Boli header lifts Portland Timbers to 1-0 shutout win over FC Dallas

PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing their 17th match of the season, marking the midway point of the 2023 campaign, the Portland Timbers earned a 1-0 shutout win over FC Dallas at Providence Park on Sunday night. Franck Boli registered the game-winning goal in the first half to give the Timbers their fifth victory of the season, while goalkeeper David Bingham helped the team to a second straight shutout.

Dynamic Duo
Franck Boli scored his fourth goal of the season, which is tied with Evander for the team lead. Notably, two of Boli’s goals have been scored against FC Dallas, including his debut goal on April 1. Boli has also scored the opening goal in a match three times this season. Evander earned his third assist of the 2023 campaign, leading the team in points (11 pts – 4g, 3a) in just 14 appearances (12 starts) this year.

Clean Sheets
The Timbers earned a second straight clean sheet tonight following their 0-0 road draw against Seattle Sounders FC on June 3. After only allowing five shots and one shot on goal to Seattle, Portland held Dallas to five shots and two shots on goal in tonight’s match. It marked the Timbers’ third clean sheet in their last five matches and their fifth of the season. No team in MLS has allowed fewer shots on goal (3) than the Timbers since June 3, and only the New York Red Bulls (7) have faced fewer shots than Portland (10) in that stretch.

Diego Chara Makes History
Diego Chara made history tonight, becoming the first field player in MLS to reach 350 starts (355 appearances) with one club and ninth overall. Additionally, the Colombian midfielder also made his 400th appearance across all competitions for Portland tonight. D. Chara tallied his 31st regular-season assist in the match, passing Darlington Nagbe (30) for third-most in club history behind Sebastián Blanco (50) and Diego Valeri (91). The only remaining member of the original 2011 Portland Timbers roster, D. Chara is the only player that has played every minute (1530) for Portland this season.

Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Franck Boli (Evander, Diego Chara), 35th minute: Evander dribbled towards the top of the 18-yard box and chipped a ball into the penalty area to find Franck Boli, who headed the ball into the middle of the goal.

Notes

• Portland played its 17th match of the season, marking the midway point of the 2023 campaign.
• The Timbers earned their fifth victory of the season tonight and are in 8th place of the Western Conference.
• Four of Portland’s five wins this season have been at Providence Park.
• The Timbers are 9-10-9 in regular season play against FC Dallas and 8-1-4 when playing them at Providence Park. 
• The Timbers earned a second straight clean sheet tonight following their 0-0 road draw against Seattle Sounders FC on June 3. 
• After only allowing five shots and one shot on goal to Seattle (June 3), Portland held Dallas to five shots and two shots on goal in tonight’s match. 
• No team in MLS has allowed fewer shots on goal (3) than the Timbers since June 3, and only the New York Red Bulls (7) have faced fewer shots than Portland (10) in that stretch.
• The result marked the Timbers’ third clean sheet in their last five matches and their fifth of the season. 
• Franck Boli tallied his fourth goal of the season in his 12th appearance (9th start) with the Timbers. 
• Boli and Evander are tied for the team lead in goals with four each.
• Notably, two of Boli’s four goals have been against FC Dallas, including his debut goal on April 1.
• Boli has scored the opening goal in a match three times this season.
• Evander earned his third assist of the 2023 campaign, leading the team in points (11 pts – 4g, 3a) in just 14 appearances (12 starts) this year. 
• Diego Chara became the first field player in MLS to reach 350 starts (355 appearances) with one club and ninth overall. 
• D. Chara also made his 400th appearance across all competitions for Portland tonight. 
• D. Chara tallied his 31st regular-season assist in the match, passing Darlington Nagbe (30) for third-most in club history behind Sebastián Blanco (50) and Diego Valeri (91).
• The only remaining member of the original 2011 Portland Timbers roster, D. Chara is the only player that has played every minute (1,530) for Portland this season.
• Cristhian Paredes led the match in tackles won (4) and duels won (14).

Portland Timbers (5-7-5, 20pts) vs. FC Dallas (7-6-5, 26pts)
June 11, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Boli (Evander), 35

Misconduct Summary:
POR: Evander (caution), 16
FCD: Obrian (caution), 45
FCD: Cerrillo (caution), 46
FCD: Jesus (caution), 71
POR: D. Chara (caution), 71
POR: Paredes (caution), 96
POR: Loría (caution), 98

Lineups:
POR: GK Bingham, D Miller, D McGraw, D Zuparic, D Mosquera, M D. Chara ©, M Paredes, M Evander (Blanco, 90), F Moreno (Loría, 72), F Asprilla (Mabiala, 84), F Boli (Niezgoda, 71)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D Rasmussen, M Caliskan, M Gutierrez, F Fogaça

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Evander, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Moreno, Evander, 2); FOULS: 12 (Paredes, 3); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 2, SAVES: 2

DAL: GK Paes, D Jesus (Endeley, 82), D Ibeagha, D Tafari, D Farfan, M Quignon, M Cerrillo (Mulato, 82), M Obrian, M Jimenez (Junqua, 46), F Velasco, F Ferreira ©

Substitutes Not Used: GK Maurer, D Martinez, D Korca, M Norris, F Kamungo

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (five players tied, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Ibeagha, Jesus, 1); FOULS: 12 (Obrian, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 7

Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Ryan Graves
Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
Attendance: 22,907