The Portland Timbers nearly got another win on Saturday night at Providence Park but had to settle for a draw after giving up a late goal. Two Timbers defenders, Dario Župarić and Claudio Bravo would get their first MLS regular season goals in a 2-2 Timbers-Austin draw. Jon Gallagher and Will Bruin had the goals for Austin FC.
The Timbers had a few good early chances, especially from Franck Boli, but neither team seriously threatened to score. But in the 33rd minute, the Timbers would break through when Evander made a nice curling pass from the left side, and found Dario Župarić at the far post, who rose well to direct a nice headed shot across goal and into the net, and with his first career MLS regular season goal, had put the Timbers up by a 1-0 score. The Timbers also had a great chance just before the half with an Evander header off a free kick going just wide. But the score would be 1-0 Timbers at the break.
In the 59th minute, Austin would respond and score on a very similar play that the Timbers had scored on. Emiliano Rigoni made a nice run down the left side, and his cross to the far post eluded all Timbers defenders but Jon Gallagher headed it in at the far post, and the score was now level at 1-1.
But in the 71st minute, very much against the run of play, Evander played a pass to Claudio Bravo, who took a shot from 22 yards out that was low and didn’t appear to be too much of a threat but the Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver appeared to see the ball late and it slipped just inside the right post, and like Župarić, Bravo would get his first MLS regular season goal, and the Timbers had a 2-1 lead.
But in second half stoppage time the visitors would tie things up when Owen Wolff put in a nice high cross from the right side that Will Bruin got his head to, beating Aljaž Ivačič who never really had a chance for the save, and the score was 2-2.
The Timbers did have a chance with a late corner kick but had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
