FRISCO, Texas (Wednesday, May 11) – FC Dallas (6-4-2, 20 points) got a pair of goals from two defenders in a two-minute span in the second half to defeat the defending MLS Cup Champion Portland Timbers FC, 2-1, tonight at Toyota Stadium.
FC Dallas gave up an early goal to Portland in the fourth minute when FC Darren Mattocks played a long cross to the back post. Defender Maynor Figueroa attempted to bring down the ball in a dangerous area when Portland forward Lucas Melano challenged for the ball and gained control at the top right corner of the six-yard box. The Argentine calmly picked up his head and found teammate Diego Valeri open at the back post for a tap-in goal.
FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz did well to keep the deficit at one goal in the 19th minute. Valeri hammered a rising shot on goal on a set piece opportunity 30-yards from goal. Seitz slid to his right before making a diving save just under the crossbar.
Dallas nearly drew level in the 22nd minute, when Mauro Diaz regained control of the ball at the top of the area and slipped a pass inside to Maxi Urruti. The FC Dallas forward had a split second to put a shot on goal but Timbers FC goalkeeper Jake Gleeson charged off his line and took the ball off Urruti’s foot.
Diaz set the table for Michael Barrios in the 33rd minute, playing a long ball into the area from just inside midfield. Barrios’ first touch was smooth, played into space away his defender, but once again Gleeson was alert and charged off his line to smother the chance.
Two minutes later, Barrios found Plano native Kellyn Acosta at the top right corner of the area on a corner kick. Acosta ripped a right-footed shot with his first touch but the attempt whistled just over the crossbar.
Dallas exploded for two goals to take a 2-1 lead just after halftime. Defender Ryan Hollingshead scored the first after a long buildup in Portland’s third of the pitch. Hollingshead received a pass from Fabian Castillo and attempted to put a though ball between a pair of defenders only to have his pass deflect back into space. The 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year reacted first and finished with a sharp left-footed shot into the back of the net.
Diaz picked up his fifth assist of the season in the 57th minute on FC Dallas’ first corner kick goal of the season. Diaz sent in a high cross to the back post, where Walker Zimmerman rose high above the pack to nod a deflection just inside the far post. For Zimmerman, the goal was his first since scoring in extra time to send Dallas to penalty kicks against Seattle Sounders FC in the 2015 MLS Cup playoffs.
Scoring Summary:
POR: Diego Valeri (Lucas Melano) 4
DAL: Ryan Hollingshead 55
DAL: Walker Zimmerman (Mauro Diaz) 57
FC Dallas – Chris Seitz, Maynor Figueroa, Walker Zimmerman, Zach Loyd, Ryan Hollingshead, Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Gruezo, Michael Barrios (Maruo Rosales 77), Mauro Diaz, Fabian Castillo (Atiba Harris 83), Max Urruti (Tesho Akindele 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Herman, Juan Esteban Ortiz, Carlos Lizarazo, Victor Ulloa.
Timbers FC – Jake Gleeson, Jermaine Taylor, Chris Klute (Jack McInerney 82), Liam Ridgewell, Zarek Valentin, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri, Fanendo Adi, Diego Valeri, Lucas Melano, Darren Mattocks (Jack Barmby 59).
Substitutes Not Used: Ned Grabavoy, Ben Zemanski, Jack Jewsbury, Wade Hamilton, Nat Borchers.
Misconduct Summary:
DAL – Walker Zimmerman (caution) 48
DAL – Fabian Castillo (caution) 77
POR – Diego Valeri (caution) 89
Referee: Alan Kelly
Referee Assistants: Jonathan Johnson; Eric Weisbrod
Fourth Official: Younes Marrakchi
Weather: Cloudy, 82
Attendance: 10,381
