MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Forecast: Rainy, 58 degrees
Referee:Juan Guzman
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Cameron Blanchard Fourth Official: Daniel Radford
National TV: ROOT SPORTS
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst), Samantha Yarock (reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750 AM, 102.9 FM)
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Brett Jacobs (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Portland Timbers will take on FC Dallas on Wednesday, April 13, at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Wednesday’s match will feature a live broadcast on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish). Wednesday’s match marks the 16th meeting in all competitions between the Timbers and FC Dallas since 2011. Entering Wednesday’s game, the Timbers are unbeaten in six all-time matches against FC Dallas (4-0-2) at Providence Park. In their most recent match at Providence Park, Portland defeated the Texas-based club 3-1 in the first leg of the 2015 Western Conference Championship on Nov. 22, 2015.
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Portland Timbers earned a hard-fought road point against the LA Galaxy with a 1-1 draw before 25,667 fans on April 10.
LAST TIME VS. FC DALLAS
The Portland Timbers captured the 2015 MLS Western Conference Championship, advancing to the club’s first appearance in MLS Cup with a pair of second-half goals in a 2-2 draw (5-3 win on aggregate) against FC Dallas in the second leg of the Western Conference Championship.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Sunday’s match marks the 16th all-time meeting between the two clubs since 2011 in all competitions. The Timbers have compiled a 6-4-5 record against FC Dallas since 2011 and have recorded a 4-0-2 overall record in six games across all competitions at Providence Park, including a 3-1 win in the first leg of the 2015 Western Conference Championship on Nov. 22, 2015.
Portland has lost just two matches in their last 10 regular-season meetings with FC Dallas (4-2-4), while the Timbers have scored multiple goals in three of their last four regular-season meetings against head coach Oscar Pareja’s side.
SCOUTING FC DALLAS
Since dropping three points in a 5-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo on March 12, FC Dallas enters Wednesday’s contest unbeaten in their last four matches, defeating the Montreal Impact 2-0, D.C. United 3-0 and drawing Columbus Crew SC 1-1 and the San Jose Earthquakes 2-2. Although FC Dallas currently sits in third place in the Western Conference standings, the Texas-based club are win-less against Western Conference teams to begin the 2016 campaign, falling to Houston and drawing San Jose.
Led by Oscar Pareja, FC Dallas brought in 10 players during the offseason, including former Timbers striker Maximiliano Urruti. Midfielder Mauro Diaz leads Dallas in assists with four, including one game-winning assist.
FINISHING TOUCH
In the Timbers 1-1 draw against the Galaxy on April 10, forward Fanendo Adi found the back of the net for the 10th time in his last 10 regular-season matches, beginning with his brace on Sept. 26, 2015. Adi’s 10 finishes marks the most goals in MLS during that span.
FACING FC DALLAS
Among active players, the Timbers have four players on their roster who rank in the top 10 for game-winning goals scored against FC Dallas. Midfielder Darlington Nagbe is tied for first place with Sporting Kansas City midfielder Brad Davis (3), while defender Nat Borchers has two game-winning goals against Dallas, placing him in a tie for second place with three other players. Additionally, midfielder Ned Grabavoy and forward Jack McInerney’s one finish apiece places them in a tie for eighth place.
DEFENSIVE STALWART
Entering Wednesday’s match, midfielder Diego Chara is ranked first in MLS for tackles won (19). In five games played this season, the Colombian midfielder, who has has played the full 90 minutes in each game, has been named to the MLS Team of the Week on two occasions. After being named to the MLS Team of the Week for his comprehensive performance against Columbus Crew SC on March 6, Chara returned to the league’s weekly best 11 on April 11, after logging seven tackles, six ball recoveries and a 94 percent passing accuracy in the Timbers 1-1 draw against the Galaxy on April 10.
PRECISE PASSING
According to Opta, the Portland Timbers currently rank fifth in MLS for passing accuracy, connecting nearly 80 percent of their passes. In five games played, the Timbers have made 1,867 passes.
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The Portland Timbers have compiled a 25-7-21 regular-season mark at Providence Park since 2013, with the team’s seven home losses being the second- fewest in MLS over the last three seasons, trailing only the LA Galaxy (4).
So far this season, the Timbers are averaging 2.0 goals per game at home, previously defeating Columbus Crew SC 2-1 on March 6 and drawing Real Salt Lake 2-2 on March 19.
OFFENSIVE PRESSURE
Through five games played, the Portland Timbers rank in the top 10 in MLS for goals, shots and corner kicks. Led by forward Fanendo Adi, who is tied for first in MLS for goals (4), the Timbers are ranked seventh in the league for goals scored so far this season with seven finishes. Additionally, Portland ranks first in the league for corner kicks taken (37) and fourth for shots taken (80). Midfielder Diego Valeri has taken 37 of the team’s 40 corner kicks in 2016, placing him in first place in the league.
The Timbers have also created the most chances in MLS thus far (65), two more than Eastern Conference side D.C. United who sit in second place for chances created in MLS.
TIMBERS TRACK RECORD
The Timbers improved to 13-3-11 in games immediately following a loss since the 2013 season with their 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy on April 10. In the last three seasons, Portland has lost just 27 times in 107 league matches (42- 27-38 overall).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Diego Valeri has scored 24 times for the Timbers. With his next finish, Valeri will move into a tie for seventh place across all eras (since 1975).
Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey currently ranks fifth in Portland history (since 1975) for shutouts. With his next clean sheet, Kwarasey will be tied for fourth place with Mick Poole and Josh Wicks on the Timbers all-time shutout list.
Additionally, with his next victory, Kwarasey will move into fifth place for goalkeeper wins in Portland history across all eras (since 1975).
With his next assist, midfielder Diego Chara will move into a tie for 13th place for assists with Brian Grant (1977-1982) and Stuart Lee (1980-1928) across all eras (since 1975).
With his next assist, midfielder Jack Jewsbury will rank 11th across all eras (since 1975) in Timbers history.
