Timbers Surrender Two Goals in Final Four Minutes, Draw 4-4 with Real Salt Lake

Portland’s first match following their ‘MLS is Back’ tournament championship, was a disappointing 3-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on August 23rd. The loss broke an eight-match win streak for the Timbers.

Starting line-up for the Timbers against Real Salt Lake.

Our Starting XI vs. @realsaltlake.#PORvRSL | #RCTID pic.twitter.com/LXO4ylzs6T

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 30, 2020

FIRST HALF

Diego Chara got the Timbers on the board first in the 6th minute with a right footed shot from the center of the box.

Diego Chara takes advantage.#PORvRSL | #RCTID pic.twitter.com/HW8bkp99S3

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 30, 2020

In the 19th minute, RSL evened the score at 1-1 after Corey Baird knocked one into the right corner of the net. However, in the following minutes the Timbers struck back to take a 2-1 lead. Jarek Niezgoda with a beautiful header from the center of the box. Diego Valerie assisted with a cross on a corner kick.

Jarek Niezgoda heads home his first at Providence Park.#PORvRSL | #RCTID pic.twitter.com/V1modp3jiJ

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 30, 2020

Portland was a bit sloppy toward the end of the first half, but managed to maintain a 2-1 advantage heading into the half. RSL had a 68% possession advantage, while out-shooting the Timbers 18 shots to just 6 in the first half of play.

SECOND HALF

The second half began with a bang for RSL, as Damir Kreilach scored on a header in the 48th minute. The goal drew RSL even with the Timbers at 2-2.

The Karate Kid Part II (2020) pic.twitter.com/G5YrB1oQyC

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 30, 2020

Sebastian Blanco came up huge once again in the 70th minute, scoring with his left foot over the keeper’s head. The goal gave Portland a 3-2 lead.

Magic from Seba Blanco, with a special birthday celebration for his daughter Feli, who turned 3 today! #PORvRSL #RCTID pic.twitter.com/7ah17CLGmC

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 30, 2020

Felipe Mora extended the Timbers’ lead to 4-2 and things looked good in the 85th minute.

Now that’s what you call teamwork.#PORvRSL | #RCTID pic.twitter.com/rDCf7cQ0ev

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 30, 2020

If you’ve watched the Timbers play, you knew the match was not quite over even with a two-goal lead late in the second half. Real Salt Lake is a club that is very hard to close out, and they never go away easy.

In the 90th minute Giuseppe Rossi put one in for RSL to pull with in one goal as the match went into stoppage time.

There was 4 minutes of stoppage time added, and RSL used every second of it. In the 94th and final minute of the match, Sam Johnson knocked in a left footed shot from the centrer of the box to the top left corner.

COREY BAIRD TO SAM JOHNSON IN THE 95TH!

4-4. Wow. #PORvRSL pic.twitter.com/58Y2gAFA01

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 30, 2020

The final seconds ran out as the match would end in a 4-4 draw.

The Timbers were hoping to earn three points at home, but had to settle for just one after conceding two goals in the final four minutes of the match.

Follow 750 The Game on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.