Oleksandr Svatok scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to lift visiting Austin FC to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
Facundo Torres opened the scoring for the Verde (6-10-6, 24 points) in the 25th minute of what turned out to be their second consecutive road victory after failing to win any of their first 10 away fixtures.
Svatok’s winner from the second phase of the corner kick came five minutes after Antony had pulled Portland level from the penalty spot.
The Verde remain in 14th place in the Western Conference but moved within two points of the LA Galaxy and Seattle, and within five of ninth-place Minnesota and the playoff line.
In between, Portland (8-10-4, 28 points) sits in 11th place after its first home loss under new manager Marti Cifuentes
Svatok’s exuberant celebration suggested a far more motivated Verde team than during their woeful start to the season that led to the firing of manager Nico Estevez in May.
And it was the kind of goal that suggested grit and determination, regardless of style.
After Joseph Rosales’ initial in-swinging corner was partially cleared, Besard Sabovic headed the ball back into traffic at the top of the 6-yard box.
A Portland defender deflected the goal-bound effort with his thigh, but Svatok emerged to poke the next rebound off the sprawling body of goalkeeper James Pantemis and over the line. It was the Ukrainian veteran’s second MLS career goal over portions of three seasons.
Torres opened the scoring on the final touch of a slick combination through the middle, chipping over the charging Pantemis after link play that again included Rosales and Sabovic.
Antony’s penalty leveler was his first goal since late May after losing his starting job in July under interim manager Jack Cassidy.
The substitute earned the opportunity, working into the left side of the penalty area and striking a cross that struck defender Brandon Hines-Ike’s right arm.
Referee Guido Gonzales Jr. originally waved play on but was summoned to the replay monitor, where he determined the sequence to be penalty-worthy, and Antony struck a neat finish into the bottom right corner to tie the match.
–Field Level Media
