Moreno scores at the death as Timbers snatch 1-1 draw with Crew

Santiago Moreno's late equalizer extends the Timbers' unbeaten streak to five games.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Santiago Moreno scored at the death and the Portland Timbers drew 1-1 with Columbus Crew SC Sunday afternoon at Lower.com Field to extend their unbeaten streak to five games.

• MATCHCENTER: Stats and Boxscore

Match Moments

7' - CHANCE (POR) - Midfielder Eryk Williamson whipped in a free kick from just outside the box for Dario Zuparic on the back post but the center back's header was just wide of the goal.

36' - GOAL (CLB) - The Crew took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Lucas Zelarayán side-footed a pass in the box to Kevin Molino who then scored.

39' - CHANCE (POR) - Down the other way, Santiago Moreno worked with Dairon Asprilla in the area with Asprilla curling a shot just over the bar.

58' - CHANCE (POR) - Williamson rolled a ball out to Moreno on his right who then quickly squared it to the penalty area for Yimmi Chara. Chara's one-timed shot from close range was saved by Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room.

59' - CHANCE (POR) - A minute late, defender Bill Tuiloma's thumping header off a corner was parried away by Room.

90' - CHANCES (POR) - Midfielder Marvin Loría, working the ball down the left side, slipped a ball into Moreno but his shot was deflected just over the bar. On the ensuing corner, Jaroslaw Niezgoda's header was looped high as well.

90+5' - GOAL (POR) - With Portland pushing to find a late equalizer, Moreno was able to play the hero. The Timbers kept pressuring the Crew in their own area and with Tuiloma getting knocked down outside the box, the ball fell to Moreno who blasted a shot from 20 yards out into the lower right corner to tie the game at 1-1.

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The Portland Timbers head into the international break in fifth place in the Western Conference, three points clear of the playoff line. They next host Los Angeles FC on Oct. 2 at Providence Park (12pm PT, ABC) at Portland's final home regular season match.

Notes

• The Timbers (11-8-13, 46pts) are in fifth place of the Western Conference. 
• Portland is unbeaten in five straight matches, posting a 4-0-1 record in that stretch (Columbus, Minnesota, Atlanta, Austin, Seattle).
• Portland has scored 37 of its 51 goals this season in the second half of a match, which is third best to Austin FC (40) and LAFC (42).
• The Timbers have scored in 18 consecutive matches, tallying 31 goals during that span.
• Portland has scored in 28 of their 32 games, only LAFC (29) have scored goals in more matches in the league this season.
• The Timbers improved their record to 6-3-3 against the Crew, including the 2015 MLS Cup.
• While at the helm for Portland, Giovanni Savarese is 2-0-1 against Columbus and against former Portland head coach Caleb Porter. 
• Santiago Moreno registered his seventh goal of the season.
• Moreno is tied with Sebastián Blanco for a team-leading 22 points this season, as each have seven goals and eight assists. 
• Moreno has contributed to a goal in three straight games (2g, 1a).
• Portland is one of three teams in the league with four players who have scored seven or more goals this season, alongside of the Philadelphia Union and LAFC. 
• Bill Tuiloma tallied his second assist of the season.
• Tuiloma is the 10th player to record multiple assists for Portland this year. 
• Juan Mosquera made his MLS debut for the Timbers as a second-half substitute. 
• Portland will play its final regular season match at Providence Park this season on Oct. 2 against LAFC.

Portland Timbers (11-8-13, 46pts) vs. Columbus Crew (9-7-15, 42pts)
Sept. 18, 2022 – Lower.com Field (Columbus, Ohio)

Scoring Summary:
CLB: Molino (Zelarayán, Santos), 36
POR: Moreno (Tuiloma), 90+5

Misconduct Summary:
CLB: Morris (caution), 10
POR: Y. Chara (caution), 25
POR: Tuiloma (caution), 45
POR: Mabiala (caution), 66
CLB: Díaz (caution), 68
POR: Moreno (caution), 71
CLB: Hernández (caution), 90+3

Lineups:
POR: GK Ivacic, D Mabiala (Mosquera, 82), D Zuparic, D Tuiloma, M Bravo, M D. Chara (Fogaça, 88), M Asprilla, M Williamson (Paredes, 82), F Y. Chara (Loria, 82), F Blanco (Niezgoda, 68), F Moreno

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bingham, D Van Rankin, M Ayala, F Ikoba

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Asprilla, Moreno, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 21 (Asprilla, 7); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 3

CLB: GK Room, D Santos (Sands, 84), D Williams, D Degenek, D Moreira, D Díaz (Etienne, 68), M Nagbe, M Morris (Artur, 90+4), M Zelarayán, F Hernández, F Molino (Yeboah, 84)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bush, D Anibaba, D Farsi, M Igbekeme, F Hurtado

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Hernández, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (four players tied, 1); FOULS: 7 (Morris, Zelarayán, 2); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2

Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Morgante
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Attendance: 20,421
Weather: Mostly sunny, 71 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial