FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas is back home to host the Portland Timbers this Saturday, April 1 at 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium.
Here's everything you need to know about the match.
How to Watch
Saturday's match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, along with all MLS matches all season long. It's also one of this weekend's selected matches that are free with a regular Apple TV subscription (without needing MLS Season Pass). The match game off at 7:39PM with Max Bretos and Brian Dunseth on the call for the English language broadcast and Jose Hernandez and Pablo Marino providing commentary on the Spanish language broadcast.
LISTEN
English: If you can't watch the match, you can listen to all the action on iHeartMedia 1190AM and the FC Dallas App. Host Sam Hale will provide pregame and postgame coverage beginning at 7PM with FCD broadcasters Steve Davis and Jon Arnold calling the game.
Spanish: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will call the game in Spanish on 1270AM, starting at 7:30PM.
Match Overview
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- FCD record: 2-2-1 (7 points - 5th in West)
- POR record: 1-3-1 (4 points - 9th in West)
- FCD vs. POR all-time: 2-4-2 (9 goal scored, 14 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. POR all-time home: 0-3-1 (2 goal scored, 8 goals conceded)
STORY LINES
Never-Say-Die
Dallas returns to Toyota Stadium after a frustrating 2-1 loss to reigning champions LAFC in California last Saturday. Despite the defeat, FCD's performance reaffirmed that this team has a never-say-die attitude that could prove vital over a long season. Both Dallas' wins this season have been comeback victories after conceding the opening goal. Nico Estévez's men nearly pulled off a similar comeback in LA despite going down to 10 men (Ema Twumasi was sent off in the first half) and allowing a goal in the opening minutes. Dallas was able to hang on for the majority of the second and found a shock equalizer through Nkosi Tafari with 20 minutes left to play. But it wasn't mean to be. LAFC's top scorer Denis Bouanga came off the bench and found an equalizer after squeezing the ball past Sebastien Ibeagha and Maarten Paes at the near post. Although Dallas didn't emerge from southern California with a point, they showed an impressive mentality to push the champions until the very end despite the difficult circumstances.
Right Back Swap
There will be a new starter at right back for the first time in 2023 this Saturday. Due to his red card in LA, Ema Twumasi is suspended the Portland game meaning his regular right back duties will be covered by someone else: likely Geovane Jesus. The 21-year-old joined Dallas during the offseason from his native Brazil and has made five substitute appearances so far this year. This time, though, he'll probably be asked to play from the start. Jesus is incredibly athletically gifted and is dominant in the air. And in his five cameos, he's shown a willingness to push forward to supplement the attack. Take a look at his low cross for Jesús Ferreira that resulted in the winning goal against SKC in FCD's last home game (clip below, Geovane Jesus is #2). First starts are rarely easy, but Jesus has the ability to add a new dimension to the right side of defense.
Tiiiimberrrr
The Timbers have often been felled at Toyota Stadium. Portland has just one win in its 15 regular-season trips to Frisco and that was back in 2014. The last time it got a point was in 2018. That's kind of how the Dallas vs. Portland matchups go: the home team typically wins. And Dallas could really use a win right now after a frustrating result in California. But so could Portland. Geo Savarese's men haven't won since the opening weekend and have three losses (including a 5-1 defeat to Atlanta) and a draw since then. To be fair, they've been with some key players with Felipe Mora, Sebastian Blanco, Yimmy Chara, Dairon Esprilla and Evander all having been sidelined with injury this year. If those absences persist, and if history is any indication, Dallas has a strong chance to bounce back this Saturday.
