Final
Dallas, Portland aim to build on wins
Apr 15, 2011 - 7:37 PM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - With just one point and one goal scored through its first three games, it's safe to say that 2010 MLS Cup finalists FC Dallas didn't get off to the kind of start that they wanted to.But a convincing 3-0 defeat of the Colorado Rapids in a rematch of the 2010 MLS Cup final last time out put an end to that poor start.
And Dallas will try to continue that momentum on Sunday at the Portland Timbers, who picked up their first win in midweek over Chicago.
The most positive sign for the Hoops last time out was the fact that 2010 Most Valuable Player David Ferreira turned in his best game of the season, scoring two goals.
Ferreira had yet to record a goal or an assist in his first three games, but head coach Schellas Hyndman wasn't concerned about his star midfielder regaining top form.
"I really think that he is such a good player and he figures things out very quickly," Hyndman told the club's official website. "We talked about him getting up higher so that the defenders have to worry about him, and I think you started to see a David that we have seen in the past."
Portland was another team that got off to a slow start this season, although it didn't really come as a huge surprise considering the fact that the Timbers are an expansion team.
After opening the season with successive defeats, Portland earned a 1-1 draw at New England before beating the Fire, 4-2, on Thursday.
The Timbers also struggled to find the net in the first few games, with just two goals from three matches, but head coach John Spencer wasn't too shocked to see striker Jorge Perlaza score twice in the win.
"I think he's been threatening to do it (score goals)," Spencer said of Perlaza. "The last week in practice, his finishing has been fantastic and he's got electrifying pace. I've said it time and time again that this is a difficult league for foreign players to come and do well in. I think he's clicking on to it, his pace in the first half at times was magnificent and he showed tremendous composure."
Thursday's game was the first regular-season contest at home for Portland after three successive away games to start the season, and with three of the team's next four games at Jeld-Wen Field, the Timbers should have a good chance to add to their win total.
"I don't think you'll see an atmosphere like that in American soccer history," Spencer said of the crowd at Jeld-Wen Field. "I think it was tremendous. I thought it was electrifying when the first goal went in, it was pretty incredible."
- FC DALLAS: 2
PORTLAND: 3
Final
Apr 17 8:00 PM - FC DALLAS: 0
PORTLAND: 0
1st Half - 1'
Apr 17 6:08 PM
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