FRISCO - FC Dallas returns home to host the Portland Timbers in a Western Conference Knockout Round rematch from Halloween 2018. As Dallas looks to avenge their season-ending postseason defeat, let's dive into Luchi Gonzalez's Starting XI for tonight's match.
BACK TO THE SAME
Tonight will see the same Starting XI from the 4-2 road win over RSL two weeks ago, with Pablo Aranguiz, Jesse Gonzalez and Carlos Gruezo returning to action at home. In that match, it was Paxton Pomykal and Jesus Ferreira leading the club to its highest offensive output of the year on the road. Against a Timbers side that has the worst goal differential in MLS, FCD will look to double down on its attack.
HAUNTED MEMORIES
Six starters from tonights match were starting on Halloween six months ago as the Timbers took the playoff victory on Dallas' home turf: Michael Barrios, Reggie Cannon, Jesse Gonzalez, Carlos Gruezo, Matt Hedges and Reto Ziegler. Ryan Hollingshead also came off the bench in that match in the 76th minute. For those seven, tonight's match is a change at revenge against Portland.
TOURNAMENT WEEK
A year ago this week, Edwin Cerrillo,Paxton Pomykal and Thomas Roberts were getting set to play for the U-19s at the Dallas Cup opener at the Cotton Bowl. Two of the three will start yet again in 2019 and Roberts, the lone non-starter from that match, is available off the bench. Depending on how much he is put to use off the bench, the 17-year-old is eligible and could return to the Dallas Cup stage tomorrow as the U-19s open the tournament. Cerrillo is still age-eligible, but has not been rostered for the tournament as a regular first-team starter.
