KISSIMMEE, FL – Jeremy Ebobisse scored his third goal in as many matches, finding the net on an 81st-minute header to lift the Portland Timbers to a 2-2 draw with LAFC on Thursday night and helping them secure the top spot in Group F at the MLS is Back Tournament near Orlando.
Portland’s Jaroslaw Niezgoda started the scoring off in the 7th minute when Sebastian Blanco set him up into a nice space between two LAFC defenders, allowing the Polish DP to put in an easy finish.
LA countered with back to back goals before the end of the first half, first off a blast from Bradley Wright-Phillips, as the Englishman cashed home a perfectly placed distance finish past Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark in the 36th minute. Mark-Anthony Kaye then added the go-ahead goal in the 40th, peeling off his defender on a corner kick and nodding home a wide-open header at the far post.
Los Angeles had more of the chances and possession, but the second-half insertions of Ebobisse and Diego Valeri gave the Timbers the energy to began equalizer chancesin the final 15 minutes. Ebobisse stabbed a one-time effort just wide of the far post, and then Dario Zuparic’s header forced Pablo Sisniega into a reflex save.
Portland faces FC Cincinnati in a Knockout round match on July 28th at 10:30 PM ET.
LAFC faces the Seattle Sounders in the next round on July 27th at 11:00PM ET.
