The Timbers have won only two of their last 10 matches against FC Dallas (D4 including a penalty shootout loss, L4) dating back to 2017, though they won the last meeting, 1-0, in Portland in July 2021. Neither team has managed consecutive wins against the other since Dallas won three straight in 2016.
FC Dallas picked up its first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Nashville on Saturday. Dallas managed consecutive wins only once in 2021, beating the Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City in late July.
Portland’s 1-0 home win over Austin on Saturday improved its home record against Texas sides to W17 D5 L3. The Timbers have won just three of 28 visits to Texas in MLS play (D11 L14), with two of those wins coming in Dallas (D5 L8, including playoffs).
Alan Velasco scored on his FC Dallas debut, the third player in the last 10 seasons to score on his debut for Dallas (Francis Atuahene in 2019, Jesús Ferreira in 2017). The last Dallas player to score in each of his first two MLS matches was Kenny Cooper in 2006.
Yimmi Chará assisted on the winning goal for Portland against Austin on Saturday after scoring in each of the first two games of the season. Chará is the second Timbers player to contribute to a goal in each of the team’s first three games of the season after Diego Valeri (4 straight in 2020, 3 straight in 2017).
