Houston Dynamo vs Portland Timbers player ratings
(image via Aldo Canale)
Guilherme, Felipe Andrade, and Mateusz Bogusz scored as the Houston Dynamo beat the Portland Timbers 3-2 on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Let’s take a look at how everyone performed.
Starters
Jonathan Bond - 8
Bond had a busy night and came up big when Houston needed him. The goalkeeper finished with six saves, including a penalty stop that unfortunately rebounded right back to a Portland player for the opening goal. Outside of that unlucky moment, Bond was excellent coming off his line, reading plays early, and making key interventions that kept the Dynamo in the game.
Duane Holmes - 7
Holmes continues to grow into the wingback role. Defensively he held his ground well and showed good awareness tracking runners. It may still be a newer position for him, but performances like this show he’s becoming more comfortable with the responsibilities.
Erik Sviatchenko - 6.5
A steady night for the captain. Sviatchenko wasn’t heavily tested, but his leadership was noticeable, especially once Lucas Halter left with an injury and rookie Agustín Resch stepped in. As always, Erik helped keep the back line organized when things got chaotic late in the match.
Felipe Andrade - 7.5
Andrade’s return from the quad injury that sidelined him during preseason was a welcome sight. The defender showed his usual determination and even popped up with a huge moment, striking from outside the box to briefly give Houston a 2–1 lead. He continues to play with the grit and fight fans have come to expect.
Lucas Halter - 6.5
Halter had a fairly quiet evening defensively and helped keep the back line organized for most of his time on the field. The Brazilian even stepped forward a couple times looking for a shot from distance. His night ended early in the 70th minute after going down injured, which clearly worried the Houston bench.
Lawrence Ennali - 7
Ennali keeps settling into the wingback role. His pace gives Houston another outlet on the flank and he did a solid job balancing his attacking runs with defensive responsibilities. Nothing flashy, but a dependable performance.
Diadie Samassekou - 6.5
Samassékou quietly handled a lot of the dirty work in midfield. He disrupted Portland’s build-up through the center and made life difficult for their attackers trying to find space between the lines.
Jack McGlynn - 8.5
McGlynn looked completely in control of the midfield. He finished with 100 touches, easily the most of any Dynamo player, and constantly looked to move the ball forward. His passing range and vision were on full display, especially late in the match when he helped start the move that led to the game-winning goal.
Mateusz Bogusz - 8.5
Bogusz continues to show why he’s such a dangerous attacking player. He delivered a beautiful cross that led to Guilherme’s header and later sealed the night with the dramatic stoppage-time winner. His work rate and ability to show up in big moments made the difference.
Guilherme - 9
Guilherme was the most exciting player on the field for Houston. The Brazilian forward constantly looked to create chaos in the attack and was involved in two of the Dynamo’s goals. His header brought Houston level and he later assisted Andrade’s strike. When he’s on the ball, something usually happens.
Ezequiel Ponce - 6
Ponce looked a bit rusty after missing the previous match with a minor injury. He played the first half as he builds back fitness, but his effort was still there. The Argentine striker kept pressing defenders and working to create space before coming off at halftime.
Substitutes
Hector Herrera - 6.5
Herrera came on at halftime for Ponce and helped calm things down. With McGlynn now taking on much of the creative load, Herrera played more of a guiding role, slowing the tempo when needed and helping the team settle into possession. It almost felt like watching a veteran mentor working alongside his young protégé.
Agustin Resch - 7
Thrown into the match after Halter’s injury, the rookie handled the moment well. At 6’6”, Resch brings an imposing presence, but it’s his athleticism that really stands out. His biggest moment came late with a crucial goal-line clearance that kept Houston alive.
Ondrej Lingr - 6
Lingr entered to add energy as Houston pushed forward late. While he didn’t directly impact the scoring, his defensive work was important. He tracked back a couple times to help prevent Portland from taking advantage while the Dynamo were pressing forward.
Nick Markanich - N/A
Markanich came on as Houston chased a winner but saw his night end quickly. A collision with the Timbers goalkeeper resulted in a red card after a gruesome moment that left the Portland player bloodied. The Dynamo had to finish the match with ten men.
Aliyu Ibrahim - N/A
Aliyu came onto the field late in the match and was asked to help stretch the game after Houston went down a man. Despite the tough situation, he used his pace on the wing to help keep the Dynamo pushing forward.
Head Coach
Ben Olsen - 7.5
Olsen’s team didn’t look like itself in the first half. Portland was able to play comfortably for stretches, and Houston seemed slow to impose its usual rhythm. The key moment came at halftime when Olsen brought on Héctor Herrera. The move helped settle the game and allowed the Dynamo to play closer to the style Olsen expects with more control, better possession, and smarter buildup. In the end, Houston found a way to grind out a dramatic win.
