The Portland Timbers will play two more matches on the road this week. The team’s playoff hopes were dashed Friday night with a loss to Houston.

Last week, Coach John Spencer said he was very proud of the team’s progress in its first year.

“I think in coming out the middle stretch of the season we hit a brick wall physically and mentally. It’s a tough league to play in. That’s why a lot of the foreign players take a long time to get their feet under them and get used to the travel. Once we get used to that, we’ll be a better team, a more solid team, a more professional team.”

Twenty-thousand fans turned out for the home final on Friday, despite the rain. Fans turned out in big numbers of the team’s inaugural season, selling out every home game.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson told the Oregonian newspaper the team is already considering some trades for the offseason to strengthen its lineup.

Read more on news.opb.org.