Anderson Julio’s 85th-minute equalizer gave visiting FC Dallas a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers on Saturday.
Just four minutes after Cristhian Paredes put Portland ahead, Julio responded. The Timbers couldn’t clear the ball out of their end and Julio capitalized with a shot that deflected off defender Dario Zuparic and fooled goalkeeper James Pantemis.
Julio’s tally was the Toros’ second equalizer of the match. An own goal from Dallas midfielder Ramiro late in the first half gave Portland the initial lead, but Petar Musa leveled things in the 73rd minute on a penalty kick.
The draw extended FC Dallas’ seven-match (3-0-4) unbeaten run, but Los Toros (9-11-11, 38 points) dropped below the playoff line. The San Jose Earthquakes’ 1-0 win over San Diego FC on Saturday elevated San Jose into the ninth and final Western Conference playoff spot, with Dallas sitting in 10th place with three matches to play.
Seventh-place Portland (11-10-11, 44 points) could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory but remain in good shape to reach the postseason.
The Timbers had a season-high 24 shots in outshooting Dallas by a 24-16 margin. Portland also had a 9-4 edge in shots on target.
FC Dallas goalkeeper Jason Jackson was sharp in making seven saves against the aggressive Timbers attack. Pantemis stopped two of his four shots faced.
Two minutes into first-half stoppage time, Timbers forward Kristoffer Velde sent a corner into the box. Ramiro misjudged his header attempt and sent the ball into his own club’s net.
FC Dallas struck back on Musa’s clinical penalty-kick conversion in the 73rd minute. The penalty kick was awarded after Finn Surman fouled Logan Farrington in the box, and Surman may have been fortunate to receive only a yellow card on the play.
Musa’s team-leading 17th goal extended the forward’s scoring streak to four games. Ten of Musa’s goals have come over his last 10 regular-season games.
Paredes’ temporary go-ahead goal was a highlight-reel effort. Paredes passed to Kristoffer Velde on the edge of the box and Velde sent a perfect one-touch bounce pass right back to a streaking Paredes for the finish.
–Field Level Media
