HOUSTON, Texas -- Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter said that the Timbers made too many critical mistakes to deserve a result Saturday night in Houston.

The Timbers gave up a season-high three goals as they fell 3-1 to the Houston Dynamo Saturday.

"There's no excuse," Porter said. "We knew what was coming. We knew they would try to counter us. They scored a goal on a counter. We knew they were going to try to get set pieces. They scored a goal on a set piece. We knew they were going to try to get crosses in. This is what they do and how they play."

Despite the loss, Porter said it's just one game and he expects his team will respond with a better performance when they fly to Toronto next weekend.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg