FRISCO, Texas – The scorching summer heat isn’t all that’s hot in Dallas these days.
FC Dallas picked up their fifth straight win – their longest winning streak since 1999 – by defeating the Portland Timbers 4-1 on a Michael Barrios brace and second-half goals from Kellyn Acosta and Mauro Diaz at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.
Portland pulled one back on a stoppage-time penalty kick from Fanendo Adi.
With the win, FCD move four points clear of second-place LA Galaxy in the Western Conference with 38 points from 21 games. Timbers remain in a tie for fifth place in the West with 32 points from 22 games.
Dallas got on the board early after a failed Portland corner kick in the 12th minute. Dallas midfielders Acosta and Barrios initiated a counter-attack and alertly played give-and-go up the length of the field.
Acosta took the ball just outside of the penalty box in between three closing Portland defenders and snuck the ball to an open Barrios at the right-center portion of the box. The Colombian winger proceeded to slip through two defenders and fire the ball between Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey and the right post to give Dallas a 1-0 lead.
The home team’s second goal was also initiated in transition following a Zach Loyd clearing header from his knees. Diaz worked the ball up the field and threaded a pass to a cutting Fabian Castillo.
After making a nifty move, Portland defender Nat Borchers cleared the ball toward the top of the box, but the it found the feet of Barrios. The 24-year-old fired a shot from dead center that deflected off defender Liam Ridgewell and into the net for Barrios’ third goal of the season.
The Timbers did not go down quietly though as the first half came to a close.
The visitors nearly cut the lead in half in the 66th minute on a free kick into the Dallas box. Ridgewell made it through the Dallas defense to receive the lob, but his header sailed just over the crossbar. The big Timbers center back got on the end of another free kick just a minute later and had another chance to cut the lead in half, but his sliding shot went high once again.
Dallas put the game out of reach in the 69th minute, again off a counter attack. Acosta picked up a rebound near midfield and weaved his way through space and past defenders to reach the top of the penalty box. The Homegrown product fired a shot directly in line with the left post, but the ball curved back to the right and inside the post to make it just inside the goal and extend the Dallas lead to 3-0.
A pair of penalty kicks – one from Diaz in the 87th minute and one from Adi in stoppage time – added a few late tallies to the already decided match.
Both teams hit the road for a Sunday match next week, with Portland traveling to San Jose and Dallas to Chicago.
