FC Dallas will look to keep their season alive once again on Sunday at Toyota Stadium.
After falling to the Portland Timbers in the first leg of the Conference Final matchup, 3-1, Dallas will need a strategized win during leg two in Frisco. First and foremost, FCD has to earn a win at home by multiple goals. From there, there are several scenarios in which the team could win the tiebreaker with Portland after potentially splitting the series:
FCD Wins 2-0
The first tiebreaker is something Dallas knows all to well after being the first team eliminated on away goals last season. If FCD wins 2-0, the two teams would be tied 3-3 on aggregate. The deciding factor would become away goals, with Dallas having one in their pocket already. An outright win in away goals would net Dallas a ticket to the next round.
FCD Wins 3-1
In this scenario, Dallas and Portland would be split right down the middle in aggregate score and away goals, with one each in both categories. This is the exact scenario as in the Semifinal Round against Seattle that sent the series into extra time and then PKs. Should this happen on Sunday, the series would once again come down to a 30-minute extra time frame consisting of two, 15-minute halves. If the game is still tied after extra time, the series would be decided on penalties.
FCD Wins by Three or More Goals
If FC Dallas beats Portland by three or more goals on Sunday, Dallas advances on aggregate as they are two goals down heading into Leg Two. Away goals would not matter no matter how many Portland scores as Dallas would have the aggregate overall lead with a three-goal or more win.
Any Other Result
If Dallas loses, draws, wins by only 1 goal or wins by 2 goals while allowing Portland at least two away goals (4-2, 5-3...etc), the Timbers would advance to MLS Cup.
