PORTLAND, Oregon – In their last road game of the 2024 campaign, FC Dallas battled to a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers on Sunday night at Providence Park. While goals were absent from the contest, the match was far from lacking in intensity, with both teams fighting hard for points as they push through the final stages of the regular season.
Familiar Faces Return to Oregon
The match was a special one for a few FC Dallas players, notably defender Marco Farfan, who faced off against his former club. Farfan, a Portland Timbers Homegrown player, began his professional career in the Rose City, featuring for the Timbers from 2017 to 2020. Additionally, midfielder Tsiki Ntsabeleng and forward Logan Farrington both returned to a familiar setting, having played collegiate soccer at Oregon State University. The homecoming for these players added an extra layer of significance to the match.
Jimmy Maurer’s Stellar Performance
One of the standout performances of the night came from veteran FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, who made his second consecutive start and his third overall this season. Maurer delivered a commanding display between the posts, recording seven crucial saves. This tied his career-high in saves for a single match, underscoring his value in a game where both sides had plenty of scoring opportunities. His efforts earned FC Dallas their third road shutout of the season, and it was a fitting way to mark Maurer’s 65th career start in MLS.
Road Struggles Persist
Despite the draw, FC Dallas closed out a tough season on the road, finishing with a record of 1-10-6 away from home. The team particularly struggled against Western Conference opponents, going winless in 13 matches (0-8-5). Their lone road win came against an Eastern Conference team earlier in the year. Notably absent from the match was forward Petar Musa, who has been the team’s top scorer in away games this season with five goals.
A Hard-Fought Point Against Portland
Dallas’ record at Providence Park is a testament to how difficult it is to win in Portland. Over the years, the team has only managed one win at the venue, and Sunday’s result continued the trend, with the draw bringing their record at Providence Park to 1-8-5. Despite the historical struggles, FC Dallas showed resilience and character in a match that saw both teams create multiple chances.
Interim head coach Peter Luccin praised his team’s effort postgame, stating, “It was a great response. We know that it’s not easy to come to this field and to play like this. We had so many chances, so many 1v1 situations. Of course they had chances as well. In the end, it was sacrifice, it was a fight, we had good sequences with the ball. We need to keep improving but tonight we saw a team with fight and a great attitude.”
Looking Ahead: Season Finale
With their final road game behind them, FC Dallas now turns its attention to the last match of the 2024 regular season. The team will host Sporting Kansas City on October 16 at Toyota Stadium. It promises to be an exciting conclusion to the season, as the club celebrates Family Night, presented by He Gets Us. Fans can catch the game at 7:30 PM CT on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV or listen live in English and Spanish on the FC Dallas app and Talk Radio 1190 AM.
For FC Dallas, the season finale presents one last opportunity to end on a high note before shifting focus to what lies ahead in the offseason.
