Dallas will wrap up their two-game homestand on Thursday when they welcome the Portland Timbers to Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Over the weekend, the Toros lost their second successive MLS fixture, 1-0, to FC Cincinnati, while the Timbers won their third straight match, 3-2, over Minnesota United.
Match preview
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After a solid start to his managerial tenure in Dallas, Peter Luccin has seen his side lose consecutive matches, falling further behind the Western Conference playoff line.
Luccin had won his first two matches in charge, but successive defeats have put this team in 11th, eight points behind the Seattle Sounders for the final post-season berth.
Their defeat on Saturday was the 10th for this team in MLS this year, equalling their mark from the previous campaign, with seven of those losses being by a single goal.
Before their loss to Cincinnati, Dallas had claimed at least a point in seven consecutive home matches across all competitions.
Another defeat on Thursday would match their longest losing run at Toyota Stadium this year (two), while they have not been held goalless in consecutive league contests at home since August 2021 (two).
If they can emerge victorious in this match, the Toros will win their eighth MLS home game of 2024, surpassing their total from the previous campaign (seven).
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For well over a month, the Timbers have been in sparkling form domestically, going unbeaten in seven consecutive league fixtures.
Should they avoid defeat in this match, Portland will surpass their longest stretch without a domestic loss from a year ago (seven games).
A victory, meanwhile, would be their fourth consecutive triumph in this competition, making it their longest MLS winning run since 2022 (four).
Against Minnesota United last weekend, Phil Neville's side won for a third time this season after conceding the opening goal.
Portland are currently fifth in the Western Conference table with 30 points, one fewer than the Colorado Rapids for fourth.
While they have points in three consecutive domestic affairs against the Toros, the Timbers have not won a regular-season contest at Toyota Stadium since 2014 (2-0).
Team News
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In their loss to Cincy, Dallas were without Tsiki Ntsabeleng due to an illness, Carl Sainte sat out with a lower leg issue, Patrickson Delgado was sidelined because of a leg injury and Jesus Ferreira continues to deal with a hamstring strain.
Paxton Pomykal will not return this season after tearing some cartilage in his left knee, Alan Velasco is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, while Geovane Jesus is also out with an ACL tear.
Tarik Scott and Tomas Pondeca debuted with the Toros for the first time this year, while Marco Farfan surpassed 10,000 minutes played in MLS regular-season play.
The Timbers were missing Marvin Loria in their previous encounter, with the veteran midfielder still recovering from his knee surgery.
Maxime Crepeau and Kamal Miller will be away on international duty at the Copa America for Canada, while Miguel Araujo may be available, as Peru were knocked out of that tournament in the group phase.
Evander had a goal and an assist on Saturday for the seventh time this season, with their other strikes coming courtesy of Jonathan Rodriguez and Santiago Moreno.
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Junqua, Ibeagha, Tafari, Farfan; Fraser, Illarramendi; Ansah, Lletget, Kamungo; Musa
Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Mosquera, McGraw, Zuparic, Bravo; Chara, Williamson; Moreno, Evander, Rodriguez; Mora
We say: Dallas 1-3 Portland Timbers
Even with a new manager in place, the Toros are still struggling on the back end, while the Timbers are littered with attacking qualities that should propel them to another comfortable triumph.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
