FC Dallas - Don't Mess With Texas

[ninjaskill]

For the conference championship we head up to the north west of America to take on the defending champions, Portland Timbers. In the regular season we drew away and won one game at home and drew the other home game, so it should be a very tight tie.

Portland Timbers vs FC Dallas Preview

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Adi carries the main goal threat for Timber with Valeri also has to be watched as the man with the caps for Argentina can run the midfield. Ex-West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell is the club captain and best defender in the team. FC Dallas will be going with the team that started both legs of the win over San Jose.

Kick off

5th​ Minute: Urruti presses forwards but, meets a number of defenders. He played the ball back to Pfeffer who hit it wide to Barrios. He cut inside and weaved past two defenders to get inside the box. His shot was curling but, never came close to curling in despite the good position he was in.

11th​ Minute: Portland whip a free kick into the box and it is headed out to Urruti, he played the ball up to Pfeffer on the overlap and he sprinted forward. From just outside the box Pfeffer hit a shot away and it went only just high and wide of the goal, leaving the keeper breathing a sigh of relief.

21st​ Minute: Okugo got his pass blocked and the ball fell to Vytas who passed the ball inside to Valeri. He hit the ball wide to Okugo who chipped a ball over Grana for Mattocks to run onto. He sprinted into the box and was able to square the ball for Adi to run onto and fire into the goal form 3 yards out.

Portland 1-0 FC Dallas

Halftime

A decent first half for us but, we have wasted some promising positions and find ourselves behind which is a worry.

Second Half Kick Off

50th​ Minute: Pfeffer flicks on an FC Dallas clearance that Ridgewell easily gets to first. His second touch is awful however, and Urruti steals the ball from him and is in on goal. He takes a couple touches to get into the box and then fires low and hard but the keeper reacts quickly and pushes the ball behind for a corner.

Full Time

Portland Timbers 1-0 FC Dallas

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A quiet second half except for our massive chance that Urruti failed to take, we created some chances but, can’t get an away goal and again return to Dallas trailing 1-0 after the first leg.

Contract News

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Michael Barrios has been a great threat for us on the right wing so, I was happy to give him a small raise to tie him down for an extra couple years.
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[ninjaskill]

Western Conference Championship Second Leg

After a loss in the US North West we again will have to win at home to get into the near round, possibly by two goals. We won one and drew one at home against them so it is likely to be touch or go if we get past the defending champions or not.

Teams

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Usual formation and team for us as we look to get the win we need to get to the MLS Cup final.

Kick off

6th​ Minute: We get an early goal ruled out, a header from Gruezo goes in but only because Lamah tackled the goalkeeper before he could catch the ball.

Half Time

Dallas 0(0-1)0 Portland

A really quiet first half is concerning and tempts me to make changes but, I decide not to just yet.

Second Half Kick Off

48th​ Minute: Acosta throws the ball into Pfeffer in the Portland box. He took the ball inside with a couple of touches and he hit a powerful curling shot that the keeper got a hand to but, couldn’t keep out. A great goal for Pfeffer and a very important goal for us to make it 1-1 overall.


63rd​ Minute: Barrios wins the ball off of the left back just in our half and sprints forward as fast as he can. In acres of space on the right he whipped in a cross that the keeper came to claim but, Urruti got to it first and volleyed into an open goal to put us ahead.

88th​ Minute: Grana throws the ball into Urruti. He plays the ball to Ulloa on the edge of the box who hits a powerful shot. The keepers pushes it away and Pfeffer reacts quickest to poke home the loose ball and put us into the MLS Cup Final.

Full Time

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We are champions of the West as we win the conference final in somewhat nervy fashion, until Pfeffer struck late.

FC Dallas 3(3-1)0 Portland

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A game we dominated but only created a few chances in, fortunately we took those chances to get revenge on Portland for the season before and give us a chance to win the MLS Cup.

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Grana guarantees that he will start in the MLS Cup final in two weeks time after he says some very nice things about me and the impact I had on the win.​

 

[ninjaskill]

MLS Cup Final Preview

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FC Dallas will be hosting The New England Revolution in the MLS Cup after they knocked New York Red Bulls out on away goals following a 5-5 aggregate draw. Neither team has won the MLS Cup before but both have reached the final, Dallas fell to Colorado Rapids with a 107th minute own goal consigning them to defeat in 2010. New England Revolution meanwhile will be going into their 6th MLS Cup final and astoundingly haven't won the MLS Cup yet losing all 5 finals they have contested. Both teams will be desperate to pick up their first wins in what is the 20th season that both clubs have played in the MLS.

The MLS Cup is decided on a one-off game played at the stadium of the team who finished higher in the Supporter's Shield.

Goal Threats

Maximiliano Urruti

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The holder of the record for goals in a single MLS season will be looking to extend his record against the Revolution. Adept at finishing off crosses and lethal in one on ones the Revolution will have to keep a close eye on the Argentinian who has scored in both home playoff games that Dallas has played this season.

Kei Kamara

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The Sierra Leone born striker is the Revolution's biggest goal threat. He has played for a number of teams around the MLS and also has a Premier League goal to his name thanks to a loan spell at Norwich. The 6'3 striker is a big ariel presence and will offer a threat from set pieces and balls into the box.

Chance Creators

Roland Lamah

View attachment 87058The Belgian winger has come to MLS and made light work of it getting double digits for both assists and goals and winning the Newcomer of the Year. No defender seems able to match his pace on the wing and combined with his trickery makes him a player MLS defenders dread coming up against. His crosses to Urruti have proved fruitful for FC Dallas and is a supply line the Revolution will have to shut down.

Diego Fagundez

View attachment 87057Uruguayan born he moved to Boston when he was young and came through the Revolution Academy and into their first team where he has made a big impact. Capped by Uruguay at a U-20 level the attacking midfielder can pick a pass and a shot and the FC Dallas defensive midfielders will have to keep a close eye on him.

Rocks at the Back

Matt Hedges

View attachment 87056The captain of FC Dallas the strong centre back will likely enjoy the physical battle against Kamara that he will inevitably face. The key organiser of the Dallas back line he will ensure that everyone does their job and limit the Revolution's chances.

Zac MacMath

View attachment 87054Following Colorado's acquisition of Tim Howard MacMath wasn't getting the first team football he was hoping for and as a result demanded a trade and got on to New England. Capped for the US at youth level the 25 year old keeper is entering the prime of his career and will likely have to have a big game to keep Dallas from scoring.

Injuries and Suspensions

FC Dallas

FC Dallas have a clean bill of health heading into the match and no suspension issues to worry about either.

New England Revolution

Lee Nguyen a winger and Andrew Farrell a centre back who both likely would have played are ruled out by injury. Meanwhile, Xavier Kouassi was put on the season ending injury list in order to open up an extra roster spot so despite being fully fit will be unable to take part in the game.

Pre-Match Predicting and Betting

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FC Dallas are the favourites with the media and the bookies with home advantage likely being key to that. Both sides have only won 2 of their 4 playoff game so neither comes in in great form and in their only regular season match up New England won 2-0 at home.
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