Portland Timbers v FC Dallas: Quill urges for humility in playoff push

Eric Quill is delighted with FC Dallas' performances in recent weeks, but urged them not to get ahead of themselves with four games left and Portland Timbers up next.

Dallas are ninth in the Western Conference on 37 points, just one point above the Houston Dynamo below them, but they have a game in hand over the teams surrounding them in the table.

Quill's side are unbeaten in their last six MLS outings (W3 D3), and after winning their last two home matches, are in a strong position heading into the remaining games of the regular season.

And Quill hailed his players' attitude, but noted they cannot get overexcited if they want to get the job done.

"They're playing great," Quill said, as quoted by the BigDSoccer substack.

"I mean, we have to stay humble and stay home, but we can't get ahead of ourselves, feel too good, and then go on the road to Portland and get stung, which would take away the momentum.

"We've got humble guys in that locker room who understand, with great veterans that have been around the game a long time and are helping our young players in the process.

"In every phase, they're executing the game plan, playing for each other, and reaping the rewards of their focus, concentration and mentality."

Portland, meanwhile, are also yet to secure their playoff place, but are seventh in the West on 43 points.

They have won just one of their seven games since returning to MLS action after the Leagues Cup, though that did come in their last home match against the New York Red Bulls.

Portland drew 1-1 with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday, with Phil Neville lamenting his side's wastefulness, highlighting it as an area they need to improve.

"It's indicative of our season that we haven't really punished teams," Neville said.

"Our Achilles heel this season is not punishing teams with opportunities to score. That cost us [against Vancouver], and I was disappointed."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Kamal Miller

Kamal Miller scored Portland's first goal by a center-back this season with an outside-the-box shot on Wednesday.

The goal had an expected goals (xG) value of 0.02, the lowest of any Timbers goal this season.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Petar Musa scored his 16th goal of the 2025 regular season on Saturday, matching his goal total from 2024.

Musa is the first player to have multiple seasons with 16 or more goals for FC Dallas, let alone in consecutive seasons.

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

Dallas have kept clean sheets in each of their last two matches against the Timbers (W1 D1), including a 2-0 win in August. Prior to that, Dallas had shut out Portland in just three of 34 all-time meetings in all competitions and just once in the last 30.

Dallas are on a six-match unbeaten streak (W3 D3), while winning consecutive matches for the second time this season. Dallas is looking to win three straight matches across all competitions for the first time since doing so in October-November 2020.

In Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Vancouver, Portland fired off 17 shots in the first half, with eight being on target. It was the Timbers' second-most shots in the first half of an MLS match (19 vs. San Jose Earthquakes in September 2014).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 53.1%

Draw – 24%

FC Dallas – 22.9%