RECAP | Portland Timbers earn dramatic 3-2 victory over Charlotte FC

Lassiter with brace, Izoita with two assists as Aravena wins it at the death

PORTLAND, Ore. – Ariel Lassiter tallied a brace, Eric Izoita contributed two assists and Alexander Aravena scored a 90+6th minute stoppage-time winner to lift the Portland Timbers to a 3-2 victory over Charlotte FC Saturday night at Providence Park.

Ari and Eric Combine for Two

Ariel Lassiter and Eric Izoita combined for Portland’s two goals tonight, with Lassiter notching a brace and Izoita earning two assists. The two goals brought Lassiter’s season total to seven, a new career best for the veteran winger. It marked his second career MLS brace and first for Portland. Izoita’s two assists came as his third and fourth goal contributions for the Green and Gold (1G, 3A), coming in just his sixth MLS appearance (3rd start). Notably, the Timbers Academy product is averaging 1.3 goal contributions per 90 minutes played.

Final Few

Tonight’s match marked Portland’s penultimate home match of the season. Next up, the Timbers will travel to St. Louis CITY SC for a midweek road match on Wednesday, Oct. 28, before hosting their final home match against Houston Dynamo FC on Sunday, Nov. 1. Portland will close out the 2026 campaign on the road at Austin FC on Decision Day, Nov. 7.

Goal-Scoring Plays

CLT – Pep Biel (Ashley Westwood), 3rd minute: From the halfway mark, Ashley Westwood passed the ball wide for Pep Biel, who dribbled down the right wing before cutting inside and firing a left-footed shot from outside of the box into the far post corner of the goal. 

POR – Ariel Lassiter (Eric Izoita, Ronald Hernández), 11th minute: Ronald Hernández played the ball into the right side of the box for Eric Izoita, who then delivered a cut-back cross near the penalty area. Ariel Lassiter finished the play with a first-time strike into the back of the net. 

POR – Ariel Lassiter (Eric Izoita), 40th minute: Ariel Lassiter combined for a give-and-go with Eric Izoita at the edge of the 18-yard box and slotted a shot into the lower-left corner of the goal frame. 

CLT – Idan Toklomati (Luca de la Torre, Pep Biel), 69th minute: Luca de la Torre played a ball from outside the Timbers’ box to find Idan Toklomati at the back post, who finished a shot with his left foot.

POR – Alexander Aravena (Cole Bassett, Ian Smith), 90+6 minute: Ian Smith swung in a corner from the right side that was headed on by Cole Bassett to then find Alex Aravena’s head at the goal line to win the game.

Notes

• The Timbers (10-14-7, 37pts) are in 11th place in the Western Conference.
• Portland has three matches left in the 2026 campaign: two on the road and one at home.
• The Timbers outshot Charlotte 27-6, a season high for Portland. 
• Ariel Lassiter notched his second career MLS brace and first with Portland.
• It marked the Timbers’ 69th brace in club history. 
• Lassiter’s seven goals this season are the second most of any active Portland player. 
• Alexander Aravena scored his second goal of the season, the game winner.
• Eric Izoita recorded two assists in the match.
• Izoita has registered four goal contributions (1G, 3A) in six MLS appearances (3 starts). 
• Izoita is averaging 1.3 goal contributions per 90 minutes played.
• Cole Bassett recorded his eighth assist of the season.
• Eight assists marks a new single-season career best for Bassett.
• Ronald Hernández tallied his first goal contribution, an assist, in Green and Gold. 
• Ian Smith registered his first goal contribution of the season.

Next Game
The Timbers will face a quick turnaround, traveling to take on St. Louis CITY SC in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Kickoff at Energizer Park is set for 5:30 p.m. (Pacific) on Apple TV in English and Spanish with local radio broadcasts on 1080 AM The Fan (English) and La GranD 93.5 FM/1150AM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (10-14-7, 37pts) vs. Charlotte FC (13-10-8, 47pts)
October 24, 2026 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goal-Scoring Plays

CLT – Pep Biel (Ashley Westwood), 3rd minute: From the halfway mark, Ashley Westwood passed the ball wide for Pep Biel, who dribbled down the right wing before cutting inside and firing a left-footed shot from outside of the box into the far post corner of the goal. 

POR – Ariel Lassiter (Eric Izoita, Ronald Hernández), 11th minute: Ronald Hernández played the ball into the right side of the box for Eric Izoita, who then delivered a cut-back cross near the penalty area. Ariel Lassiter finished the play with a first-time strike into the back of the net. 

POR – Ariel Lassiter (Eric Izoita), 40th minute: Ariel Lassiter combined for a give-and-go with Eric Izoita at the edge of the 18-yard box and slotted a shot into the lower-left corner of the goal frame. 

CLT – Idan Toklomati (Luca de la Torre, Pep Biel), 69th minute: Luca de la Torre played a ball from outside the Timbers’ box to find Idan Toklomati at the back post, who finished a shot with his left foot.

POR – Alexander Aravena (Cole Bassett, Ian Smith), 90+6 minute: Ian Smith swung in a corner from the right side that was headed on by Cole Bassett to then find Alex Aravena’s head at the goal line to win the game.

Notes

• The Timbers (10-14-7, 37pts) are in 11th place in the Western Conference.
• Portland has three matches left in the 2026 campaign: two on the road and one at home.
• The Timbers outshot Charlotte 27-6, a season high for Portland. 
• Ariel Lassiter notched his second career MLS brace and first with Portland.
• It marked the Timbers’ 69th brace in club history. 
• Lassiter’s seven goals this season are the second most of any active Portland player. 
• Alexander Aravena scored his second goal of the season, the game winner.
• Eric Izoita recorded two assists in the match.
• Izoita has registered four goal contributions (1G, 3A) in six MLS appearances (3 starts). 
• Izoita is averaging 1.3 goal contributions per 90 minutes played.
• Cole Bassett recorded his eighth assist of the season.
• Eight assists marks a new single-season career best for Bassett.
• Ronald Hernández tallied his first goal contribution, an assist, in Green and Gold. 
• Ian Smith registered his first goal contribution of the season.

Next Game

The Timbers will face a quick turnaround, traveling to take on St. Louis CITY SC in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Kickoff at Energizer Park is set for 5:30pm PT on Apple TV in English and Spanish with local radio broadcasts on 1080 AM The Fan (English) and La GranD 93.5 FM/1150AM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (10-14-7, 37pts) vs. Charlotte FC (13-10-8, 47pts)

October 24, 2026 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
CLT: Biel (Westwood), 3
POR: Lassiter (Izoita, Hernández), 11
POR: Lassiter (Izoita), 40
CLT: Toklomati (de la Torre, Biel), 69
POR: Aravena (Bassett, Smith), 90+6

Misconduct Summary:
POR: Izoita (caution), 17
CLT: Byrne (caution), 45

Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis ©, D Hernández, D K. Miller, D Waterman, D Fory (Smith, 64), M Caicedo, M Izoita (Bassett, 64), M Da Costa, F Lassiter (Fernandez, 83), F Janssen (Aravena, 83), F Velde

Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D E. Miller, D Surman, M Ortiz, M Chara

TOTAL SHOTS: 27 (Bassett, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 11 (Lassiter, 4); FOULS: 10 (K. Miller, Waterman, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 2

CLT: GK Kahlina, D Byrne, D Morrison, D Kessler, D Schnegg (Toffolo, 70), M Westwood © (Coulibaly, 85), M Diani, M Biel, F Aloko (Smalls, 70), F Abada (de la Torre, 62), F Toklomati

Substitutes Not Used: GK Miller, D Privett, D Neeley, F Mbongue, F Richmond

TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Toklomati, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Toklomati, 2); FOULS: 9 (Toklomati, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 8

Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referees: Brooke Mayo, Eduardo Jeff
Fourth Official: Matt Thompson
VAR: Geoff Gamble
Attendance: 23,323

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.