Despite being down a man for the majority of the second half, the Portland Timbers kicked off their Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign by defeating FC Dallas 2-1 in the Knockout Round Wednesday night at Toyota Stadium.
2 With a goal in each half, Diego Valeri became the first Timbers player to score a brace in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Valeri is also just the second Timbers player in all eras of the club to score a playoff brace, joining Brian Farber in 2009.
4 The victory was the fourth road win secured by the Timbers in their MLS Cup Playoffs history. Their road playoff record of 4-1-2 gives them the best road postseason winning percentage (.714%) in MLS history.
5 With multiple diving saves, goalkeeper Jeff Attinella used five saves to earn his first ever MLS Cup Playoff win. The five saves are the most by a Timbers goalkeeper in an MLS Cup Playoff match.
BONUS:
8,072 Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese played in the first MLS playoff game ever played, a MetroStars win in 1996. After that, he lost the next 4 MLS playoff games he played in.
After 8,072 days, 3 MLS teams as a player and 13 seasons rising up the coaching ranks, he finally has another MLS playoff win, this time as a head coach.
