FC Dallas will kick off a stretch of 3 straight games at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night as the Portland Timbers visit for the second time this season. Dallas (14-7-6) is coming off a thrilling 3-1 win over Houston last week, and will look to build on a 5-point lead in the Western Conference while extending an 18-game home unbeaten streak. Portland (9-10-8) bounced back with a 4-2 win over their Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC last week to put them 3 points ahead of Seattle and San Jose for the final spot above the red line. FCD has taken both previous meetings this year – 3-1 in Oregon and 2-1 in Frisco.
CRUNCH TIME
While Dallas tries to hold off the rest of the conference down the stretch, the Timbers are entering make-or-break season as they look to lock up a playoff spot. The two teams behind them, Seattle and San Jose, each have a game in-hand and with teams currently 6 through 9 in the standings separated by just four points, every single point from here on out could be the difference in where they fall at the end of the season. Portland is the only team in MLS yet to win a game on the road in 2016 and 3 points on Saturday would go a long way in their playoff quest.
KEY PLAYER FOR PORTLAND
Fanendo Adi – He hasn’t scored in either meeting with Dallas this season, but scored in the Western Conference Final matchup and had a goal and an assist in the regular season series in 2015. With Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta, Maynor Figueroa and Aubrey David all missing from FCD’s defensive group, it’ll be crucial to shut down Portland’s top threat this weekend.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Mauro Diaz vs.Diego Valeri – The might not be marking each other on the field, but this game will largely come down to which Argentine No. 10 is able to orchestrate his offense better than the other. Diaz has already matched a career-high 10 assists this season, while Valeri isn’t far behind with 7 – both leading their team in the category.
Walker Zimmerman vs. Fanendo Adi – Zimmerman and Hedges have become one of the top center back tandems in the league this season, and they’ll be tasked with another top striker on Saturday night. With changes likely on either side of them and directly in front at the D-mid position due to international call-ups, their experience will be key in maintaining the defensive shape.
PROJECTED LINEUP (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Jake Gleeson; Defenders: Vytautas Andriuskevicius, Liam Ridgewell, Steven Taylor, Alves Powell; Midfielders: Jack Jewsbury, Diego Chara, Darren Mattocks, Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe; Forwards: Fanendo Adi.
KEYS TO THREE POINTS
Dallas will face yet another test of their depth with five players, and three starters from last weekend gone on international duty. If they can feed off the home crowd in their first match at Toyota Stadium in three weeks and maintain their 18-game home unbeaten streak, they’ll add another three points to their Supporters’ Shield lead.
