Vincent Janssen's First-Start Hat-Trick Propels Timbers to 5-4 Victory

Portland Timbers defeated Minnesota United FC 5-4 at Providence Park in a nine-goal thriller. Dutch striker Vincent Janssen scored in the 11th, 26th and 55th minutes, becoming the first Timbers player ever to record an MLS regular-season hat-trick and only the third player in league history to net three or more goals in his first start. The win moved the Timbers (9-10-4, 31 points) back into a Western Conference playoff position.

Vincent Janssen becomes first Timbers player in MLS era to score hat-trick in regular-season play Vincent Janssen hat trick highlights Timbers' 5-4 win over Minnesota United FC History! Vincent Janssen scores first Portland Timbers hat trick Former Tottenham star nets hat-trick to create MLS history on first start

Janssen joined Portland in late July after four seasons with Belgian side Royal Antwerp. Earlier in his career he played for Tottenham Hotspur (2016-2019) and spent three seasons with Monterrey in Mexico (2019-2022). The Timbers had gone 521 regular-season MLS matches without a hat-trick; the last regular-season hat-trick in club history occurred in 2007 during the United Soccer League (USL) era (scored by David Hague).

Vincent Janssen becomes first Timbers player in MLS era to score hat-trick in regular-season play

• Final score: Portland Timbers 5 – Minnesota United FC 4.

Vincent Janssen becomes first Timbers player in MLS era to score hat-trick in regular-season play

• Janssen’s goals: 11´ (penalty), 26´ (cross from David Da Costa), 55´ (assist from Ariel Lassiter).

Vincent Janssen hat trick highlights Timbers' 5-4 win over Minnesota United FC

• Other Timbers scorers: Kristoffer Velde (74´).

Vincent Janssen hat trick highlights Timbers' 5-4 win over Minnesota United FC

• Minnesota United goals: Marcus Caldeira (32´, 50´), Anthony Markanich (38´), Tomás Chancalay (90+2´).

Vincent Janssen hat trick highlights Timbers' 5-4 win over Minnesota United FC

• Own goal credited to Drake Callender (20´).

Vincent Janssen hat trick highlights Timbers' 5-4 win over Minnesota United FC

• The hat-trick ended a 558-game league-wide drought; Portland was the last club in MLS’s 16-season history to record a hat-trick.

Vincent Janssen becomes first Timbers player in MLS era to score hat-trick in regular-season play

Janssen told MLS Wrap-up on Apple TV that the achievement felt “very special” and that he was proud to repay the club and its fans. The Timbers organization highlighted the rarity of the feat, noting that the club’s tradition awards a sliced log slab to any player who scores a hat-trick; Janssen received the log after the match. Club officials also emphasized the win’s impact on the playoff race, confirming that the three points secured a spot back in contention with five games remaining in the regular season.

Former Tottenham star nets hat-trick to create MLS history on first start

• “Obviously it's very special to score a hat-trick,” — Vincent Janssen

Former Tottenham star nets hat-trick to create MLS history on first start

• “Obviously it's very special to score a hat trick, it's always a special moment in your career. You don't have a lot of them,” — Vincent Janssen

History! Vincent Janssen scores first Portland Timbers hat trick

The victory not only revived Portland’s playoff hopes but also shattered a long-standing club record, ending more than five hundred MLS games without a hat-trick. Janssen’s performance adds to a growing trend of former Premier League players finding success in MLS, underscoring the league’s increasing international profile.

Vincent Janssen becomes first Timbers player in MLS era to score hat-trick in regular-season play

Portland will host St. Louis City in the next midweek MLS fixture as the Timbers look to build on their momentum and solidify a postseason berth.

Former Tottenham star nets hat-trick to create MLS history on first start