FRISCO - Following last Saturday's historic 6-2 victory at home against Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas will be on the road for its next three MLS matches. The stretch starts with a trip to the 2015 MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers, who currently sit fourth in the Western Conference. Here are some things to keep in mind as you get ready for the match:
Step In and Step Up
With Saturday's match falling in the middle of a FIFA International break, FC Dallas will be without the services of three key players. Kellyn Acosta and Matt Hedges are with the United States Men's National Team for World Cup Qualifiers on Thursday and Sunday, while Maynor Figueroa is with the Honduran National Team for the same reason. Additionally, Tesho Akindele is training with the Canadian National Team ahead of a friendly, but will fly to Portland to meet the team and is available.
Who's Your Adi?
It's hard to miss Portland's Fanendo Adi on the field. The 6-foot-4 Nigerian has terrorized opponents since 2014 and is Portland's all-time leading goalscorer in MLS with 47 goals. Adi has six goals and a pair of assists this season for the Timbers, along with recording the most minutes played and shots on goal of any Portland player. His size and skill are more than noticeable, and the Dallas back line will have to keep a close watch on him.
Time for Turf
Saturday will be the first time Dallas plays on a turf surface in MLS this season. Portland's Providence Park has a FieldTurf Revolution 360 surface, which was installed before the start of the 2016 season. The club usually installs a new field turf every two seasons at the stadium, meaning the next time Dallas visits the Rose City, it will likely play on a brand-new field surface.
No Rest for the Weary
Dallas is about to start a stretch of three games in eight days, something the team will do three times in 2017 . The first time will be from June 10 - 17, with games at Portland and Vancouver in MLS action and a home Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match in between. Stretches from August 19 - 26 and September 23 - 30 also have the team playing three times in eight days, but all of those matches are in league play. What do these stretches have in common? All have Dallas playing road games in consecutive weekends with a home match during the middle of the week.
Taking Down the Timbers
Recent history suggests Dallas will have success against Portland. In all competitions, Dallas is unbeaten in its last five matches against the Timbers. This includes three wins in three matches against the club last season, as well as this season's 2-2 draw at Toyota Stadium. Only two points separate the teams in the Western Conference standings, making the final meeting of the season between Dallas and Portland all the more important.
