Marti Cifuentes said he would be keeping an eye on the results around the Portland Timbers this weekend, as their hopes of reaching the playoffs hang in the balance. 

Portland welcome the Houston Dynamo to Providence Park in their next MLS clash, with the Timbers currently 11th in the Western Conference with two regular-season matches left. 

Cifuentes' side did their chances of securing a spot in the postseason no harm with a superb 3-2 victory over St. Louis City SC in midweek, with Kristoffer Velde scoring the winner. 

But they remain among a cluster of teams hoping to finish inside the top nine. Just five points separate the seventh-place Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United down in 12th. 

Portland take on already-eliminated Austin FC in their final match of the campaign, and Cifuentes is hoping his team can build on their winning momentum against Houston. 

"I said when I arrived that I was not looking at the table," Cifuentes said. "I usually don't look until the last six or seven games, but we are definitely there now. 

"So, now we have two games left. We know it is not just up to us, but we need to make sure we have a chance of winning the next two games.

"The focus is trying to compete the best we can on Sunday. I am sure the fans will help us, because in these important games they can certainly make a difference. 

"We're looking forward to seeing what we can do. The feeling is good after winning two games in a row, but we want a third, and then we will see where we are on Decision Day." 

We're in the endgame now https://t.co/Djo91vJY8k

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 30, 2026

Houston, meanwhile, have already secured their spot in the playoffs, but the Dynamo could finish as high as second in the West, should results around them go their way. 

Ben Olsen's side are fourth in the standings after beating the Seattle Sounders 1-0 at Lumen Field, with Lucas Halter scoring the only goal in the 26th minute.

The victory for Houston snapped an 11-game winless streak against the Sounders in league action dating to May 2022, moving them up to 51 points after their 32 matches.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Kristoffer Velde

Velde's brace in midweek brought him to a team-leading 10 goals in 2026. Velde is the 11th different Timbers player to have double-digit goals in an MLS regular season. 

He needs just one more assist to join Diego Valeri (four times), Evander and Sebastian Blanco as the only Portland players to have 10+ goals and assists in a single campaign. 

Houston Dynamo – Lucas Halter

Centre back Halter scored the goal for Houston while also attempting both of the Dynamo's shots.

It is the only time since Opta began detailed tracking of MLS in 2010 that a player has had 100% of Houston's shots in an MLS match.

First MLS Goal First Dynamo Goal Lucas gets it to go 🇧🇷 https://t.co/AxuDJrEAWH

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) October 29, 2026

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

Portland have won each of their last two games by a 3-2 scoreline. It is the second time that the Timbers have won consecutive MLS matches while conceding multiple goals in each, with the other occurrence coming in their first two wins as an MLS club in April 2011.

Houston are considered the underdogs in this match, despite winning five of their last seven meetings with Portland (D1 L1), including the last two in a row.

The Dynamo had managed just six wins in their first 24 meetings with the Timbers in all competitions (D8 L10) prior to winning five of the last seven.

The Dynamo won on the road against the Sounders for the first time with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday. They attempted just two shots in the match, the fewest by any team in an MLS win this season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 45.5%

Draw – 26.8%

Houston Dynamo – 27.6%