RECAP | Timbers dust Austin FC with 2-0 victory to earn spot in postseason

Lassiter, Velde both score for Portland; Pantemis earns clean sheet

AUSTIN, Texas – The Portland Timbers clinched a spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Saturday night with a commanding 2-0 victory over Austin FC at Q2 Stadium.

Ariel Lassiter scored a goal in the first half, Kristoffer Velde scored a golazo in the second half and James Pantemis made seven saves to earn the clean sheet.

The win marked Portland's fourth straight and fifth straight match unbeaten.

Timbers in Round One

The Timbers (7 seed) will face FC Dallas (2 Seed) in Round One, with dates, times and broadcast details for the Best-of-3 Series to be announced. Tickets for Portland’s Game 2 at Providence Park will go on sale Monday, November 9, at 2pm PT.

Portland in the Postseason

Finishing the 2026 campaign in seventh place in the Western Conference, Portland has clinched the postseason for a third-straight year and 10th time in its MLS era. The seven seed finish marks the club’s highest since the 2021 season. The Timbers are 12-9-8 all time in the postseason, including three MLS Cup appearances (2015, 2018, 2021) and an MLS Cup title 2015.

Regular Season Recap

Portland concluded its 2026 regular season on a four-match win streak to secure a mark of 13-14-7 (46pts) on the year. Notably, 13 wins mark the club’s most in a season since 2021. The Timbers scored 62 goals in the season, second most in the Western Conference and second most in a single season in club history. Additionally, Portland recorded 79 assists in the campaign, a new club record in a regular season. Since head coach Martí Cifuentes took the helm on August 16, Portland collected 22 points, going 6-6-4 in that stretch.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR – Ariel Lassiter (Vincent Janssen), 3rd minute: Vincent Janssen played a give-and-go with Ariel Lassiter at the halfway mark to get the ball in behind Austin’s defense. Lassiter dribbled down the right wing and into the box before placing a left footed shot inside of the far post netting.

POR – Kristoffer Velde (Ian Smith, Cole Bassett), 70th minute: Kristoffer Velde controlled a short pass near the top left of the box before taking a couple touches to set himself up and firing a right-footed shot from outside the area into the far upper 90 of goal.

Notes

• Finishing the season in seventh place, the Timbers (13-14-7, 46pts) have clinched the MLS Cup playoffs.
• The Timbers have qualified for the MLS postseason for a third straight year and 10th time in club history.
• Portland has won four straight games and is unbeaten in five (4-0-1).
• Over their unbeaten stretch, the Timbers have outscored opponents 11-5.
• Four straight wins is tied for the club’s third longest winning streak, last accomplished in 2023.
• Portland has scored the second most goals in the Western Conference (62).
• The 62 goals scored in a single season is second most in Portland’s MLS history.
• Portland set a new club record with 79 assists in a single season.
• Ariel Lassiter notched his eighth goal of the season, a single-season career best.
• Lassiter finishes the regular season with a career-high 15 goal contributions (8G, 7A).
• Vincent Janssen tallied his third assist of the 2026 campaign.
• Janssen has recorded four goal contributions (1G, 3A) in Portland’s last two matches.
• Janssen finishes the regular season with five goals and three assists in 14 appearances (nine starts).
• Kristoffer Velde scored his club-leading 12th goal of the season.
• It marks Velde’s third-straight match with a goal, scoring four over his last three appearances.
• Velde finishes the regular season with a club-high 12 goals and 10 assists in 33 appearances (32 starts).
• Ian Smith recorded his second assist of the campaign.
• Cole Bassett registered his 10th assist of the season, tied for second most for the club this year.
• Ten assists is a career best for Cole Bassett.
• The Timbers and James Pantemis earned their third shutout of the campaign.
• James Pantemis became the first player in club history to play every minute of the MLS season (3,060).
• Pantemis also set a new club record for most saves in a season with 138.

Next Game

Finishing the season in seventh place in the Western Conference, the Timbers will face second place FC Dallas in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series. Dates, times, and broadcast details for the Round One have yet to be announced.

Portland Timbers (13-14-7, 46pts) vs. Austin FC (8-16-10, 34pts)

November 7, 2026 – Q2 Stadium (Austin, Texas)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Lassiter (Janssen), 3
POR: Velde (Smith, Bassett), 70

Misconduct Summary:
ATX: Burton (caution), 57

Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis, D Hernández, D Surman ©, D Waterman, D Smith (Fory, 77), M Caicedo, M Da Costa, M Izoita (Bassett, 46), F Lassiter (Fernandez, 82), F Janssen (Aravena, 77), F Velde (Chara, 89)

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

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Velde, 2); FOULS: 9 (Surman and Da Costa, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 7

ATX: GK Stuver, D Sánchez ©, D Svatok (Placheta, 64), D Biro, M Alastuey (Sabovic, 84), M E. Torres, M Ramirez, M Burton (Uzuni, 71), F Desler (Hines-Ike, 71), F Gallagher, F Vasquez

Substitutes Not Used: GK Las, D Djordjevic, D Dean Thomas, M Rosales, F F. Torres

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Ramirez, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Uzuni, 3); FOULS: 9 (Burton, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2

Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Armando Villareal
VAR: Ismir Pekmic
Attendance: 20,738

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.