Logan Farrington scored late in the first half and Joaquin Valiente added a goal late in the second half as FC Dallas registered a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Frisco, Texas.
Daniel made four saves for FC Dallas (12-6-7, 43 points), who are 3-0-1 over their past four matches.
FC Dallas star Petar Musa (shoulder) entered in the 77th minute and assisted on Valiente’s goal. Musa, who missed FC Dallas’ last game, began the day tied with Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for the league lead with 18 goals.
Ariel Lassiter scored for Portland (9-11-5, 32 points). The Timbers are 2-2-2 over their last six outings.
Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis made three saves.
Portland outshot FC Dallas 17-9. Both sides put five shots on target.
Dallas got on the board in the 45th minute. Shaq Moore sent a pass ahead for a streaking Farrington and he knocked a right-footed shot past Pantemis.
Farrington nearly had a second tally but his shot from the left side caromed off the right goalpost in the 74th minute.
Musa entered three minutes later and was a major difference-maker.
He had a chance in the 82nd minute that Pantemis was able to stop.
But five minutes later, Musa broke in on the right side and Pantemis came out to cut down the angle. Musa’s shot went off the chest of Pantemis and the ball bounced back to Musa.
He fed the ball over to the left to Valiente, who sent a left-footed shot into the left corner for a two-goal lead.
That tally proved bigger when the Timbers had a solid opportunity in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Lassiter beat a defender to the ball and sent a close-range left-footed shot into the net.
–Field Level Media
