Courtesy of FC Dallas
By Matt Hoffman
The Timbers would be locked in for a share of the league’s top record heading into next week’s All-Star activities.
Instead the Timbers stay rutted at 32 points, knotted with the floundering Sounders just above the red line as FC Dallas’s 4-1 win propels them to the league’s best overall record, despite being the youngest team in MLS as well as having the league’s smallest payroll.
In his remarks to the media following the match, Caleb Porter paid respect to FC Dallas while pinpointing where to place the blame: on his shoulders.
“I take responsibility, I’m the coach. I apologize to the fans. We took one on the chin today, but we need to pick ourselves back up and get back to work. The season’s not lost, we’re still in a playoff position with 12 games to go, but we need to do better and certainly get a better result.” -Caleb Porter in his remarks to the media following the match
Courtesy of FC Dallas
The Timbers tried attacking early but Dallas was just able to counter effectively. Whenever the Timbers dictated possession, a jailbreak of sorts would appear as Dallas transitioned effortlessly down the field with the Timbers looking frazzled and bothered in the ever-present humidity of a Texas evening.
The scoreline showed rout but the game was probably closer than the result showed. One Dallas goal was the result of a fluke and the foul proceeding the Dallas PK looked to be outside of the box.
“I’m not sure on the fourth goal that’s a penalty, but I’ll look at it on the tape. At that point it’s irrelevant”, Porter said.
No matter. Michael Barrios had a single MLS goal to his name before Saturday night’s experience. The Timbers were never able to fully recover from his first half brace. Second-half goals from Kellyn Acosta and Mauro Diaz ensured the rout was on with the Timbers only getting on board in the dying moments thanks to a penalty shot taken by Fanendo Adi.
Fernandez and the four Timbers forwards deployed needed a last gasp penalty to get on the scoreboard. Courtesy of FC Dallas
The team missed Will Johnson who forged a one-game suspension for his tirade at the end of the week’s previous game. Saturday’s match did mark the debut of Timbers new man Lucas Melano. Melano was one of three offensive substitutes (Gaston Fernandez and Adi being the other two) that failed to turn the tide.
That’s not to say that Melano did not impress. The new man’s speed made trouble for the Dallas defenders. In second half stoppage time Melano took a long ball from Adam Kwarasey and outraced several FC Dallas defenders into the box, forcing a save Dan Kennedy.
He was at it again moments later, drawing a penalty kick in the second minute of stoppage-time to thwart Dan Kennedy’s bid for a seventh shutout of the season. There was a conversation about who should take the penalty before Adi stood in and took the kick.
It was a sobering experience for the Timbers who may have experienced the bends: being tied to the bottom of the conference standings only to come with a hair of the top spot over all.
