Portland, OR – Darlington Nagbe bagged a second-half tally and was a catalyst on the equalizer with less than 10 minutes to play as the Portland Timbers battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a thrilling 3-3 draw with Red Bull New York on Sunday at JELD-WEN Field.
The visitors got off to a flying start in the ninth minute in part because of some poor communication between Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and defender Mikael Silvestre.
Silvestre fed one back to Ricketts hoping for a clear, but Ricketts left the ball sitting in the penalty area Fabian Espindola banged it home to give New York the early lead.
Portland put the sides back on level terms just five minutes later as new Designated Player Diego Valeri broke through the Red Bulls backline with a deft touch and eased it past New York goalkeeper Luis Robles to tie the score.
But New York took the lead right back in the 24th minute courtesy of another error by Silvestre as he failed to control a bouncing ball and Espindola pounced on it. He took one quick touch and ripped it low into the far corner for the 2-1 edge.
It was 3-1 for New York just four minutes later as Jamison Olave popped home a low cross from Heath Pearce.
After the break, however, it was Portland that was on the front foot for almost the entire second half. The Timbers came close several times before pulling within one in the 56th minute.
Valeri worked his way to the New York penalty area and unleashed a wicked shot that could not be handled by Robles and Nagbe was there to put home the rebound to make it 3-2.
In the 83rd minute, Nagbe ripped a shot that was parried away by Robles, but the ball found its way to Jose Valencia, who put a low cross into the box that went off Olave and into the net to make it 3-3.
Portland continued to push for the winner and had a couple outstanding opportunities, but was unable to find the winner as the clubs shared the points.
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