Ghanaian centre-back Lalas Abubakar opened his goal account for FC Dallas in a commanding 2-0 home victory over Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer on Saturday.
The 29-year-old was a defensive rock throughout the match, playing the full 90 minutes and helping Dallas keep a clean sheet.
Dallas took the lead early in the 8th minute when Croatian striker Petar Musa capitalized on a mistake by the Timbers goalkeeper, who failed to clear a long ball played forward by Abubakar.
In the second half, the pressure paid off as Abubakar rose highest to meet a Sebastien Lletget corner and headed home in the 61st minute, sealing the victory for the home side.
His outstanding performance earned him the Man of the Match award, as he contributed both defensively and offensively.
Abubakar has now appeared 20 times this season, consistently delivering solid performances since joining Dallas in January 2025 from Colorado Rapids, where he spent five years.
The win lifts FC Dallas to 12th place in the Western Conference with 28 points, just two points away from a playoff spot. They will look to build on this momentum when they face Austin FC in their next fixture.
