Timbers taste victory in final homestand, but FC Dallas steals away goal

The Portland Timbers defeated FC Dallas 3-1 in the first leg of the MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Championship, leading now in aggregate but conceding a dangerous away goal at Providence Park.

Portland captain Liam Ridgewell opened the scoring in the first half, leaping into the box on a corner kick and rushing into the net unmarked to notch his first goal of the season. Then, in the second half, Dairon Asprilla scored a jaw-dropping golazo to double the Timbers' lead.

A leg injury to Ridgewell saw him leave the match near the hour mark, with Norberto Paparatto coming on in his stead; that defensive replacement opened the door for Dallas, and David Texeira punished the Timbers with a cheeky close-ranged chip effort to cut the lead by one.

A late Portland goal gave the home team a third goal to celebrate, Nat Borchers and Maxi Urruti fighting for a loose ball in the box, with the former tapping it into the back of the net.

Texeira's goal is a treasure for the Hoops to take home to Toyota Stadium for the second leg of the series, as away goals act as the first tiebreaker between these two teams. It would be the last bit of fight for Dallas on the night, though, as the series now shifts to Texas.

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The Timbers will feel somewhat confident knowing that they put in a solid effort at home in the final game at Providence Park of the 2015 season. Should Portland advance to the MLS Cup Final, the club would need to travel to take on either the Columbus Crew or the New York Red Bulls, as both those teams placed higher in seeding at the conclusion of the regular season.