The Portland Timbers and FC Dallas went into their Western Conference clash on Saturday regarded as two of the worst teams in MLS, but after Saturday one team looked primed for a turnaround while another was hitting rock bottom.
FC Dallas rattled off five unanswered goals, to deliver a 5-0 humbling of the Timbers, which surrendered five goals for the second straight match. The loss also marked Portland's fourth straight loss, and second under interim head coach Gavin Wilkinson.
Brazilian defender Jackson was the star of the show, scoring a goal and setting up two others to help Dallas post a second victory in three matches.
Portland actually started off the match in promising fashion, with Mike Fucito sending a shot off the post in the eighth minute (with the help of a Daniel Hernandez deflection). That is as close as the Timbers got to scoring. A Hanyer Mosquera own goal off a Jair Benitez started the romp in the 16th minute, and Andrew Jacobson made it 2-0 ten minutes later.
The floodgates opened in the second half, with Jackson scoring one off a deflected shot before he set up goals by Scott Sealy and Ruben Luna to complete the blowout.
Dallas converted the rout without struggling midfielder Brek Shea, who was left out of the match after his visible blowup with Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman during Wednesday's loss to San Jose.
Here are the match highlights:
What did you think of the match? Surprised at just how bad things have gotten for the Timbers? Starting to think FC Dallas can turn things around and make a playoff run?
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