FRISCO, Texas – Who could have predicted the Portland Timbers’ decision to rest their starters in Sunday’s regular season finale would prove so valuable? Only a clairvoyant who foresaw a Wednesday red card, one that left the Timbers playing down a man for the final 39 minutes of their 2-1, Western Conference Knockout Round victory at FC Dallas in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The result puts the Timbers in the conference semifinals for the fourth time in six years. With Larrys Mabiala earning a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity red in the 58th minute, it took an entire team effort to make Diego Valeri’s two goals hold up.