FC DALLAS vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
MLS Cup Playoffs: Round One
November 22 - 9:00PM
Providence Park – Portland, Oregon
ESPN | ESPN Deportes | FCDallas.com/Radio | 1270AM
#PORvFCD
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- FCD record: 9-6-7 (34 pts., 6th Seed in West)
- POR record: 11-6-6 (39 pts., 3rd Seed in West)
- FCD vs. POR all-time: 8-7-7 (37 GF, 28 GA)
- FCD vs. POR all-time postseason: 0-2-1 (4 GF, 7 GA)
- FCD vs. POR away: 1-6-3 (10 GF, 16 GA)
- FCD vs. POR away postseason: 0-1-0 (1 GF, 3 GA)
CURRENT FORM
- FC Dallas enjoyed a strong playoff push, earning 10 of a possible 15 points to end the season. However, Luchi's men had their season-high three-game win streak ended on Decision Day by Minnesota United at Allianz Field. On the other side, the Portland Timbers earned two wins, two draws and a loss over their final five games and ended the regular season with a 1-1 stalemate away to LAFC.
PLAYOFF REVENGE
- A portion of the FC Dallas roster will be craving a bit of revenge when they take on the Portland Timbers in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday. Two years ago, FCD was upset by the Timbers 2-1 in the first round of that year's postseason at Toyota Stadium, ending Dallas' season and former head coach Óscar Pareja's hopes of lifting the MLS Cup with FC Dallas. Although the goal of advancing to the second round will be front and center on Sunday, some of FCD's longer-serving players will certainly have a sense of revenge at the back of their minds.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- With 15 goals conceded over 10 road games, FCD is tied for the best away defensive record of any team traveling for the first round of the playoffs. But that defensive record will be put to the test against Portland that was the second-highest scoring team in the Western Conference with 46 goals. Still, with 18 goals conceded at Providence Park, Portland also allowed the most home goals of any team hosting a first-round playoff game. While it's undoubtedly a tough first-round matchup, FCD can rely on its stout defense and look to hurt a Portland backline that has let in its fair share of goals at Providence Park.
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE
- Sunday's game marks the sixth time in the last seven years that FCD will compete in the postseason. Its roster has a mixture of youth and experience with 14 players who could potentially make their FCD playoff debuts and 11 others who have tasted the pressure of the postseason before. While Dallas is a near-constant presence in the playoffs, its most recent postseason win came in 2016 when Óscar Pareja's FC Dallas defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-0 in the second leg of conference semifinals (but fell 4-2 on aggregate overall). Sunday's game will be a chance for Dallas to earn its first postseason win in four years.
