FC Dallas Defeat Portland
FC Dallas remained unbeaten at home with a 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Mauro Diaz, Victor Ulloa and Walker Zimmerman scored goals for FC Dallas (15-7-6), which improved to 10-0-4 on its home turf and still sits atop Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.
Portland (9-11-8) continued to struggle away from home, falling to 0-8-6 on the road. The Timbers remain in the sixth and final Western Conference playoff position.
FC Dallas took a 1-0 lead when Diaz converted on a penalty kick in the 14th minute. The penalty was awarded when Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson fouled Michael Barrios in the 18-yard area.
Ulloa put FC Dallas up 2-0 when he scored in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Ulloa fired from the center of the box and placed the ball in the bottom left corner.
The third goal came from Zimmerman in the 53rd minute. Zimmerman took a crossing pass from Diaz following a set piece and headed the ball in from the center of the box, putting FC Dallas up 3-0.
Portland scored on a goal by Diego Valeri in the 87th minute. Zarek Valentin was credited with the assist.
FC Dallas controlled 56.8 percent of the ball possession and outshot Portland 13-7, including 9-1 in shots on target. Gleeson made six saves, while Dallas goalie Chris Seitz never stopped a shot.
