Photo Credit: Eric Guzman
FC Dallas 1, Portland Timbers 2
The man has the right moves. I mean this goes for both Giovani Savarese and Diego Valeri playing like a true MVP. Let us start first with Gio, after the Timbers losing on the weekend in Vancouver, the critics immediately began their tirade. Still for Gio he defended his moves and today he showed off how these pay off in the end.
Still to play a Knockout game on the road, was a total challenge for the Rose City Boys. As in, the past Toyota Park is not your typical friendly venue for any visiting team. However, for this Portland squad their road blues are becoming outdated.
For last night, match in a pathetic empty Toyota Park- witness how these visitors deliver a notable win over their squad suddenly submerged in a slump. Still this was not a cause for the visiting Timbers to display a laid-back attitude, after the Burn can turn things around.
Especially after the local FC Dallas were displaying a very physical game from the start. Adding to the challenge was a very damaged and sloppy field. This was not a deterrent for the visiting Portland, putting on a fight in the whole match. In spite in what seemed to be the first goal for Dallas; thanks to VAR it was call back. This gave the Timbers a ray of hope as well uplifting their momentum.
As lately, Portland has shown their benefit of using a 4-2-3-1 formation. Netting them a more composed, discipline and organization in their all-around game. This applies to them in their game a more mature stance and shows by exercising total control and dominance over their foes.
However, teamwork and unity played a grand role in these Timbers. As every player in that starting, eleven put its contribution. This crowns with an excellent performance by its defense that in every game is stepping up with authority. Ask that to Jeff Attinella excellent performance that denied the locals a couple of what would be goals.
In addition, of seeing how Jeremy Ebobisse not going for the goal but serving an assist that turned up to be the game-winning goal. in the end the match belonged to the leadership and great skill of El Maestro Diego Valeri. With his spectacular first goal from 26 yards out and later getting assisted by Jebo, in the end that prove to be the game changer in an all-around feat in Dallas.
Goals
Diego Valeri 23’ PTFC, Diego Valeri 71’ PTFC, Matt Hedges 93’ FCD
Photo Credit: Eric Guzman
Highlights of the Match
The leadership of Diego Valeri played an important role to deliver like a true MVP and being the responsible of his squad advancing to the Western Conference semifinals.
Jeff Attinella stingy defense and five saves that prevented a possible loss in Frisco for his Portland Timbers, in the end this man is playing like a demon.
Jeremy Ebobisse, this lad no wonder has become the starter for the Timber not scoring but assisting yesterday to a wide-open Diego Valeri to seal the deal. For Jebo he is maturing and being a future starter in the Timbers.
The Portland Timbers defensive backfields that despite that red to Mabiala, still this squad stood its ground and denied the locals any liberties in tier game these are comfortable.
Lastly, I hail Gio Savarese displaying all the right and bold moves that has made this squad a total contender and igniting that spark in his Boys!
FC Dallas
Portland
