FC Dallas failed to score on August 6 for the last road game of the series but still managed a 1-1 draw after some late-game drama that featured an accidental penalty kick and a Portland Timbers player scoring on his own team. Both scores came well into penalty time at the end of the second half.
Nico Estevez, head coach for FC Dallas, flew off the bench in celebration as the tying goal went into the net.
“I was very emotional at the end because I felt that it was unfair that we were losing in the game,” Estevez said after the game. “It was something out of the ordinary to be losing a match where you were the better team.”
Statistically, on the night, FC Dallas was outshot by Portland 16 to 7, but two of the opportunities Dallas had were one-on-one opportunities for star forward Paul Arriola. Both shots missed wide of the posts by mere inches.
Portland took a 1-0 lead at the 93-minute mark on a penalty kick caused when Timbers midfielder Martin Loria attempted a shot that deflected off Dallas defender Matt Hedges’ arm. Loria took the one-on-one penalty kick. Goalkeeper Maarten Paes saved the initial shot, but the block rolled back to Loria, who chipped the ball into the net for the score.
“That’s a down moment,” Hedges said. “We defended well the whole time and [were] unlucky that it had to hit my arm … could’ve been anywhere else, but I blocked it. It is what it is. I saw when we went over the video; I knew he was going to call a penalty just because of how it looked. Obviously, it’s a down [moment].”
Just when it seemed like Portland, who came into the match with a significantly altered lineup due to injuries, would walk away with a victory, one of the more astounding goals of the season was made. The score will go down as the latest goal scored in MLS action in 2022, hitting the net at the 100-minute mark. It was also the final play of the game.
Hedges talked about the emotional roller coaster the game took in the final minutes.
“Then we’re in the 95th minute, and it’s one of those things where you think the game might be over, but I go up top, and we play a couple of good long balls,” Hedges said. “I get a flick, then something happens, and we get a corner, and we score again. It was a down and then a really up moment in a minute or two.”
Green smoke — Portland Timbers’ colors — was already pouring from the stadium display area when Jesus Ferriera lined up a hooking corner kick that skipped off the head of Timbers defender Diego Chara. The errant kick dropped into the far corner of the net to draw the game.
Hedges, who was involved in the game-tying goal, played a role in how Chara found himself out of position on the shot. Hedges was the Dallas player who was to run to the near post, causing Chara to move to block the run.
The tie gives Dallas one point in the Pacific Conference standings and keeps the team fourth overall. After playing two games in the northwest, FC Dallas will return to Toyota Stadium to face off against the San Jose Earthquakes on August 13.
