Timbers at FC Dallas
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
TV/radio: ROOT SPORTS/AM 750.
Records: Portland (3-4-3) is ninth in the Western Conference with 12 points from 10 games. Dallas (5-4-2) is fourth in the Western Conference with 17 points from 11 games.
Match notes: For the second time in four days the Timbers visit an opponent desperate for a home result. After a fast start to the season, which included a 3-1 win at Portland on April 13, Dallas returns home after failing to score a goal while losing three consecutive road matches. … Dallas and Portland have each scored 15 goals and conceded 18, though Dallas has played one more match than the Timbers. But the goal trends are different. Dallas has been shut out four times and has blanked the opponent three times (though not in the last seven games). Portland has not yet been blanked or posted a shutout in 2016. Dallas has two wins and two draws at home, outscoring visitors 7-3; Portland is 0-3-2 on the road and has been outscored 10-5. … Timbers coach Caleb Porter pointed to the injury to central defender Matt Hedges as a big reason Dallas has struggled. Hedges — a Best XI selection last season — suffered a knee injury warming up for the April 13 game at Portland. He played that game, but has been out since. … Porter said he reminded his team not to lose heart despite sitting ninth in the Western Cponference. Said the coach: “You really have to kind of keep your head screwed on right, because you can think it’s a lot worse than it is when you look at the place that we’re in. Simply put, one win and we’re in playoff position. One win and were tied (with 15 points) for fifth in the entire league.”
Viewing parties: The Timbers official viewing party, for ages 21 and older, is at Marathon Tavern, 1735 W. Burnside St., in Portland. The Timbers Army Northern Alliance viewing party is at Trap Door Brewing, 2315 Main St. in downtown Vancouver.
— Paul Danzer, @col_timbers
