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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Tally Stoppage-Time Equalizer in Draw against LA Galaxy

May 11, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Midfielder Diego Valeri tallied the game-tying goal in the final minute of second-half stoppage time as the Portland Timbers earned a come-from-behind, 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,814 fans at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon.

Valeri's second-half stoppage time equalizer in the 95th minute, the latest goal ever scored in a Timbers MLS match, canceled out a stoppage-time goal from Galaxy forward Robbie Keane that provided the visitors with a brief lead in the 92nd minute. Sunday's match marked just the second time in MLS history two teams have scored in second-half stoppage time after going scoreless in regulation.

Portland (1-3-6, 9pts) extended its MLS-club record home unbeaten streak to 21 consecutive matches with the draw, while earning a fourth straight result against the Galaxy since 2013. Portland has compiled a 2-0-2 record in its last four matches against their Western Conference foes, including a 2-0-1 mark at Providence Park.

Pushing for the equalizer, Portland pressured the Galaxy as the match entered the fifth, and final, minute of stoppage time. Helping create the scoring opportunity, midfielder Will Johnson collected a loose ball in the Galaxy penalty box before hitting a back-heel pass to Valeri, who delivered a strong shot that landed inside the far left post after Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo got a touch on the ball.

Just minutes earlier, Keane provided the Galaxy (2-2-3, 9pts) with the late lead as he streaked unmarked into the penalty box and headed a long throw-in from defender Dan Gargan past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

The Timbers, who extended their home unbeaten streak against Western Conference opponents to 20 consecutive matches with the draw, saw a golden opportunity hit off the post in the 59th minute as defender Futty Danso found room in front of goal, but nodded a header off the woodwork. Portland has hit the frame nine times in 10 matches this season, which leads the league.

Holding the Galaxy to just one shot on goal in the first half, Portland opened the second half strongly, delivering consecutive shots on goal as Valeri forced Penedo to make a diving stop to his left in the 53rd minute. On the rebound, forward GastÃ"n Fernández collected the loose ball and found midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe streaking into the right side of the penalty box. Nagbe's hard shot was bobbled by Penedo before the goalkeeper was able to smother the effort.

Portland attempted 10 shots, including four on goal, while earning a 10-8 advantage in corner kicks. Ricketts made four saves and helped keep the match level with a leaping stop, pushing a deflected Keane effort over the crossbar in the 81st minute and smothering an effort from Landon Donovan just a minute earlier.

Portland concludes its three-match home stand Saturday, May 17, against the Columbus Crew at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with a live television broadcast on ROOT SPORTS and local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

Notes:

- Sunday's capacity crowd of 20,814 marked the 57th consecutive regular-season sellout at Providence Park since 2011.

- Midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe made his 58th consecutive regular-season start Sunday. Nagbe has appeared in 77 of the team's 78 regular-season matches since the start of the 2012 MLS season.

- Midfielder Diego Chara was subbed out of Sunday's match due to an injury, the first time Chara has been removed from a match since July 20, 2013. Chara saw his streak of consecutive minutes played end at 1,688 minutes.

- The Timbers struck the woodwork for a league-high ninth time Sunday. Defender Futty Danso delivered a glancing header off the right post in the 59th minute.

- Portland extended its MLS-club record home unbeaten streak to 21 consecutive matches (12-0-9) with the draw against the Galaxy Sunday.

- With the draw, the Timbers logged their fourth straight result against the Galaxy. Portland is 2-0-2 in its last four games against LA, including a 2-0-1 mark at Providence Park since 2013.

- The Galaxy have not defeated Portland at Providence Park since July 14, 2012, a span of one year, nine months and 27 days.

- Midfielder Will Johnson tallied an assist and surpassed the 13,000 minutes played mark in the 64th minute against the Galaxy Sunday.

- Portland extended its home unbeaten streak against Western Conference opponents to 20 consecutive matches at Providence Park, dating back to the 2012 MLS season.

- Chara, Nagbe and defender Jack Jewsbury each made their 96th career start for the Timbers since 2011.

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