Kristoffer Velde Brace Propels Portland Timbers Past St. Louis CITY SC
Kristoffer Velde notched a crucial brace and tallied an assist to spark the Portland Timbers to a 3-2 victory over St. Louis CITY SC at Energizer Park, timbers.com reported. The Wednesday night win marks the second straight match where the Timbers have managed three goals, bringing their season total to 57—good for fourth most in the Western Conference and the fourth most in Portland’s Major League Soccer history.
The offensive surge unfolded quickly in Missouri before an attendance of 22,423. Velde opened the scoring in the 42nd minute by latching onto a ball from Cole Bassett, who received it from Kamal Miller, and firing a right-footed strike inside the far post. Just before the halftime whistle blew in the 45+3rd minute, Velde laid off a pass near midfield that Jimer Fory advanced down the left sideline. David Da Costa ran onto the play, cut past his defender, and slotted a right-footed finish home, registering his sixth goal of the season alongside his 10th assist.
Expanding the Lead and Holding Off a Late Push
Da Costa factored into the attack again immediately after the break. In the 48th minute, he collected his own rebounded shot and recycled the ball out to Velde, who lined up a shot from distance and drove it into the upper right corner, marking Velde’s second brace of the 2026 campaign.
St. Louis mounted a response in the second half. Daniel Edelman answered for the hosts in the 58th minute by heading home a cross delivered from the right wing by Carlo Holse. St. Despite late pressure and a stoppage-time ejection for Kamal Miller following a second caution in the 90+6th minute—preceded by cautions to Izoita in the 62nd minute, Miller and Janssen in the 72nd minute, and Smith in the 88th minute—the Timbers held on for the 3-2 result. The match saw the Timbers record 11 total shots with 3 shots on goal from Velde, 12 fouls with 3 each from Miller and Chara, 1 offside, 4 corner kicks, and 4 saves by goalkeeper Pantemis. St. Louis recorded 13 total shots with 4 from Navarro, 6 shots on goal with 1 each from six tied players, 12 fouls with 5 from MacNaughton, 3 offsides, 5 corner kicks, and 3 saves by goalkeeper Lundt. The officiating crew was led by referee Rubiel Vazquez, assistant referees Cory Richardson and Jeffrey Greeson, fourth official Igor Bych, and VAR Shawn Tehini.
Looking Ahead to the Regular-Season Finale
With the win, the Portland Timbers sit at an 11-14-7 record with 40 points, while St. Louis CITY SC stands at 14-9-9 with 51 points. Portland will return home quickly to host its final home match of the season this Sunday, November 1, against Houston Dynamo FC. Kickoff at Providence Park is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT, with broadcasts available in English and Spanish on Apple TV and local radio feeds via 105.1 FM/1080 AM The Fan for English and La GranD 93.5 FM/1150 AM for Spanish.
