FRISCO, Texas (Aug. 9, 2025) – FC Dallas returned to the win column in convincing fashion Saturday night, securing a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers at Toyota Stadium. The result, powered by goals from Petar Musa and Lalas Abubakar, marked Dallas’ seventh win of the season and extended its sellout streak to 29 consecutive home matches.
Fast Start from Musa
The home side wasted little time getting on the board. In the eighth minute, Musa latched onto a perfectly weighted ball, finishing with precision to notch his 13th goal of the campaign. The strike tied Shaq Moore’s April 27 effort against Inter Miami as the fastest goal for Dallas this season and continued the Croatian’s blistering form—six goals in his last four appearances.
The early breakthrough energized the Dallas attack, which pressed high and forced Portland into turnovers. While the Timbers tried to settle into possession, Musa remained a constant threat, making intelligent runs in behind and drawing the attention of Portland’s backline.
Abubakar Opens His Dallas Account
The match’s decisive moment came in the 61st minute when defender Lalas Abubakar rose above the crowd to head home Sebastian Lletget’s curling corner kick. It was Abubakar’s first goal for FC Dallas and made him the club’s 13th different goal scorer in 2025. The finish was also the first Dallas goal this season to come directly from a corner kick—an area head coach Nico Estévez has emphasized improving.
Abubakar’s goal gave Dallas breathing room and allowed them to manage the game more comfortably, forcing Portland to chase while the home side controlled possession and tempo.
Collodi Steps Up in Net
Making just his third MLS regular-season start, Homegrown goalkeeper Michael Collodi turned in another composed performance. The 23-year-old registered three saves en route to his second career shutout, improving to 2-1-0 as a starter. His quick reactions denied Portland’s Evander from close range in the 75th minute, preserving the clean sheet.
Collodi’s performance underscores the depth emerging in Dallas’ goalkeeping ranks, providing steady competition for the starting role down the stretch.
Debut for Don Deedson
The night also saw the debut of Louicius Don Deedson, the Haitian international acquired earlier this month from Danish side Odense Boldklub. Introduced in the second half, Deedson became the 15th player to make his Dallas debut in 2025, immediately injecting pace and creativity into the attack. While he didn’t find the scoresheet, his movement and willingness to take on defenders drew applause from the home crowd.
Sellout Atmosphere in Frisco
Saturday’s victory unfolded in front of another packed house, as 11,004 fans filled Toyota Stadium despite ongoing east-side renovations. The sellout was the club’s 29th straight, a testament to the growing energy around the team and its fan base.
Post-Match Outlook
With the win, FC Dallas improved to 7-11-7 (28 points), gaining ground in the Western Conference playoff race. The clean sheet was the club’s first in league play since July 13, providing a needed defensive boost. Musa’s scoring surge has been equally vital—his 13 goals rank among the top in MLS this season.
Portland, meanwhile, dropped to 10-8-7 (37 points), missing an opportunity to climb further up the standings. The Timbers managed periods of pressure but struggled to break down a disciplined Dallas defense anchored by Abubakar and Nkosi Tafari.
Looking Ahead
Dallas will aim to build on the momentum when they continue their homestand next weekend, with hopes of turning Toyota Stadium into a late-season fortress. If Musa maintains his current scoring pace and Collodi continues to impress between the posts, the club could yet mount a push toward the postseason.
For now, Saturday’s result offered a reminder of what Dallas can achieve when its attack is clinical, its defense organized, and its home crowd in full voice.
