PORTLAND, Oregon (Sept. 27, 2025) – FC Dallas (9-11-11, 38 points) showed its resilience once again on Saturday night, battling back twice to secure a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers (11-10-11, 44 points) at Providence Park. The result extended Dallas’ unbeaten streak to seven matches while keeping their postseason hopes alive heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Record Hunt: Musa Keeps Delivering

Forward Petar Musa continued his scorching run of form, converting from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute after Logan Farrington drew a foul inside the box. The Croatian striker now has 17 goals on the season, just one shy of the club’s single-season record shared by Jason Kreis, Kenny Cooper, and Jesús Ferreira. Musa has also scored in four straight league matches, further underlining his importance to Dallas’ late-season surge.

Musa’s consistency against Portland has been particularly notable—he leads all Dallas players with three goals against the Timbers. With Dallas creating more attacking momentum in recent weeks, the striker appears poised to etch his name into franchise history.

Julio Strikes Late to Earn a Point

After falling behind 2-1, Dallas equalized once more through Anderson Julio, who scored his fifth goal of the season in the 85th minute. Julio’s timely finish capped another comeback for Dallas, which has earned 20 points from losing positions this season—third most in MLS.

The effort highlighted the team’s newfound resilience under head coach Eric Quill, whose squad refused to fold in one of the league’s most difficult road venues.

Streaking into Form

Saturday’s draw stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to seven matches, a season-best mark that includes three wins and four draws since August 9. Over that span, Dallas has scored in 10 consecutive matches, reflecting a sharp turnaround from earlier offensive struggles.

The club’s recent form has vaulted them back into playoff contention, with confidence peaking at the right time.

Garcia Debuts in MLS

The night also carried historic significance as 18-year-old midfielder Diego Garcia made his MLS debut. Garcia, who previously appeared for North Texas SC before breaking into the first team, became the 17th player to debut for Dallas this season—the most since the club’s inaugural campaign in 1996.

Substituted into the match late, Garcia added energy and composure in a difficult environment, fulfilling a dream he described as “inexplicable.”

Breaking the Mold in Portland

While Dallas’ overall record in Portland remains lopsided (1-8-6 on the road), the club has turned the tide in recent meetings. Saturday’s result extended their unbeaten run against the Timbers to four matches (2-0-2), showcasing progress in a traditionally hostile setting.

Consistency in Selection

For the first time since 2019, FC Dallas fielded the same starting XI in three consecutive matches. That consistency has been a stabilizing factor during the team’s unbeaten streak. Goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, acquired in the summer from San Diego FC, made his third consecutive start—his first such run in MLS—and finished with a career-high eight saves to preserve the point.

Postgame Reactions

Head coach Eric Quill praised his squad’s fight:

“All year long, I’ve talked about how resilient they are. To come into a place like this and be the aggressors shows a lot about what we’ve become. We probably could’ve taken all three points, but I’m proud of the fight, the team effort, and the brotherhood this group has built.”

Forward Logan Farrington echoed the sentiment:

“Credit to our team, we showed a lot of resilience today. After going down twice and responding both times, it shows what this team is about. It’s a big point for us, and we just need to keep the momentum.”

Looking Ahead

Dallas now turns its attention to the home season finale against the LA Galaxy on Oct. 4 at Toyota Stadium. The match doubles as Fan Appreciation Night, presented by H-E-B, and will be pivotal in the Western Conference playoff race.

With momentum, resilience, and history within reach for Musa, FC Dallas enters the final weeks of the season as one of the league’s most dangerous teams.