Timbers Settle for Late Draw against Sporting KC

After an embarrassing 6-2 defeat to Seattle on Sunday the Timbers recollected well and drew Sporting Kansas City 1-1 on Wednesday at Children’s Mercy Park. Portland was shutting out Kansas City until stoppage time, it would have been their first clean sheet in over two months, but Daniel Salloi’s near-post strike past Steve Clark broke Timber hearts.

Kansas City obtained a massive 69% possession but Portland made use of their time on the ball taking the lead in the 17th minute.

Felipe Mora’s header from a Marvin Loria cross was the 7th goal of his campaign and the 7th headed goal for the Timbers this season. The early goal could have been met with little confidence considering Kansas City was 5-2-2 when allowing the first goal in a game, a huge reason they are top of the western conference.

The second half was more of the same, Kansas City controlling play and Portland defending well. Portland frustrated Kansas City and something that couldn’t be said on Sunday occurred, Portland didn’t have silly mistakes. Gio Savarese used all five subs before Kansas City even used one and the managerial choices seemed to be working well. Portland held on for 90 minutes but in plus-eight stoppage time, Daniel Salloi had an excellent solo run and put a great strike past the near post of Steve Clark two minutes into the plus-eight.

The draw sees Portland maintain the last playoff spot in the Western Conference while Sporting KC drops to second place in the west after Seattle grabbed all three points against FC Dallas. The Timbers stay on the road and travel south to face last-place side Austin FC on Saturday.

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