FC Dallas looks for a third win in a row with a trip to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Portland Timbers this Saturday, Sept. 27 at 9:30 p.m. CT at Providence Park.
Here's everything you need to know before the match.
HOW TO WATCH
The match will be streamed in both English and Spanish on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
HOW TO LISTEN
You can listen to all the action on the FC Dallas app and YouTube channel with broadcasters Ryan Figert, Steve Davis and Sam Hale. Pregame coverage begins at 9:15 p.m. CT.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Head-to-Head Records
- FCD record: 9-11-10 (37 points, 9th in West)
- POR record: 11-10-10 (43 points, 7th in West)
- FCD vs. POR all-time: 12-9-10 (52 goals scored, 36 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. POR away: 1-8-5 (11 goals scored, 19 goals conceded)
Story Lines
The Playoff Line: For the first time since May 10, FC Dallas is above the MLS Cup playoff line. The late resurgence is thanks to a six-game unbeaten run that includes three wins and three ties. Perhaps more relevantly, FC Dallas is unbeaten since the summer transfer window closed; a window that included the departure of Lucho Acosta and addition of midfielder Christian Cappis. But that's not the full story. Head coach Eric Quill has learned the ins and outs of his roster over the last few months and settled on a system that gets the best out of his players. The defense has solidified after a shift to a five-man backline that includes Bernard Kamungo and Ramiro as makeshift wingbacks, with Shaq Moore deputizing as a center back alongside Osaze Urhoghide and one of Sebastien Ibeagha or Lalas Abubakar. The midfield, too, exerts more control over games thanks in large part to Cappis' defensive positioning, confidence in possession and wide passing range. The forward line has also been more productive now that Petar Musa and Logan Farrington are starting alongside each other in a two-striker system. With improvements across all areas of the team, Dallas is firmly back in the playoff conversation and can take another massive step with a positive result in Portland this Saturday.
Goalkeeper Battle: FC Dallas could soon find itself in a unique situation. Three-way goalkeeper battles are nearly unheard of but Dallas may have one on their hands in the very-near future as presumed starter Maarten Paes ebbs closer to returning from a hamstring injury. But backups Michael Collodi and Jacob Jackson could have still have their say. Collodi, a Homegrown and Dallas native, has performed admirably every time he's been called upon to step in for Paes and only lost his starting place after an unfortunate red card three weeks ago in St. Louis. That opened the door for Jacob Jackson (who only joined the team in July) to stake his claim. And it's quite a claim. In his three appearances, Jackson has: tied FCD's record for saves in a game (12), registered a shutout against in-state rivals Austin FC, and notched the first assist by a Dallas goalkeeper since 2021. All three goalkeepers have fair arguments to be the starter going forward and it'll be up to Quill and GK coach Drew Keeshan to decide who gets the nod. Still, that broader decision looks to be a week away at least as Paes works back to full fitness. For now, it's still between Jackson and Collodi for Saturday's outing at Providence Park.
Portland: FC Dallas visits a Portland team that's six points and two places ahead in the Western Conference with four games remaining in the regular season. The Timbers enjoyed a strong start to 2025 but have cooled off over the second half of the campaign with just two wins from their last 10 games. Most recently, Phil Neville's team earned a 1-1 draw at the Vancouver Whitecaps Wednesday night, meaning Dallas will have had an extra three days' rest come Saturday. But Portland has proven a tough place to play for FCD. The club has played 14 times at Providence Park in the regular season and registered just one win and that was back in 2016 during Dallas' Supporters' Shield-winning campaign.
