Although the Portland Timbers put five goals past Minnesota United last time out, Ariel Lassiter knows they cannot put that kind of pressure on their attackers if they are to make the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Vincent Janssen became the first Timbers player to ever score an MLS hat-trick as they got the better of the Loons in a nine-goal thriller last weekend.
That win – which also saw Kristoffer Velde score and Lassiter force an own goal from opposing goalkeeper Drake Callender – boosted Portland's playoff hopes.
They are eighth in the Western Conference – occupying one of two wild-card spots – and are only behind Colorado Rapids on goal difference, as they seek a route into the automatic qualification places.
However, ahead of Wednesday's meeting with in-form St. Louis City SC, Lassiter acknowledged defensive improvements are required from Marti Cifuentes' men.
"Scoring five goals, I think that's really great. We could do that in pretty much every game if we really took our chances," he said.
"But now, pushing into the final stretch for the playoffs, we can't really put that on our shoulders – needing to score five goals to win a game.
"I think we all know that. We have to be more solid defensively. It's just not good enough in terms of what we can really do as a team.
"So hopefully, on Wednesday, we can really get that right, and get that effort out of all of us to make sure we put in a good, 90-minute shift."
One we'll continue looking back on pic.twitter.com/hBgFLAMjhm
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) September 7, 2026
St. Louis also earned an eye-catching win last time out, beating the Western Conference leaders, the Vancouver Whitecaps, 3-1 away from home.
Yoann Damet's side are fifth in the standings, six points clear of Portland.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Vincent Janssen
Janssen's hat-trick against Minnesota was Portland's first in regular-season MLS play, in their 523rd such match.
That was 250 games more than it has taken any other MLS team to record their first regular-season hat-trick (Toronto FC's first was in game 273). With Janssen leading the line, they may not have to wait that long for another.
St. Louis City – Tomas Totland
Norwegian duo Totland and Conrad Wallem scored four minutes apart in St. Louis' win last time out.
It was the second match in MLS history in which two different Norwegian players scored, after Austin FC's Ruben Gabrielsen and D.C. United's Ola Kamara netted against each other in April 2022.
Furthermore, no St. Louis player has more assists in MLS play this year than Totland (four, level with Simon Becher).
MATCH PREDICTION – PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN
Including their 3-1 win over Vancouver, St. Louis City have scored three goals in six of their last 10 matches, all in league play.
St. Louis' six MLS matches with at least three goals since May 23 are the most in MLS in that time, while only Inter Miami (25) have bettered their total of 23 goals in that span.
However, they could come unstuck on the road against Portland, who edged out Minnesota United in a nine-goal thriller last time out.
That was Portland's fourth game scoring five or more goals across all competitions this season, their most such matches in a single year since joining MLS in 2011.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 42.2%
St. Louis City – 34%
Draw – 23.8%
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