It’s been a tough season for the Portland Timbers, with numerous injuries and disappointing results through the first couple months of the season, but they found a way to get where they expected to be. They defeated a Vancouver Whitecaps team that got the better of them in the regular season during the last round, and things get even tougher on Sunday when they face FC Dallas in the first leg of the conference finals.
Timbers vs. FC Dallas 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch MLS playoffs online
Caleb Porter and Portland need a big performance at home to pull off an upset against FC Dallas.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oscar Pareja’s Dallas side finished the regular season on top of the Western Conference, just barely missing out on Supporters’ Shield. They’ve done it with a slew of homegrown and drafted talent as their backbone that’s allowed Designated Players Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz to flourish. And in the first round of the playoffs, they weathered the storm that was getting attacked by Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, just barely sneaking by the Seattle Sounders.
The season series between these teams was split, with both winning big at home. Portland won 3-1 early in the season, and Dallas won July’s meeting in Frisco, 4-1.
Key player -- Darlington Nagbe
Whether he plays as the more attacking central midfielder or behind a striker, Nagbe’s ball-retention qualities are going to be huge for Portland. Diego Valeri provides more goals and assists, but he’s able to take the risks he does because of the work Nagbe does to keep possession and keep the ball moving.
Key matchup -- Fabian Castillo vs. Alvas Powell and Diego Chara
FC Dallas’ best attacking player is their left winger, and marking him is not a one-man job. Not only will Powell, the right back, have to watch Castillo, but Chara will have to restrict the space around the top of the box when he cuts inside.
Portland Timbers injuries and suspensions
Out: Ben Zemanski (knee).
FC Dallas injuries and suspensions
Out: Rolando Escobar (facial fracture), Bakary Soumare (concussion).
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. local
Venue: Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S. -- English), Fox Deportes (U.S. -- Spanish), TSN5 (Canada), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.)
Online: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2 Go (U.S.), TSN Go (Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
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