland plays at Austin FC on Decision Day, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. Pacific on Apple TV, with radio on KNRK 94.7 FM and a Spanish-language call on La GranD 93.5 FM/1150 AM. The MLS Cup Playoffs open Nov. 18 with wild-card games, per MLS.
Thorns lock in the No. 6 seed
Sophia Wilson scored twice as the Thorns beat the Houston Dash 2-0 on NWSL Decision Day, according to the Thorns. Wilson finished Reilyn Turner's backheel pass in the 34th minute, then scored on a retaken penalty in the 70th after Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell's save was wiped out by video review for encroachment.
The goals gave Wilson a career-high 15 this season, and she became the first NWSL player to score more than 10 goals in four separate seasons, KPTV reported. Portland (14-8-8) is in the playoffs for a 10th straight season and finished as the No. 6 seed. For fans, there's Thorns gear on Amazon.
What's next: The Thorns play at the No. 3 Washington Spirit in the quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 8, at noon Pacific at Audi Field, on ABC, the club said. A win would send Portland to the semifinals against San Diego or Utah. The championship is Nov. 21 on CBS, according to CBS Sports.
Sources
Portland Timbers: Recap, Timbers 3, Houston 1 (Nov. 1, 2026)
Houston Dynamo FC: Dynamo fall 3-1 at Portland (Nov. 1, 2026)
The Associated Press: Timbers jump into playoff spot with 3-1 victory over Dynamo
Portland Thorns: Thorns end regular season with 2-0 road shutout at Houston (Nov. 2, 2026)
KPTV: Thorns claim place in quarterfinals with 2-0 win over Houston Dash
CBS Sports: NWSL Decision Day scores and playoff bracket; MLSsoccer.com: 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs key dates
Cover photo: Providence Park, Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew, 2016-03-05, by Tech. Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
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