An equalizing goal by midfielder Jack Jewsbury helped the Portland Timbers end a five-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas before a sellout crowd of 20,438 at JELD-WEN Field on Sunday afternoon.
After a hard-fought first half, FC Dallas claimed the lead early in the second half as Scott Sealy scored the opening goal in the 51st minute. The Timbers played the final 38 minutes of the match with an extra man, as FC Dallas defender Zach Loyd was sent off after being issued a second caution early in the second half, and Portland capitalized. Unmarked at the top of the box, Jewsbury scored on a left-footed volley to level the score in the 79th minute.
Jewsbury scored his second goal of the season, midfielder Franck Songo’o took a season-high seven shots and midfielder Darlington Nagbe added three shots for the Timbers (5-12-5, 20pts). Portland pressured the FC Dallas defense throughout the match and held a 21-8 advantage in shots.
Sealy registered his second goal of the campaign, midfielders Brek Shea and David Ferreira were each credited with assists and Hartman logged six saves for FC Dallas (5-11-8, 23pts).
Trailing 1-0 with 11 minutes remaining, the Timbers were able to find the equalizer through Jewsbury. A cross from the right side by Portland’s Kalif Alhassan was punched out by Hartman. The high, looping ball fell to Jewsbury in space at the top of the box and the Timbers’ captain drove a volley into the back of the net.
FC Dallas claimed the lead in the 51st minute on Sealy’s second goal of the season against Portland. A quickly played ball from midfield by Ferreira down the left side allowed Shea to get in behind the Timbers backline. Shea delivered a pin-point cross into the box, where Sealy was making a run, and Sealy was able to convert for a 1-0 lead.
Portland nearly leveled the score in the 78th minute on a sequence in which Songo’o had a shot from inside the box blocked and forward Danny Mwanga had a follow-up attempt saved by the out-stretch hand of Hartman and then hit off the base of the right post. The Timbers out-shot FC Dallas 12-4 in the second half.
In a physical first half, the Timbers had a chance to take the lead on a free kick in the 38th minute. Forward Kris Boyd forced Hartman into a diving fingertip save as Boyd curled a hard, 20-yard shot in at the right post. Nagbe also had a chance, a few minutes prior, but lifted a shot from distance just over the top right corner of the goal.
Shea produced one of FC Dallas’ best scoring chances in the first half, when he collected a deflected ball in the box and fired a shot in on goal from the left side, forcing Portland goalkeeper Troy Perkins to make a save. Shea had another shot late in the first half just roll wide of the right post.
