(6) Portland Timbers (1,0,2, 5 points) vs (8) FC Dallas (1,1,1, 4 points)
Saturday March 19, 2022, KO 5:30 PM
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Portland Timbers Briefly
Thanks to a header by defender Bill Tuiloma against Austin FC last Sunday at home, the Timbers earned their first win of the season as well continue unbeaten.
In the preseason and so far in the regular season, Zac McGraw is showing signs of readiness and the man is playing like it’s his last game, adding to the list the likes of Justin Rasmussen and David Ayala. For draftee Rasmussen, the man is looking like he already had some professional experience adding to Ayala’s debut being notable, but Rasmussen never ceases to impress me.
Another player making his debut was David Gutierrez. The lad needs of playing minutes so he can adjust immediately to the team’s needs and his manager without any doubt he’ll be using his services more continuously.
As Giovanni Savarese continues to make all the right moves, so far, and the man is delivering like a consummated Chessmaster despite not winning on the road against LAFC. The team is playing like one well-oiled machine with details to be arranged in its game.
The defensive game is somehow uplifting for the Timbers, and with a continuance of it, we can expect a lot of amazing things as well results that can see a possible repeat of last season’s feats.
The future looks very promising for the Timbers with its youth core and hopefully, we can see other players that shined in the preseason getting the call and opportunity to show off their skills and seize a spot in the team.
For now, the need to focus on a win will be imperative for this club to continue its season on a high note and get to the promised land of the postseason and maybe beyond. Still, in the eyes and mind of Gio, it’s one game at a time and with the experiences in every match, this is material to continue improving.
Probable Lineups:
GK Aljaz Ivacevic, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Bill Tuiloma, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, David Ayala; Santiago Moreno, Yimmi Chara, Dairon Aspirilla; Jaroslaw Niezgoda
FC Dallas Briefly
Huge win over FC Nashville for FC Dallas last week at home and seeing how their investment paid off when Argentine DP Alan Velasco scored a one-of-a-kind and his first MLS goal in the 64th minute.
As manager Nico Estevez earned his first win of the season, now the first-year man at the helm of the Dallas side looking forward to a turnaround and seeing this team return to its old glories.
The Big D team made several moves in the preseason that stands out the likes of international USMNT midfielder Paul Arriola, Colombian Jader O’ Brian, Argentine’s Franco Jara from Pachuca and Independiente forward Alan Velasco, and Dutch keeper Maarten Paes.
Looking for back-to-back wins at home it will be elemental for this team and debutante manager Estevez to raise the former Burn’s momentum and looking forward to moving up in the standings.
In the end, FC Dallas has all the advantages to earn a positive result, but it won’t be easy to stop the Timbers drive as the visitors will be looking at any cost to continue undefeated in this nascent season.
Probable Lineups:
GK Maarten Paes, Nanu, Matt Hedges, Jose Martinez, Marco Farfan; Paxton Pomykal, Edwin Cerillo, Brandon Servania; Paul Arriola, Jesus Ferreira, Jader Obrian
Meetings
07/17/2021 Portland Timbers 1-0 FC Dallas
05/01/2021 FC Dallas 4-1 Portland Timbers
11/22/2020 Portland Timbers 1-1 FC Dallas
Forecast
Another test for the Portland Timbers on the road, a win on the road will be a big feat
Portland Timbers
