If you didn’t watch the Loons this weekend, you missed a real treat. A third-consecutive clean sheet at home, a fifth-consecutive game unbeaten across all competitions, and an electric performance from the front three. It was the best performance from the Black and Blue thus far in 2026, and while the whole team deserved a spot on TOTM 8, it seems like we’ll have to settle for two. Congratulations to defender Jefferson Diaz and forward Tomás Chancalay on their inclusion in this week’s best of the best!

For Chancalay, this match felt like the inevitable breakthrough he deserved. He came into the weekend with a team-leading three assists, but despite his threatening presence up front, hadn’t found the back of the net himself just yet. That all changed as he connected with his attacking partners against the Timbers, and Diaz’s attacking acumen played a key role.

With the ball on the endline, Diaz picked his head up, found a wide-open Chancalay at the top of the box, and slotted the ball through traffic. Chancalay took the time he was given, set up his shot, and fired home an emphatic opening strike into the upper left corner of the net. In a word? Superb. 

From there, he only grew in confidence, combining with the likes of Joaquín Pereyra and Kelvin Yeboah to create what I can only describe as sweet, sweet music. No-look passes, juggling midgame, flashy flicks right to his teammate’s feet — it was the kind of performance that deserved another appearance on the scoresheet, and in the 60th minute, he added his fourth assist of the season.

Saturday’s match was the seventh start in a row for Diaz, as the Colombian center back has featured in every starting lineup since the second game of the season. His combination of athleticism and quick feet make him a valuable, effective member of a back three, allowing the Loons to win the transition battle when they turn defending into attacking. Who doesn’t love to see a center back all the way on the end line to grab an assist? That’s peak soccer, man.

With the partnership forming between Diaz, Morris Duggan, and Nicolás Romero growing more confident every week, the absence of club captain Michael Boxall has been far easier for Head Coach Cameron Knowles to navigate. This truly smothering performance left Portland with no more than a handful of real chances — and a small handful, at that.

With three points secured once again, the Loons are set for a short turnaround. A road trip to take on FC Dallas awaits this Wednesday, with yet another home match against LAFC coming just three days later. It’s going to be a packed week, and while that usually means squad rotation, the likes of Diaz and Chancalay will almost certainly have their say in the results to come. 

TOTM 8

F: Petar Musa (DAL), Sergi Solans (RSL), Prince Owusu (MTL)

M: Ousseni Bouda (SJ), Diego Luna (RSL), Cristian Roldan (SEA), Lionel Messi (MIA)

D: Jefferson Diaz (MIN), Olwethu Makhanya (PHI), Maxwell Woledzi (NSH)

GK: Kristijan Kahlina (CLT)

Coach: Bruce Arena (SJ)

Bench: Sean Johnson (DC), Héctor Herrera (HOU), Evander (CIN), Hany Mukhtar (NSH), Tomás Chancalay (MIN), Joseph Paintsil (LA), Timo Werner (SJ), Emmanuel Sabbi (VAN), Hugo Cuypers (CHI)