Timbers Earn 1-1 Road Draw with Stoppage Time Equalizer against Columbus Crew

September 18, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Portland Timbers News Release

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Portland Timbers (11-8-13, 46pts) earned a 1-1 road draw with a stoppage time equalizer against the Columbus Crew on Sunday afternoon at Lower.com Field. After conceding to Columbus in the first half, Santiago Moreno leveled the match for Portland in the 95th minute to secure a point on the road.

Late-Game Heroics

Santiago Moreno registered his seventh goal of the season and is now tied with Sebastián Blanco for a team-leading 22 points this year, as both of them have tallied seven goals and eight assists. Portland is one of three teams in the league with four players who have scored seven or more goals this season, alongside of the Philadelphia Union and LAFC. Additionally, Moreno has contributed to a goal in three straight games for Portland, registering two goals and one assist. Bill Tuiloma earned his second assist of the season, becoming the 10th player to tally multiple assists for the Timbers this year. Portland has scored 37 of its 51 goals this season in the second half of a match, which is third best to Austin FC (40) and LAFC (42).

Playoff Picture

With the result, Portland extended its unbeaten streak to five straight matches (4-0-1) to remain in fifth place of the Western Conference standings. Just four points currently separate fourth place Nashville SC (47pts) and eighth place LA Galaxy (43pts). With two games left in the regular season, the Timbers will play their final home match of the campaign on Oct. 2 against LAFC and will face Real Salt Lake for their regular season finale on the road on Oct. 9.

Goal-Scoring Plays

CLB – Kevin Molino (Lucas Zelarayán, Pedro Santos), 36th minute: From the left side of the field, Pedro Santos played a ball into the feet of Lucas Zelarayán in the 18-yard box. Zelarayán took a touch and slipped an outside of the foot pass off to Kevin Molino, who ran at the goal and slotted a shot just inside of the far post.

POR – Santiago Moreno (Bill Tuiloma), 90+5 minute: Santiago Moreno attempted to play the ball wide, but it took a deflection off of Bill Tuiloma and bounced back to Moreno near the top of the box for him to fire a half volley into the corner of the net.

Notes

The Timbers (11-8-13, 46pts) are in fifth place of the Western Conference.

Portland is unbeaten in five straight matches, posting a 4-0-1 record in that stretch (Columbus, Minnesota, Atlanta, Austin, Seattle).

Portland has scored 37 of its 51…