Portland Timbers' Ariel Lassiter has urged his teammates to shore up defensively ahead of a pivotal MLS Cup Playoffs push, insisting the team cannot keep relying on their free-scoring attack to bail them out.

The Timbers registered a remarkable 5-4 victory over Minnesota United last weekend, with Vincent Janssen becoming the first Portland player ever to score an MLS hat-trick. Kristoffer Velde also found the net, while Lassiter forced an own goal from opposing goalkeeper Drake Callender in a nine-goal thriller.

That result lifted Portland into eighth place in the Western Conference, occupying one of two wild-card spots and sitting level on points with Colorado Rapids, who lead only on goal difference. The Timbers remain in pursuit of the automatic qualification places as the season enters its final stretch.

However, ahead of Wednesday's meeting with in-form St. Louis City SC, Lassiter was quick to temper the excitement and demand more at the back.

"Scoring five goals, I think that's really great. We could do that in pretty much every game if we really took our chances," Lassiter said. "But now, pushing into the final stretch for the playoffs, we can't really put that on our shoulders – needing to score five goals to win a game."

"I think we all know that. We have to be more solid defensively. It's just not good enough in terms of what we can really do as a team. So hopefully, on Wednesday, we can really get that right, and get that effort out of all of us to make sure we put in a good, 90-minute shift."

Janssen makes history

Vincent Janssen's hat-trick against Minnesota was not just a personal milestone – it was a historic moment for the entire Portland Timbers franchise. It was the club's first regular-season MLS hat-trick in their 523th such match, a staggering 250 games more than it took any other MLS team to record their first. Toronto FC, for comparison, achieved the feat in their 273rd regular-season match.

With Janssen leading the line, the Timbers may not have to wait nearly as long for their next hat-trick hero.

St. Louis pose formidable threat

Standing in Portland's way are a St. Louis City SC side riding high after a 3-1 away win over Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps. Yoann Damet's side sit fifth in the standings, six points clear of Portland.

St. Louis have been one of the most prolific attacking teams in MLS in recent months, scoring three goals in six of their last 10 league matches. Since May 23, their tally of 23 goals is bettered only by Inter Miami's 25, while their six matches with at least three goals in that span is the most in the entire league.

Norwegian duo Tomas Totland and Conrad Wallem both scored in the win over Vancouver, becoming just the second pair of Norwegian players to score in the same MLS match. No St. Louis player has more assists in MLS play this year than Totland, who is level with Simon Becher on four.

Opta win probability

• Portland Timbers – 42.2%
• St. Louis City – 34%
• Draw – 23.8%