Janssen scores three in Portland's 5-4 win over Minnesota United FC
PORTLAND, Ore. – In 521 regular-season MLS games, plus another 33 MLS playoff and MLS is Back tournament matches, the Portland Timbers accomplished many things.
Three Western Conference Championships. Four Cascadia Cups. An MLS is Back Championship. One MLS Cup. There have been braces and golazos and shutouts and many log slabs cut by Timber Joey.
But across all those moments and matches, the Timbers had never had a hat trick scored in the club’s MLS era.
Until match no. 555 on on Sept. 5, 2026.
Forward Vincent Janssen – signed on a transfer on July 29, 2026 and making his first start for Portland this evening – became the first Timbers player in the club’s MLS era to tally a hat trick, scoring three goals in Portland’s 5-4 win over Minnesota United FC.
Speaking after the match to MLS Wrap-up on Apple TV, Janssen was excited about the historic moment.
"Obviously, it's very special to score a hat trick," he said. "It's always a special moment in your career. You don't have a lot of them."
Goals One, Two and Three
While Portland players have earned hat tricks in U.S. Open Cup play, one would have to go all the way back to 2007 in the Timbers record books to find David Hague, from the team’s United Soccer League (USL) era, as the last player to have achieved the feat in regular-season play. Of note, former Timbers defender and current Minnesota United head coach Cameron Knowles was credited with the assist on Hague’s third and final goal.
Speaking in the postgame press conference, Janssen acknowledged the wild combined nine-goal thriller between to two teams. "It was a crazy game," he said.
Like many Portland players before him, Janssen was aware of the Timbers lore and its lack of a hat-trick in MLS play.
"I knew about the stat before, so when I got the second one, I was like, 'Ok, now I want to get my third one.'
"I knew, also, that I was not going to play more than 60-65 [minutes] so, I was in a rush," he added with a laugh.
Now, Janssen gets to write his name in the history books. It's an accomplishment and honor he cherishes, especially after having only just arrived in the Rose City.
"It's been a pleasure that I was able to sign here a month ago and to be able to be a part of this club," he said. "I'm very proud and happy.
"And today, this is a way of showing the appreciation back to the team and to the fans."
