Sebastian Blanco's 70th-minute goal rescued the Portland Timbers from a home defeat, but the Timbers couldn't capitalize on chances to win in the wild final minutes of a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire Wednesday night.
Nemanja Nikolic was originally credited with Chicago's 34th-minute goal, raising his league-leading goal total to 17 for the moment. But at halftime the goal was changed and credited to Arturo Alvarez, who drew the Fire level at 1-1.
The Timbers opened the scoring with a 24th-minute penalty from Fanendo Adi, his 10th goal of the season, after a handball in the box by Juninho.
Before Blanco's goal, the Fire took the lead 2-1 with Brandon Vincent's goal off a pass from Alvarez. Portland's apparent game-winner in the first minute of added time of the second half was waved off when Adi was called for a foul on his header into the net.
Goals
- 24' - POR - Fanendo Adi (PK) Watch
- 34' - CHI - Arturo Alvarez Watch
- 61' - CHI - Brandon Vincent Watch
- 70' - POR - Sebastian Blanco Watch
Three Things
- FIRE KEEP BURNING: Chicago moved its undefeated streak to 11 games (8-0-3) and are tied atop the Eastern Conference standings on 38 points with Toronto FC. This was Fire's fourth game in 12 days across all competitions, and without midfield star Bastian Schweinsteiger, yet Chicago still got the job done to take home a point in a difficult environment against a team it still has never beaten.
- TWO POINTS LOST FOR TIMBERS: Portland trailed 2-1 when Blanco scored to tie it, and the Timbers were the more attacking team down the stretch with chances to win. But as the Timbers have done often of late, they could not come up with a goal when opportunities were there. That's five straight games without a win for the Timbers, and the vaunted home-pitch advantage they have enjoyed seems diminished to some extent.
- YOUNGSTERS SHINE: Veterans and stars of both teams made an impact in the match, but a pair of young players also made their marks. Vincent scored his first career goal for the Fire, and 20-year-old Timbers man Victor Arboleda buzzed around the net for chances after coming on as a late sub, giving the Fire fits.
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