The Portland Timbers rallied from two goals down, then saw a lead disappear and ended up with a 4-4 draw at Minnesota. Sebastián Blanco scored twice and Jarosław Niezgoda also scored, and the Timbers also benefitted from a Minnesota own goal. Luis Amarilla scored twice for Minnesota, while Franco Fragapane and Bongokuhle Hlongwane also scored for United.
The Timbers got off to a dream start as a series of wonderful passes between Santiago Moreno, Jarosław Niezgoda, and Sebastián Blanco resulted in Blanco having a golden chance and chipped goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and scored just 13 seconds into the match, the fourth-fastest goal in MLS history, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to level the score, when in the 9th minute, a corner kick from Emanuel Reynoso was headed on by Luis Amarilla at the near post, to a diving Franco Fragapane who headed home, and the score was tied at 1-1.
In the 21st minute Minnesota would take the lead when Fragapane’s shot rebounded off the left post, but Bongokuhle Hlongwane was there to finish, and the hosts had a 2-1 lead.
Then just before halftime, Minnesota would add another goal to their lead when Luis Amarilla stole the ball near midfield and attacked down the left side, then cut back and curled a shot past a diving Aljaž Ivačič, and Minnesota had a 3-1 lead which would be the score at the break.
But only four minutes into the second half, the Timbers would pull a goal closer when a cross from Moreno found Blanco open near the penalty spot, and his one-time shot beat the Minnesota goalkeeper, and the score was now 3-2 Minnesota.
And only four minutes later, the Timbers would level the score as Claudio Bravo‘s free kick was headed just inside the left post by Niezgoda, and just like that, the score was now 3-3.
Then in the 65th minute, the match took another odd turn when Blanco’s attempted cross was deflected by defender Kemar Lawrence and past St. Clair, and the Timbers now had a 4-3 lead.
But in the 69th minute, Minnesota would get the leveler as a cross from Reynoso was headed across the goal mouth by Hlongwane, and then headed home by Amarilla to level the score at 4-4, which would be the final.
Aljaž Ivačič would record two saves for the Timbers, while Dayne St. Clair had four for the hosts.
