PT vs DAL Dream 11 Team: Portland looking to shake off a horrendous season when they take on Dallas today as they look to return the defeat doled out to them in the first fixture
Portland Timbers Vs Dallas MLS Best Dream 11 Team
A match which had regaled us back in April is back for its return leg with Dallas going to Portland this time in the land of the Major Soccer League as they look to inflict the double on a side who have endured a horrid time in the league. And if today’s match is anything to go by, we are set to have a real humdinger on our hands when these two face off.
The earlier fixture between the two had seen Dallas holding onto their 2-1 lead despite a scruffy closing minutes to the match. Taking a 1-0 lead after a VAR referred offside decision stood in Dallas’ favour, they went onto double their lead after Reto Ziegler stepped upto convert from the penalty spot in the 60th minute.
However, their lead was soon cut down into half after Portland’s midfielder Paredes stepped up above the entire opposition’s defence to head in a thumping header in the 67th minute. Buoyed by their goal, Portland who looked to end a stem of 5 consecutive wins away from home propelled themselves towards an emphatic finish, unfortunately falling short in the end by the smallest of margins.
Now taking on each other once again in the last of the 18 matches to be contested across Week 17 of the league, the two Western Conference teams know that the three points are worth their weight for both the sides at the moment. They both are entering the fixture looking to put behind them a dejecting run of results, one which have left the Timbers struggling in last place, a position befitting of the horrid season they have endured.
Probable Winner
Currently in fourth place in the league, Dallas will be looking to treat this match as an opportunity to further assure themselves of a top 4 spot, And they couldn’t have asked for a better opposition to get back to winning ways after they ended up squandering a 2-0 lead against the Vancouver Whitecaps to slip up an extremely vital 2 points.
However, they’ll be well aware that reverberating the dominant performance of the previous fixture between the two won’t be easy. As opposed to their away form, the Timbers have been more astute at home, winning 2 of their last 4 matches which sees them on an upsurge. This will be a feisty contested encounter but it’s the strike force where Dallas edge the Timbers and that is what will see them come out with a win here.
Goal-Keeper for PT vs DAL Dream 11
With both the sides guilty of having letting go goals aplenty in between them, we are opting for the better shot-stopper for this encounter. Steve Clark from the Timbers has been responsible for keeping his side in the game for several matches now, becoming a mainstay in between the sticks and he finds a place in our side.
Defenders for PT vs DAL Dream 11
Having let in 52 goals in between them, we aren’t going to rely too much on the defenders for this particular fixture. However, the Timbers have off late exuded confidence in us with an influx of defensive duties being drilled into the side, seeing them register a cleansheet against Houston Dynamo whilst at the same time keeping things tight against Philadelphia Union as well.
At the forefront of that showing has been centre back Julio Cascante and he’s making an entry straightaway into our side. On the other hand we have gone in with a two man partnership from Dallas in the form of Reto Ziegler and leftback Ryan Hollingshead.
With Ziegler being their official penalty taker and Portland prone to conceding errors in their box, we have to get the centre back into our side given the bagful of points we can all too easily incur of us.
Midfielders for PT vs DAL Dream 11
The one area that Dream 11 rewards massively is the tackling department and we are going to bring in a barrage of defensively minded central midfielders from both the units. The middle of the park is going to be an extremely important area of the pitch in this encounter with both the sides looking to control the area which could decide their fortunes at the end of the 90 minutes.
We’ll begin with the selections from the Timbers first with CDM Marvin Loria coming in alongside Brian Fernandez. He’s classified as a midfielder in the game but having been accorded a more attacking role of late, playing in the pivotal attacking position courtesy of his exuberant capabilities, Fernandez is a must pick for us.
The three selections from Dallas elsewhere with us opting for their more attack minded players over here. Holding fort for us in the attacking facet will be left winger Dominque Badki along with attacking midfielder Paxton Pomykal being opted by us as well. Edwin Cerrillo comes in as well given his ability to pummel attacks and come up with the timely tackles to curtail attacks.
Strikers for PT vs DAL Dream 11
Having managed to score just 25 goals, the strike option has been one that has massively let Dallas down this season. However, Jesus Ferreira upfront has taken the onus on himself to provide goals on a consistent basis, emerging as his side’s top scorer and we are going to pick him up.
The lone selection from Portland Timbers as well with Jeremny Ebobisee making a foray into our side. He’s been shifted to a more winger type role, functioning from the left before eventually drifting into a more central position and we see him forming a formidable unit alongside Fernandez.
Captain And Vice-Captain
Jeremny Ebobisee is our captain from Dallas while the Timbers’ Fernandez has been chosen as the vice-captain.
Match Details
Major League Soccer
Match: Portland Timbers Vs Dallas
Date And Time: 1st July, Monday- 8:30am IST
Venue: Providence Park
