Houston Dynamo FC fall 3-1 on the road to the Portland Timbers
PORTLAND, Oreg. (Nov. 1, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC fell 3-1 on the road to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park tonight, with both sides finishing the 2026 season series with one win apiece.
Heading into the final match of the regular season, Houston is even with St. Louis CITY SC on 51 points, holding the fifth spot on tiebreakers and sitting just one point off the third seed. Notably, the Dynamo next host St. Louis on Saturday, Nov. 7, in a high-powered Decision Day Western Conference at Shell Energy Stadium.
In tonight’s match, Portland scored first, as David Da Costa fired a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle to the left of goal in the 25th minute.
The Timbers doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Vincent Janssen found Kristoffer Velde making a run towards the box, where he found the back of the net with a right-footed shot.
The Dynamo pulled one back in the 71st minute when midfielder Diadie Samassékou intercepted a pass in Portland's half and quickly found forward Duncan McGuire, who then played a ball towards midfielder Agustín Bouzat at the top of the box who managed a left-footed strike that found the inside of the far post. The goal marked the Argentinean's second goal of the season and McGuire's first assist of the campaign.
Portland scored their third goal of the match in the 78th minute after Janssen headed in Costa's corner delivery from inside the box.
Just before the opening goal of the match, goalkeeper Blake Gillingham, who replaced Jonathan Bond in the starting lineup during warmups, stepped up with a crucial save, making himself big to block the point-blank shot of a charging Da Costa for his first of three saves on the night. Interestingly, the American made his made first career MLS start against the Timbers in March last year.
Houston had a dangerous chance in first-half stoppage time when forward Lawrence Ennali’s powerful strike from the left of the six-yard box took a deflection and carried just over the crossbar.
Gillingham was called into action again in the 47th minute when Ariel Lassiter fired a left-footed shot from outside the box. The shot stopper reacted quickly to get in position and safely secure the danger.
In the 89th minute, Gillingham delivered another key save, getting low to deny a right-footed shot from Omir Fernandez following a Portland counterattack.
Saturday’s home match versus St. Louis will also feature Fan Appreciation Night, powered by Shell Energy, celebrating the best fans in MLS. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. CT, and tickets for the regular season finale are available HERE via Tixr.
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