Robin Lod scored in the 85th minute as Minnesota United rallied for a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers to clinch an MLS Cup Playoff spot on Saturday night in Saint Paul, Minn.
It was Lod’s fifth goal of the season and his the 34th of his career with the Loons. Wil Trapp set up the score with a looping through pass from the midfield stripe to Lod racing into the box. Lod knocked the pass down with a one-touch and then put a right-footed shot into the right side of the net.
Dayne St. Clair made six saves for Minnesota (14-6-9, 51points), which closed to within two points of idle first-place San Diego FC in the Western Conference standings. It marked the sixth time in seven years that the Loons have qualified for the playoffs.
James Pantemis finished with five saves for Portland (10-9-9, 39 points), which tallied on an own-goal by Loons defender Nicolas Romero.
Portland, coming in off a 0-0 draw at San Diego on Aug. 23, dominated possession (58 to 42 percent) during a scoreless first half, and held a 7-4 edge in shot attempts, including 3-1 in shots on goal.
Midfielder Matias Rojas had the best scoring chance in the first half for the Timbers with a spinning right-footed shot in the middle of the box in the fourth minute that forced St. Clair to make a diving save by the right post.
Minnesota didn’t get a shot on a goal until the 38th minute, a sharp-angled left-footed shot by Joseph Rosales from outside the left edge of the 6-yard box that Pantemis batted away with two hands.
The game opened up in the second half with Pantemis forced to make a double-save in the 49th minute, the first a leg save on a right-footed shot by Joaquin Pereyra in the middle of the box and then a deflection of Lod’s left-footed rebound try that went off the crossbar.
Portland took a 1-0 lead in the 79th minute on an own-goal. The score was set up when Antony booted a left-footed shot from the left side of the box that St. Clair knocked away with his left hand, but the ball caromed off the leg of Romero chasing back and went into the net.
The Timbers finished with an 18-10 advantage in shots, though both clubs posted six shots on goal. Portland had the edge in possession, 56.1 to 43.9 percent.
–Field Level Media
