The Portland Timbers did score three goals against the hosts two in Dallas on a very warm evening of the 4th, but unfortunately one was into their own net, and they ended up at the short end of a 3-2 score. Antony and Evander had the goals for the Timbers along with an own goal by Cristhian Paredes, and Petar Musa and Nkosi Tafari would add goals for the hosts.
Evander had a good shot just seconds into the match, but it was pushed wide by Maarten Paes.
In just the eighth minute, the Timbers would be on the board when Evander (who was deep on the Timbers back-line at the time) played a very long ball perfectly into the run of Antony, who had a one-on-one with the Dallas keeper, and though his initial chance was saved, Antony quickly jumped on the rebound and finished to put the Timbers up 1-0.
Three minutes later, the hosts had a great chance to respond when Dante Sealy sent a ball into the box that was nicely headed by Sebastien Ibeagha, but was just wide right.
The Timbers had a great chance to widen their lead later in the half, when Antony’s cross found Jonathan Rodríguez with a chance near the Dallas far post, but he was unable to get a clean shot off and the ball trickled wide. The Timbers held a 1-0 lead at the break.
In the 49th minute, Dallas would tie it up when players seemed to have expected a foul call on a play against David Ayala, but instead Dallas took advantage and Sebastian Lletget found Petar Musa on a run into the box, and they fought off their defender and their shot beat James Pantemis, and the score was now 1-1.
In the 54th and 56th minutes, Rodríguez would have two great chances for the Timbers, the first on a breakaway where the Dallas defense retreated just in time to block the shot, and the second on a rebound off a corner kick that he would shoot just ride right.
In the 61st minute, Dallas would take the lead off a corner kick by Lletget when Nkosi Tafari was largely open at the back post for a header, and finished nicely just inside the right post, and the score was now 2-1 Dallas.
But just one minute later, the Timbers were level again when Antony made a nice run down the right side, then slipped a pass into the box into the run of Evander, who one-timed a finish, and the score was now 2-2.
But in the 88th minute, the Timbers would become their own worst enemy when a cross from the left side was headed into the goal by Cristhian Paredes, and Dallas now led 3-2.
Seven minutes into stoppage time, the Timbers nearly tied the score when a free kick from 30 yards out by Evander was off the crossbar and rebound was too quick to be put on-net.
But the Timbers would never find the equalizer and ended up on the short end of a 3-2 score.
