Vincent Janssen recorded the first regular-season hat trick in Timbers’ history to fuel Portland to a high-octane 5-4 victory over visiting Minnesota United on Saturday night.
Janssen scored in the 11th, 26th and 55th minutes in his first start for Portland. His final goal gave the Timbers the lead for good.
Kristoffer Velde also scored for Portland (9-10-4, 31 points). The Timbers also prospered on a Minnesota own goal after a blast from Ariel Lassiter.
Marcus Caldeira registered the brace for Minnesota (7-8-8, 29 points). Anthony Markanich and Tomas Chancalay also found the back of the net for the Loons, who overcame a three-goal deficit to knot the score before Portland moved back ahead.
Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis had three saves, while Loons counterpart Drake Callender made one.
Janssen’s third goal gave Portland a 4-3 lead and it came when he shot a turnaround left-footed shot into the bottom of the right corner.
Janssen, a Dutchman, was playing in his fourth match for the Timbers since being acquired via transfer from Belgian club Royal Antwerp in late July.
The Timbers added on in the 71st minute when Velde scored on a left-footed shot from the left of the net.
The Loons kept pushing and moved within one in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. Carlos Harvey’s pass led Chancalay, who caught up to the ball to volley it in with his right foot to bring Minnesota within one.
Janssen started the night’s scoring with a left-footed penalty kick into the left corner of the net.
Nine minutes later, Lassiter ripped a hard right-footed blast from outside the box and it smacked the crossbar and caromed off Callender and into the net to give Portland a 2-0 lead.
In the 26th minute, David Da Costa fed Janssen, who knocked a right-footed shot into the net for a three-goal lead.
Minnesota began its comeback in the 32nd minute as Joaquin Pereyra found Caldeira, who sent a right-footer shot into the upper portion of the net.
Six minutes later, Markanich knocked a left-footed shot into the top left-hand corner of the net to bring the Loons within one.
In the second half, a Portland misplay allowed Caldeira to send an easy right-footer into the net to tie it at 3 in the 50th minute.
The Loons outshot the Timbers 15-12 and had a 7-5 edge in shots on target.
–Field Level Media
