Dallas extends unbeaten streak at Toyota Stadium to 19 matches
FRISCO, Texas (Saturday, Sept. 3) – Mauro Diaz, Victor Ulloa and Walker Zimmerman all found the back of the net for FC Dallas (15-7-6, 51 points), who increased its lead in the Supporters Shield race to seven points with tonight’s 3-1 win against the Portland Timbers.
Michael Barrios earned a penalty for FC Dallas in the 13th minute after a quick combination play at the top of the box led to a through ball played into the area for the winger. Barrios arrived at the ball an instant before Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, who clipped the feet of the Colombian. Referee Ted Unkel was in good position and emphatically pointed to the spot.
For the second week in a row, Diaz found the back of the net with a penalty kick shot low, and into the corner of the net, giving Dallas a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
Dallas struck again just before halftime when Ulloa won the ball back for the home side at midfield and got the ball to the feet of Diaz. The Argentine split a pair of Timbers FC defenders with a cutting pass played to Barrios. Barrios delivered a cross into the area for Mauro Rosales, but the pass was cut out by a Portland defender. Having continued his run forward, Ulloa was in perfect position to capitalize on the attempted clearance. The Wylie-native buried his second MLS goal of the season in the top left corner of the goal, putting FCD up, 2-0.
Dallas opened up a three-goal lead in the 53rd minute, when Maxi Urruti earned a free kick on the right flank. Diaz took the set piece, bending a ball to the penalty spot, where Zimmerman rose above the crowd to nod a header past Gleeson. The assist was Diaz’s 11th of the season, a career high for the Argentine and the most by an FCD player since David Ferreira in 2010.
Portland broke up the clean sheet in the 87th minute when Zarek Valentin came free on the right flank and slipped a cross into the area for Diego Valeri. The Argentine finished nicely, catching the half volley with his right foot and lining a shot just inside the post to goalkeeper Chris Seitz’s left side.
Scoring Summary:
DAL: Mauro Diaz (PK) 14
DAL: Victor Ulloa 45+2
DAL: Walker Zimmerman (Mauro Diaz) 53
POR: Diego Valeri (Zarek Valentin) 87
FC Dallas – Chris Seitz, Ryan Hollingshead, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Atiba Harris, Juan Esteban Ortiz (Aaron Guillen 74), Victor Ulloa, Mauro Rosales (Getterson 69), Mauro Diaz, Michael Barrios (Coy Craft 84), Maxi Urruti.
Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Timo Pitter, Colin Bonner, Carlos Lizarazo.
Portland Timbers – Jake Gleeson, Zarek Valentin, Vytautas Andriuskevicius, Steven Taylor, Liam Ridgewell, Jack Jewsbury, Lucas Melano, Diego Chara (Ned Grabavoy 69), Diego Valeri, Jack Barnby (Darren Mattocks 46), Fanendo Adi (Jack McInerney 75).
Substitutes Not Used: Amobi Okugo, Chris Konopka, Ben Zemanski, Taylor Peay
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Jack Jewsbury (caution) 22
DAL: Juan Esteban Ortiz (caution) 46
POR: Liam Ridgewell (caution) 53
DAL: Matt Hedges (caution) 54
DAL: Maxi Urruti (caution) 59
POR: Ned Grabavoy (caution) 90+2
Referee: Ted Unkel
AR1 (bench): Apolinar Mariscal; AR2 (opposite): Cameron Blanchard; 4th: Fotis Bazakos.
Weather: Clear, 82
Attendance: 14, 207
