Portland Timbers at FC Dallas: How to Watch, Previews, Match Chat [5:00]

The Portland Timbers are headed to Texas today to take on FC Dallas in a clash between the top teams in the Western Conference. With Dallas the sole unbeaten team in the league and perfect at home so far this year, the Timbers face their stiffest challenge yet as they strive to stay on top of the standings.

The Timbers will be without Jake Gleeson and Diego Valeri in today’s match, but regain the services of Fanendo Adi after his one game suspension has run out.

Previews

Match Preview: “To that end, the Timbers will need to show the sort of ruthlessness that has been on display in their best team goals of the season — Darren Mattocks’s game winner against Vancouver or Diego Chara’s tap-in at the LA Galaxy. Unfortunately for the side, Valeri tends to be at the heart of any such move, where Nagbe tends toward slowing down the play and Blanco is simply still unproven at leading the break in his time with the Timbers.”

Preview Interview: “While they are winning games and scoring goals, this group hasn't really been able to find their finishing touch enough to make the locals happy so far. Newly acquired Designated Player Cristian Colman has struggled big time to find the back of the net in league play, as has veteran winger Roland Lamah. If Portland is able to shut down the likes of their old pal Maxi Urruti and others like Kellyn Acosta or Michael Barrios, Dallas will need to lean on Colman or Lamah to get things going in the attack. And right now, that thought scares a lot of Dallas fans.”

And don’t forget to get your match predictions in before kickoff over at the Rose City Forecast.

Match Information

Watch it on: ROOT Sports

Where: Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX

When: Saturday, April 29th at 5:00 p.m. PT

Portland Timbers: 5-2-1, 1st place in the Western Conference, Beat Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 at home

FC Dallas: 4-0-2, 2nd place in the Western Confernece, Beat Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at home