Timbers rally, end with 4-4 tie at Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sebastián Blanco accounted for three Portland Timbers goals, but Minnesota got the final equalizer as the two teams tied 4-4 on Saturday.

Blanco set a club record for the fastest goal scored in Portland’s Major League Soccer era when he tallied 13 seconds into the match.

It was the earliest goal scored in the league in 2022 and the fourth fastest in MLS history.

Minnesota (10-8-5) would respond with three goals for a 3-1 halftime lead.

Blanco scored his second goal in the 50th minute for Portland (7-6-10). Jaroslaw Niezgoda followed with a tying goal in the 53rd minute.

Blanco set up an own goal in the 65th minute as his shot deflected off the left foot of Minnesota’s Kemar Lawrence and snuck in the corner for a 4-3 Timbers lead.

Minnesota’s Luis Amarilla scored two goals, but it was his second in the 69th minute that leveled the match at 4-4.

“The mood from the team was a little disappointed and angry, too, because I think we were a good team today and we could have won this game,” Blanco was quoted on Timbers.com. “In the second half we opened the field, we played wide and created many chances.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t keep the result, but we know this field is difficult and we had to take advantage of the momentum.”

The Timbers, which extended its unbeaten streak to eight matches, outshot United 17-13, with seven shots on goal compared to six by Minnesota.

Dayne St. Clair stopped four shots for United and Aljaz Ivacic had two saves for the Timbers.

UP NEXT: Timbers host Nashville on Wednesday.

TIMBERS 4, MINNESOTA 4 (TIE)

Portland 1 3—4

Minnesota 3 1—4

First Half—1, Portland, Blanco, 4, 1st minute; 2, Minnesota, Fragapane, 4 (Amarilla), 9th; 3, Minnesota, Hlongwane, 2, 21st; 4, Minnesota, Amarilla, 6, 41st.

Second Half—5, Portland, Blanco, 5, 50th; 6, Portland, Niezgoda, 9 (Bravo), 53rd; 7, Portland, own goal, 65th; 8, Minnesota, Amarilla, 7, 69th.

Goalies—Portland, Aljaz Ivacic, David Bingham; Minnesota, Dayne St. Clair, Tyler Miller.

Yellow Cards—Chara, Portland, 18th; Boxall, Minnesota, 53rd; Chara, Portland, 62nd; Arriaga, Minnesota, 72nd; Ayala, Portland, 73rd; Benitez, Minnesota, 75th; Asprilla, Portland, 83rd; Reynoso, Minnesota, 90th; Lod, Minnesota, 90th+3.

Referee—Victor Rivas. Assistant Referees—Jeffrey Greeson, Jeffrey Swartzel, Sorin Stoica. 4th Official—Lukasz Szpala.

A—19,792.

Lineups

Portland—Aljaz Ivacic; Claudio Bravo, Larrys Mabiala, Jose Van Rankin, Dario Zuparic; David Ayala, Sebastian Blanco (Marvin Loria, 88th), Diego Chara, Santiago Moreno; Yimmi Chara (Dairon Asprilla, 76th), Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Felipe Mora, 90th).

Minnesota—Dayne St. Clair; Michael Boxall, Bakaye Dibassy, Kemar Lawrence, D.J. Taylor (Alan Benitez, 71st); Kervin Arriaga (Joseph Rosales, 76th), Robin Lod, Emanuel Reynoso; Luis Amarilla, Franco Fragapane, Bongokuhle Hlongwane.