The Portland Timbers followed up their best win of the season two Sundays ago against Toronto with a major letdown — letting a first half lead slip at BC Place in a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
But the team's attention quickly turned to Dallas, where the Timbers are readying to play a third Wednesday night game of the season against against Oscar Pareja's men in Frisco (6:30 PM, TV on ROOT Sports). Portland will be looking to avenge their 3-1 home defeat to Dallas in April, while Dallas will want to get back on track after three straight road losses in this rematch of the 2015 Western Conference Final.
The History
Portland's last trip to Texas was, by far, the team's best. It was for the second leg of the Western Conference Final last December, and it was a classic. Fanendo Adi opened the scoring midway through the second half to give the Timbers a comfortable 4-1 aggregate lead, before Blas Perez's introduction ignited a Dallas offense which pulled two goals back to make it 4-3 on aggregate.
But the tie turned when Perez's golden chance to tie the game was blocked by Nat Borchers, and the Timbers sealed their place in MLS Cup moments later with a fantastic solo goal from Lucas Melano.
The last regular season meeting between the teams in Frisco wasn't so close — it was over early as Dallas hung four on the Timbers before a late Adi penalty made the final 4-1. And Dallas also embarrassed the Timbers just four weeks ago in Portland, racing out to a 3-0 first half lead at Providence Park.
Maxi Urruti was integral in Dallas' success in that game, just as he was in the Timbers' Cup run last year. But Urruti's production, along with his team's form, has dropped off mightily of late. Dallas is certainly missing captain Matt Hedges, who is out injured.
The Tactics
Caleb Porter named the same starting eleven against Vancouver that beat Toronto, but we should see changes here with Portland back in action again on Sunday at home against NYCFC.
The Timbers were dominated in midfield against the Whitecaps, with Diego Chara badly outnumbered. Jack Jewsbury has started to combat that very problem at times this year, but it was Jewsbury more than any other player who Dallas exposed in the first meeting. It could be a great spot to hand Ben Zemanski his first start since 2014.
With Adam Kwarasey and Alvas Powell out, the backline figures to stay the same. On the wing, neither Darren Mattocks nor Lucas Melano were factors against Vancouver — so it will be telling if Dairon Asprilla is again shut out of the match-day roster.
Portland will be ready for Dallas' high press this time around, but Dallas should be fired up after being shut on the road in three straight games. Parjea decided to sit Fabian Castillo at Toronto on Saturday to send the young winger a message, but expect him to play from the start on Wednesday night. Powell has always handled Castillo well, but his pace could be an extremely difficult matchup for Zarek Valentin.
The Lineup
90 - Gleeson
16 - Valentin
24 - Ridgewell (C)
7 - Borchers
15 - Klute
14 - Zemanski
21 - Chara
6 - Nagbe
8 - Valeri
26 - Melano
9 - Adi
The Pick
Everything about this game says Dallas. It's a bad matchup for the Timbers, who had to travel, are playing on short rest, and defending poorly. Though it's usually unwise to doubt Porter after a loss, I'll pick Dallas by a score of 3-1.
