Portland Timbers have beaten Dallas 1-0 to move to the top of the MLS Western Conference.

A goal from Darlington Nagbe just after the break was enough to give the home side all three points.

Portland had the game's first big chance when Diego Valeri headed Michael Harrington's delivery against the crossbar after 15 minutes.

They were almost made to pay 10 minutes later, when Michel's effort from just outside the box went just wide, before Donovan Ricketts denied Andrew Jacobson with a good save.

Five minutes into the second half, Portland took the lead when, after a clever through-ball from Kalif Alhassan, Nagbe fired his shot into the top corner from inside the box.

Frederic Piquionne should have doubled the lead five minutes later, but he could only hit the outside of the post after finding space in the penalty area.

Michel missed a header for the away side with 10 minutes to go, before Ricketts tipped Zach Loyd's powerful effort over the bar to preserve the lead in the final few minutes.