MLS: Portland Timbers, FC Dallas Battle To Stalemate In Scoreless Standoff

Written by Patrick Echatah

Portland Timbers had to settle for a scoreless draw against FC Dallas on Sunday, which cost them an opportunity to move up in the standings for the playoffs.

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In his first start since July 20, James Pantemis earned his sixth clean sheet of the MLS season after stopping six shots. Jimmy Maurer of Dallas, starting for the third time in as many starts as he had in the previous month, recorded his third clean sheet of the year with seven saves.

After the games on Saturday, the Timbers had already guaranteed a postseason spot, albeit the final wild-card spot. However, a victory on Sunday would have moved them up to eighth place.

Dallas, which has an interim coach, was already out of the postseason before to this weekend’s games and can only move up the standings among the teams that will finish outside the playoffs.

Portland created the first three scoring opportunities of the game. In the fourth minute, Maurer saved a right-footed attempt by Santiago Moreno. In the eighteenth minute, Felipe Mora and Jonathan Rodríguez both had attempts at goal, but Maurer stopped them both.

Bernard Kamungo attempted a long-range effort in the 28th minute to test Pantemis, but the Timbers custodian was equal to the challenge. Dallas then answered. In the 39th minute, Mora attempted another effort, but Maurer made a fast stop to ensure that there was no goal at the interval.

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Early in the second half, the Toros made an effort to end the tie. Pantemis was forced to make a stop in the 51st minute by a shot from Sebastian Lletget.

In the 65th, 66th, and 67th minutes, respectively, Lletget, Manuel Cafumana, and Kamungo added shots on goal; however, the Portland goalie turned away all three of these low-percentage attempts.

In the 78th minute, Evander joined in on the action for the Timbers with a shot on goal. After that, in the 88th minute, Mora found the goal but was unable to convert. Four minutes later, Cristhian Paredes had the last good opportunity to score the goal of the game when he attempted a right-footed drive from outside the box but Maurer turned it away.

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