The Portland Timbers head to Texas to take on FC Dallas Sunday in the second leg of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference finals (2pm PT, ESPN). Portland secured a 3-1 victory in the first leg extending their unbeaten run to seven games going back to the regular season. Here are five numbers to know for #DALvPOR in a special playoff edition of Quick Strikes by Simple.
20+95%Darlington Nagbe had never made 20 or more passes in the final third and had a passing accuracy of 95 percent or better on those passes. In four playoff games this year, Nagbe has accomplished that feat twice (Nov. 8 at Vancouver and Nov. 22 vs FC Dallas).
4 Portland heads to Dallas having won four consecutive road matches, dating back to the regular season. The run ties the longest road winning streak in competitive matches the club has had since becoming an MLS team.
12 With Liam Ridgewell and Dairon Asprilla both scoring goals on Sunday, 12 players on the current Timbers roster have scored at least one goal in a competitive match against FC Dallas. By comparison, eight current players on the Dallas roster have notched goals versus Portland.
8 After getting the start during the first leg of the Western Conference Finals, Darlington Nagbe is the only Timbers player to have started all eight MLS Cup Playoff matches in the club's history. The only other player to have played in all eight MLS playoff games for Portland is Jack Jewsbury, who has started seven of the eight matches.
27Nat Borchers has now played 27 MLS Cup Playoff games, which is the most amongst the players remaining in the 2015 playoffs. The defender has scored two career postseason goals, one in his first-ever playoff game and one in his most recent playoff game.
