Cedric Bakambu scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time to help San Diego FC rally to a 2-2 draw against the visiting Seattle Sounders on Saturday night.
Bakambu, 35, had a chance for a miraculous brace and game-winner but Thomas recovered to make a sprawling denial in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Despite heroics from its September acquisition, San Diego (8-12-11, 35 points) saw its winless run extended to nine matches and finished the night in 12th place in the Western Conference, five points beneath the playoff line and the ninth-place LA Galaxy, who play LAFC on Sunday.
Dejan Joveljic scored his 13th goal of the season and fifth for Seattle (11-10-10, 43 points), which remained seventh in the West and one point ahead of eighth-place Colorado.
Sebastian Gomez added the third goal of his MLS career and second in as many games to give the visitors a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.
San Diego was handed a lifeline in the 60th after referee Allen Chapman consulted replay and ruled that Alex Roldan had hauled down Amahl Pellegrino in the penalty area. Anders Dreyer’s penalty kick was saved by Andrew Thomas, but Dreyer emerged from a scrum and was credited with scoring on the rebound.
San Diego’s search for a leveler appeared to be losing steam, with the Sounders increasingly dominating possession as time wore on. But on one foray forward, veteran striker Marcus Ingvartsen lured 20-year-old defender Stuart Hawkins into a needless shirt-tug on the left side of the penalty area.
Chapman pointed to the spot and Bakambu converted directly to give the hosts an unlikely share of the points.
Joveljic opened the scoring in the 50th minute on an excellent solo effort. After picking up a loose ball centrally about 35 yards from goal, he took a few touches forward and left before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that sailed beyond Pablo Sisniega’s dive and inside the left post.
Gomez doubled the lead after Hassani Dotson outran defender Manu Duah to a ball down the right flank and then drove in a low cross that Gomez finished with one touch.
–Field Level Media
