FC Dallas hosts the Portland Timbers on Saturday in a MLS Western Conference matchday 4 fixture. FC Dallas is eighth in the conference table at 1-1-1 on four points with a goal difference of +1. FC Dallas defeated Nashville 2-0 last Saturday. During the final five minutes of the match, Franco Jara and ALan Velasco each scored a goal for Dallas. Dallas opened its regular season with a 1-1 draw at home with Toronto followed by a 1-0 loss on the road against New England.
The victory for Dallas last week over Nashville was its first of the season and last season posted consecutive victories just once when defeating the LA Galaxy followed by Sporting Kansas City in July. Alan Vesasco debuted with Dallas last Saturday and scored to become the third player for Dallas in the last 10 years to score while debuting.
Portland is sixth in the conference table at 1-2-0 on five points with a goal difference of +1. Portland defeated Austin 1-0 last Saturday. Bill Tuiloma scored the only goal of the match for Portland to give the Timbers their first victory of the campaign after opening with a 2-2 draw versus New England followed by 1-1 draw with LAFC. Portland’s clean sheet was its first in the last five matches dating back to last season.
With its victory at home over Austin last Saturday, Portland has 17 victories, five draws and three losses versus sides from Texas. Yimmi Chara had an assist on the Portland goal last Saturday to defeat Austin after scoring a goal in both of the first two matches this season for Portland. Chara is the leader in goals scored two, while Tuiloma and Dairon Asprilla each have one. Chara and Santiago Moreno each have one assist.
