FC Dallas Ends Run To MLS Cup

FRISCO, Texas — The Portland Timbers stood in the rain and the cold on Sunday night, chanting and pumping their fists from the podium in front of an empty Toyota Stadium. Poor weather, no home fans and a tie game was not enough to subdue the celebration.

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Portland drew 2-2 with FC Dallas on Sunday but protected the two-goal lead it built in the first leg of the MLS Western Conference finals last week to secure its first appearance in the MLS Cup.

The Timbers, who topped Dallas 5-3 in aggregate, will face the Crew in Columbus next Sunday for the title.

Addressing the media just outside of a raucous celebration in his team’s locker room, Portland coach Caleb Porter noted that he was already focused on the next — and ultimate — match.

“I’m already ready,” he said. “It was big win for the club, and I’ll let them celebrate and then we’ll get back to work. They deserve it. We beat a very good team in FC Dallas.”

Dallas was the West’s No. 1 team in the regular season, while Portland was the No. 3 seed in the conference.

“Our players showed heart tonight and all season long,” Dallas coach Oscar Pareja said.

Portland needed only to hold onto a 3-1 lead (created in Oregon a week earlier) on the road on Sunday night, while Dallas looked

to score a win by two goals or more to keep its season alive.

Dallas challenged late, scoring twice in the second half of a cold and rainy match to move the aggregate count to 4-3 in Portland’s favor, but the Texas club was unable to extend the match or its season with a tying score. Portland added the clinching goal from forward Lucas Melano in the 95th minute.

“I’m proud of our guys for weathering the storm at the end,” Porter said. “It was not the way we scripted it, but maturity was shown after we gave up those two goals. This was a big moment for our club. This is our first trophy, but we want the biggest trophy.”

With 45 minutes to go and the score at 0-0, Dallas came out on the attack in the second half. Portland — in no offensive hurry — built its advantage in the 54th minute. Forward Fanendo Adi scored his team-best 17th goal of the season with a quick turnaround in the box, putting the Timbers ahead 1-0.

In the 69th minute, Dallas found the offense it needed when midfielder Mauro Diaz chipped a pass to defender Ryan Hollingshead, who snuck the ball into the goal, evening the match score to 1-1.

The momentum continued for Dallas in the 73rd minute when Diaz accrued his second assist, connecting with forward Blas Perez for a header goal from a set piece.

In the final minutes, Dallas was on a relentless attack to tie the series, but Portland held strong. Maleno weaved his way through an exposed Dallas defense, past goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, and rolled in a score in the 95th minute to cap the match and series.

“In the second half, we created a lot of chances sending more people forward,” Pareja said. “Unfortunately, we could not get the ball in the back of the net in last 10 minutes and we were left exposed in the back.”

The first half was played evenly with Dallas attempting four shots and Portland three, with one on-target attempt apiece.

In the 32nd minute, Dallas forward David Texeira’s header was saved by Portland goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey. That missed chance represented the closest opportunity for a goal from either club in the first 45 minutes of play.

“We had our chances in the first half,” Pareja said. “We wanted to come into the locker room with an advantage.”

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