The Portland Timbers became the first team to walk away with a point from FC Dallas stadium this year, though the spoils seem shortchanged after a Kenny Cooper penalty kick cancelled out Darlington Nagbe’s opening goal to end the match knotted up at 1-1.

Caleb Porter of Portland and Schellas Hyndman of Dallas both fielded several different players in the starting lineups, a short recovery time following this midweek match surely influential in their personnel decisions.

Kalif Alhassan and Frederic Piquionne started over Ryan Johnson and Rodney Wallace, while Andrew Jean-Baptiste came on in a perhaps more permanent role at centerback after Mikael Silvestre was ruled out for the season following an unfortunate knee injury in the club’s last outing.

Injuries and suspensions forced Hyndman’s hand, George John and Andrew Jacobson joining Jackson as spectators in the stands. In their stead entered London Woodberry in central defense, while Je-Vaughan Watson and Fabian Castillo assumed roles in the middle of the park.

The defensive duo of Jean-Baptiste and Mamadou ‘Futty’ Danso was keen to create chemistry early on, some clever passing nearly catching them out as a Danso run up field ended with an errant pass that the Gambian did well to recover from to snuff out an early chance for the hosts.

Alhassan also looked to impose himself on the match early, but a shot from distance by the Ghanaian went well high of Raul Fernandez’s crossbar. FCD’s Castillo went one better after finding space on the left, the angle proving too acute for the Colombian to test Donovan Ricketts’ far post.

Castillo did well minutes later to cut a pass back into the path of an onrushing Blas Perez, the Panamian thwarted by the timely intervention of a Danso tackle. The home side pressed on when Perez headed a cross back to David Ferreira, and the Colombian skied his effort wastefully into the upper echelons of a sparsely populated supporters section.

Kenny Cooper continued the torment for his former employers when he struck side netting, the one time Timbers striker blushes saved by the offside flag. Almost immediately after Piquionne, one of the men now leading the line for Portland, displayed his skill to find space inside the Dallas eighteen.

Dallas denied the Frenchman, but the ball fell to Alhassan, who sent a curling cross to the far post, where Diego Valeri slid a foot through the ball that an alert Fernandez parried a quarter hour into the contest.

Piquionne was ever so close to opening his account for Portland only minutes later, a breakaway blast denied by Fernandez, who pushed it onto the post. The forward again got in behind the Dallas defense courtesy of a Diego Chara pass, but Piquionne failed to find the frame as the strike sailed high and wide of the goalpost.

Cooper then showed some more of the traits he built a reputation for in Portland, showing a knack for finding an opening only to squander it with a poor second touch that allowed Jean-Baptiste time to recover.

The visitors were beginning to control possession after weathering early pressure from their hosts, the Timbers passing for the most part nullifying the pace of Dallas through the half hour point.

Portland’s growing dominance was illustrated defending as well, Chara tracking back to execute and expert tackle to clear the ball off the foot of former league MVP Ferreira, who looked comfortably in on goal.

Chara then made a box to box run after exchanging passes in midfield, a lung busting run earning a too tame finish as the Colombian’s cross went straight into the gloves of Fernandez.

Ricketts found FCD’s next shot more challenging, Castillo rounding Jean-Baptiste to unleash a left footed volley that the Jamaican palmed wide at the near post as halftime approached. Intermission arrived at a stalemate, both sides creating quality chances only for misfiring forwards and naturally gifted netminders to preserve clean sheets.

The intensity of the first half carried over to the second, too much so for Ferreira, who pulled up lame minutes after the break as a suspected hamstring strain suspended play momentarily.

Only back on the field moments later Ferreira battled a ball loose in midfield, and Castillo snatched on to it to provide a leading pass for Perez. Perez slid as he shot, slightly stunting his strike as Ricketts deflected the strike away from the danger area.

Ferreira soon determined his night was over in the 53rd minute, asking to be taken off as Eric Hassli was inserted into the proceedings, the Frenchman well known in Cascadia after an earlier stint at the Vancouver Whitecaps.

It was Alhassan who earned the next opportunity a minute later, an open shot from outside the area lacking the strength to threaten a goal as Fernandez too comfortably corralled.

Hassli then made himself known as he barrelled through the center of Portland’s box, the striker going to ground as the referee waived play on. The non-call was to the advantage of Dallas, who were unable to capitalize as Castillo sent the chance soaring into the stands.

In the 63rd minute Alhassan exited in favor of Wallace, the Costa Rican hopeful of another second half goal to earn his squad points on the road. Portland captain Will Johnson was next to try his luck from afar, the shot kept low only to veer to the left of goal and out of bounds.

Castillo then found Cooper again open deep in Timbers territory, a free header at the back post too soft as Ricketts relievingly wrapped up. Ricketts was helpless shortly after when Michel picked out Perez near the penalty spot, the striker in anguish as he watched his header carom off the post.

Portland retaliated with a wave of offense of their own, a Wallace cross finding Darlington Nagbe waiting at the back post, the Liberian making no mistake as he buried the volley from close range in the 70th minute. The goal marked the first conceded by Dallas at home this season, the second in this stadium for Nagbe to go with a previous tally here over a year ago.

Hyndman made his first unforced change of the match a minute later, Bobby Warshaw on for Michel, who had so nearly notched an assist of his own before Portland went on top.

Hassli then pounced on a failed clearance, a swinging left-footed side volley headed away gamely by Danso. Hassli was gifted another chance from Danso moments later, the defender thankful the forward’s right foot was less accurate.

Ben Zemanski came on for Valeri two minutes later, but before the midfielder could get a touch his teammate Jean-Baptiste was whistled for a penalty kick in the 76th minute after getting tangled with Perez.

Insult added to injury in the form of a yellow card, and the second year centerback will feel even more hard done by after watching the replay, yet seasoned striker Perez was well within his rights to go down and showed no hesitation when presented the opportunity.

The equalizer came via the right foot of none other than Cooper, the forward smacking the ball past Ricketts into the left side of goal in the 77th minute. While traveling members of the Timbers Army felt aggrieved, a tying goal was no less than an attacking Dallas team deserved.

A handball infraction by Dallas at the top of the box provided Portland a chance to regain the lead, the skipper unable to replicate his matchwinning set piece delivery from several weeks ago.

The other Johnson then came on for Piquionne in the 82nd minute, his first involvement an offside call against him denying the Jamaican a more positive impact.

Perez then set up Cooper again, who let loose a volley from the top of Portland’s box with Ricketts stretching superbly to tip over the bar.

Wallace then proved instrumental again as he put Zemanski in behind the Dallas back four, the midfielder’s first touch popping the ball up a bit too high for a clean follow through on the second.

Full time passed and injury time was waning as both sides sought a late goal, only for the youthful exuberance of Jean-Baptiste to offer Dallas another chance as he took Hassli down in an aerial tussle. On the ensuing free kick Ricketts rose highest to claim it, and was grateful for the final whistle as Dallas looked the more likely to score with time dwindling.

The unbeaten runs of both sides are extended as the points are shared, Dallas disappointed at dropping their first points at home while Portland leaves discontent with a draw.

That mentality will serve the Timbers well as they head into this weekend’s fixture at home to Chivas USA, a lone point from the Lone Star state only a third of what they hope to attain on Sunday.