FRISCO, Texas – Diego Valeri scored a brace and a 10-man Portland Timbers side defeated FC Dallas 2-1 Wednesday evening at Toyota Stadium in the Knockout Round of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
Forward Jeremy Ebobisse earned an assist and goalkeeper Jeff Attinella made five saves for the visitors.
With the victory, the Timbers advance to the Western Conference Semifinals against either Sporting Kansas City or Seattle Sounders FC, pending results later this week. The first match of the two-legged match-up will be Nov. 4 at Providence Park. Kickoff time and broadcast details to be determined.
Match Moments
12' - VAR (DAL) - Dallas thought they took a 1-0 lead on a free kick that saw Reto Ziegler tap in a headed ball that was served in on a free kick only to have the call go to video assisted review. The goal was pulled back saying that the defender was offside.
23' - GOAL (POR) - Diego Valeri put the Timbers up 1-0 with an absolute rocket of a free kick in the 23rd minute. Valeri hammered his shot into the upper left cover of the Dallas net past a diving Jesse Gonzalez.
26' - SAVE (POR) - Three minutes later, Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella made a key save as Michael Barrios bore down on him directly. Attinella deflected Barrios' shot off his face and then off the crossbar to keep Dallas off the board.
57' - RED CARD (POR) - Timbers defender Larrys Mabiala received a straight red card for a foul on Dominique Badji leaving Portland with 10 men.
68' - SAVE (POR) - Attinella made a great kick save in the second half on a close-in shot from Dallas' Roland Lamah.
71' - GOAL (POR) - Valeri scored his second of the night to double Portland's lead at 2-0 in the second half. Midfielder David Guzmán won the ball in the Dallas half and then chipped it forward to a sprinting Jeremy Ebobisse. The Timbers striker beat Dallas 'keeper Gonzalez as he came off his line, held the ball solidly before laying a pass off to Valeri. Valeri then rifled the ball into the open net.
88' - SAVE (POR) - Attinella continued keep Dallas scoreless when he denied Badji on the doorstep with another kick save.
90+2 - SAVE (POR) - Attinella kept knocking shots into stoppage time as he palmed away another late attempt by Dallas.
90+4' - GOAL (DAL) - Dallas pulled a goal back late in stoppage time to make the score 2-1 when Matt Hedges poked a loose ball past Attinella.
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The Portland Timbers next opponent will be either Sporting Kansas City or Seattle Sounders FC on Nov. 4, 2018 at Providence Park in the Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round. Kickoff time, opponent and broadcast details will be determined following Thursday's other Western Conference Knockout Round result.
Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs | Knockout Round
Portland Timbers (5) vs. FC Dallas (4)
Oct. 31, 2018 – Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 1 1 2
FC Dallas 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
POR: Valeri, 23
POR: Valeri (Ebobisse), 71
DAL: Hedges (Lamah, Mosquera), 90+4
Misconduct Summary:
DAL: Urruti (caution), 22
POR: Ridgewell (caution), 38
POR: Chara (caution), 45+5
DAL: Gruezo (caution), 45+5
POR: Mabiala (ejection), 58
Lineups:
POR: GK Attinella, D Valentin, D Mabiala, D Ridgewell, D Villafaña, M Guzmán, M Chara, M Polo (Tuiloma, 60), M Valeri © (Olum, 81), M Blanco, F Ebobisse (Asprilla, 85)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Clark, D Powell, F Armenteros, F Melano
TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (Valeri, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Valeri, 2); FOULS: 8 (Ridgewell, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5
DAL: GK Gonzalez, D Cannon, D Hedges ©, D Ziegler, D Figueroa (Hollingshead, 76), M Ulloa (Lamah, 65), M Gruezo, M Barros, M Urruti (Akindele, 85), M Mosquera, F Badji
Substitutes Not Used: GK Maurer, D Pedroso, M Hayes, M Aguilar
TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Mosquera, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Lamah, 2); FOULS: 9 (Badji, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod, Corey Parker
4th Official: Armando Villarreall
VAR: Dave Gantar
Attendance: 10,297
Weather: Cloudy, 54 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
