Timbers advance to MLS Cup

FRISCO, Texas — The Portland Timbers survived a furious push from FC Dallas on Sunday to advance to the MLS Cup final for the first time.

A 2-2 draw at Toyota Stadium earned the Timbers a 5-3 win in the aggregate goals two-match series. But it didn’t come without plenty of tension over the final 20 minutes.

Nat Borchers made a critical block in front of goal and moments later Lucas Melano danced around Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez for the clincher.

“A great moment for this club. It’s our first trophy, but we want the big trophy,” said Timbers coach Caleb Porter.

That would be the MLS Cup, which the Timbers will battle for at 1 p.m. next Sunday on the road against Columbus. The Crew held off the New York Red Bulls to win the Eastern Conference title 2-1 on total goals.

It appeared the Timbers would sail into the final when Fanendo Adi scored in the 54^th minute to give the Timbers a 4-1 lead in the series and square the away goals at 1-1.

But the tenor of the match changed in the 68^th minute. Right back Ryan Hollingshead one timed a beautifully-weighted ball from Mauro Diaz for Dallas’ first goal. Moments later Diaz delivered a free kick for substitute Blas Perez to hammer home. That gave Dallas a 2-1 lead in this match and meant one more Dallas goal would send the series to 30 extra minutes.

Dallas continued to dominate possession and throw players forward. Well into stoppage time Perez was in position to tie the series when the ball fell to him 8 yards in front of goal. But Borchers slid across to knock his shot wide of the goal.

Portland goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey said Borchers’ block “won us the game out there.”

Kwarasey, who made a good reaction save in the first half on a David Texeria header, admitted he felt the pressure mount over the final 20 minutes of the match.

“They were throwing everything they had forward and they came with energy from another planet,” Kwarasey said. “Those young guys can run forever.”

A young Timber put an end to Dallas’ 2015 run by calmly eluding Gonzalez and flicking the ball just across the goal line after dribbling to the goal line near the right post. It was a well-executed counter attack from Melano – who had entered the match moments earlier for Dairon Asprilla — and by Diego Valeri.

“Dallas is a great team. You saw that in the second half,” Porter said. “We knew they’d throw everything at us. I’m proud of our guys for weathering the storm at the end. It wasn’t the way we certainly scripted it. But the maturity showed after we gave up the two goals.”

Adi scored his goal by shrugging off a defender as he took a pass from Diego Valeri, turned and finished with his left foot. The play started with Darlington Nagbe blocking a clearing pass to Dairon Asprilla, who passed the ball to Valeri deep on the right wing.

Portland played without starting center back Liam Ridgewell (thigh injury), but Norberto Paparatto played a strong match alongside Borchers in the middle of the Timbers defense.

Portland won at Columbus 2-1 in September. The Timbers and Crew finished with identical regular-season records (15-11-8). But Columbus had a better goal differential, which gives the Crew home field for the championship match.

TIMBERS 2, FC DALLAS 2

First half—None.

Second half—1, Portland, Adi 18 (Valeri, Asprilla), 54th minute. 2, FC Dallas, Hollingshead 3 (Diaz), 68th. 3, FC Dallas, Perez 6 (Diaz), 73rd. 4, Portland, Melano 2 (Valeri), 90th+.

Goalies—Portland, Adam Kwarasey; FC Dallas, Jesse Gonzalez.

Yellow Cards—Chara, Portland, 72nd.

Referee—Ismail Elfath. Assistant Referees_Sean Hurd. Joe Fletcher. 4th Official_Mark Geiger.

Lineups

FC Dallas—Jesse Gonzalez, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Je-Vaughn Watson, Michael Barrios, Kellyn Acosta, Ryan Hollingshead (Michel, 86th), Mauro Diaz, Victor Ulloa (Tesho Akindele, 56th), Fabian Castillo, David Texeira (Blas Perez, 66th).Portland—Adam Kwarasey, Alvas Powell, Norberto Paparatto, Nat Borchers, Darlington Nagbe, Diego Chara, Dairon Asprilla (Jack Jewsbury, 69th), Jorge Villafana, Diego Valeri, Rodney Wallace (Lucas Melano, 90th+), Fanendo Adi (Maximiliano Urruti, 85th).