Portland draws FC Dallas at Providence Park 0-0

TIFO by the Timbers Army by Diego G Diaz.

“We are all frustrated and angry and emotional…we’ve had the chance to win both of the last two games and we haven’t,” Portland’s head coach, Phil Neville, said after the Timbers tied FC Dallas at home last night.

Portland started yesterday’s match at Providence Park with the knowledge that they had secured a playoff spot due to outcomes of Saturday’s matches across the Western Conference. The Timers were playing for a chance to host the wildcard playoff match while Dallas was only playing for pride because they are out of all playoff contention.

Phil made one big change to the starting lineup, putting keeper James Pantemis in goal. James had his 5th clean sheet of the year in last night’s draw. In a moment of light hearted levity in the post game press conference Neville said, “James Pamtemis was *ing unbelievable! He was and he deserved the f word there…” When asked about the decision to start him, Phil said, “James has not played, I think since August. He needs rhythm, he needs a game. This was his game…James’ form when he’s been with the team has been incredible.”

The beginning of the match against Dallas was disappointingly similar to the Austin FC match on Wednesday. The Timbers out shot Dallas 11-3 in the first half with nothing to show for it. Santiago Moreno took the first shot on goal in the 4th directly at Dallas keeper Jimmy Maurer.

Kamal Miller was given a yellow card in the 5th minute of play by head referee Armando Villarreal for a late tackle. He will have to sit out the Seattle match on the 19th due to yellow card accumulation.

Sani Moreno and Evander v FC Dallas by Diego G Diaz.

Portland earned a free kick in the 16th minute from about 30 yards out from goal. Evander tried for the goal but his shot was high at the center of the crossbar. Two minutes later Felipe Mora and Jonathan Rodriguez both took shots that were both saved by Mauer.

The 30th minute saw an almost identical free kick for Portland after Bravo was fouled. Evander played this one short to the center of goal. Jona’s header missed by a hair to the right.

The Timbers were playing some fantastic football with each possession. Juan Mosquera had a shot go wide in the 25th when Mora collected for the assist after Santi was clipped down from behind on a run. The next minute Mora sent a back pass to Evander, who back-heeled the ball to Moreno, who’s shot just missed to the left.

Dallas was in the book with a yellow card for a foul by Asier Illarramendi in the 25th. Forward Bernard Kamungo had the first real chance for Dallas in the 28th minute after stripping the ball from David Ayala in the midfield and making a run. His left footed shot from the top of the arch was saved by a diving James Pantemis.

The Timbers had four more attempts at goal before the end of the first half including a bicycle kick by Moreno in the 39th. There was no stoppage time added and the half ended at 0-0.

FC Dallas made a substitution to start the second half. Midfielder Tsiki Ntsableng came on for forward Alan Velasco. Felipe Mora wasted no time in looking for his first goal and sent a rocket from the center of the box 2 minutes in that went high.

Juan Mosquera after a shot goes wide by Diego G Diaz.

James had an easy save in the 51st when Sebastian Lletget took a shot from the right side of the box. Dallas sent a barrage of shots on goal in the 55th with Logan Farrington connecting at the center of the box. Pantemis made the save.

It did not take long for Ntsableng to get Villarreal’s attention after a bad foul earned him a yellow card 11 minutes after he came into the game. Dallas had a chance to put one in when a silly foul by Kamal Miller gave them a free kick from 22 yards out in the 56th. The shot was blocked by the Timbers wall and the following corner kick was cleared away.

Phil made his first substitutions of the match in the 64th bringing on Miguel Araujo for Kamal Miller and Antony for Moreno.

Pantemis made 3 saves in as many minutes when shots came from Lletget in the 65th, Manuel Cafumana in the 66th, and Bernard Kamungo in the 67th following a corner kick.

Jonathan Rodriguez with a strike by Diego G Diaz.

Portland had their first corner kick of the match in the 69th minute. Evander tried for an Olympico and missed. The team’s second substitution came in the 71st with Christian Paredes coming on for Ayala, and Eric Miller on for Bravo.

Evander took a killer shot from distance in the 78th that was saved by Mauer. The Timbers had another chance with a free kick in the 81st after Antony was taken down by Marco Farfan in a tactical yellow card foul.

Juan Mosquera was given a yellow for the Timbers in the 84th after he kicked the ball back towards the spot of a foul after the whistle was blown. That was Juan’s first yellow card of the season and he is the only Timbers player to start every regular season match this year.

Two fantastic clearances by Dario Zuparic in the 86th minute led to a corner kick for Dallas but Araujo was there to head the ball away.

The frustration was clearly visible on Mora’s face after he attempted a bicycle or scorpion kick in the 88th that was punched over the crossbar by Mauer in a stellar save.

There were three minutes of unremarkable stoppage time. Dallas came out the stronger team for the second half and tied the Timbers for shots on goal at 18 each with the same 0-0 result.

The Timbers Army awarded Evander with their Supporter’s Shield belt after the match with a ceremony in the North End.