RECAP | Portland Timbers storm back to draw 3-3 with Sporting Kansas City

Eric Miller scores his first-ever MLS goal to tie the game in the 81st minute

KANSAS CITY, KS. – Defender Eric Miller scored his first-ever MLS goal to tie the game in the 81st minute and the Portland Timbers stormed back from a three-goal, halftime deficit to draw 3-3 against Sporting Kansas City Sunday afternoon at Children's Mercy Park.

Evander and Felipe Mora each scored for the second straight match with Evander converting a penalty in the 64th minute and Mora heading in a goal two minutes later.

Today’s Goalscorers and Playmakers

Evander tallied his team-leading third goal today and first as a penalty kick. In his third appearance of the season, Felipe Mora scored his second goal in the 66th minute. Both of Mora’s goals this season have come in the second half after checking on to the field as a substitute. Eric Miller scored his first MLS goal today, also registering the game-tying goal of the match in the 81st minute. Notably, Evander and Mora logged consecutive goals in today’s road match after scoring a goal each against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 27. Jonathan Rodríguez tallied his first assist for the Timbers.

Fightback Mentality

The Timbers completed their first-ever comeback result after trailing by three or more goals today. Portland is one of nine teams to have scored seven or more goals in the second half of the match. Five of those goals have come in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the league so far. Notably, Portland has scored 14 goals through seven matches this season, tied for the most in the Western Conference and second most in the league. The Timbers have scored multiple goals in five out of their seven matches this season. Eight different players have scored for Portland this season and nine have tallied an assist.

Goal-Scoring Plays

SKC – William Agada, 13th minute: Erik Thommy dribbled into the midfield to find space before passing the ball to William Agada. The ball took a deflection off Santiago Moreno before Agada found it and hit a left-footed shot on his first touch into the top-right corner of the goal.

SKC – Dany Rosero (Memo Rodriguez), 38th minute: Off a corner kick, Memo Rodriguez served a ball into the penalty kick spot, where Dany Rosero rose to finish the play with a header.

SKC – William Agada (Robert Voloder), 48th minute: Dany Rosero took a free kick, sending the ball into the box to find Robert Voloder. Voloder, unmarked, headed the ball into the six-yard box for William Agada to finish the play with a right-footed shot into the middle of the goal.

POR – Evander (penalty kick), 64th minute: Kansas City conceded a foul in the box. Evander converted a goal from the penalty kick spot.

POR – Felipe Mora (Jonathan Rodríguez), 66th minute: Antony dribbled down the right wing and crossed a long ball to find Jonathan Rodríguez, who controlled the ball with his chest and sent it into the six-yard box. Felipe Mora tapped the ball in.

POR – Eric Miller, 81st minute: Cristhian Paredes rose in the box and headed the ball on target, forcing a save on Tim Melia. The ball rebounded into the six-yard box where Eric Miller pounced and finished the play with a right-footed ball into the lower-left corner of the goal.

MATCHCENTER

Notes

• The Timbers completed their first-ever comeback result after trailing by three or more goals today. 
• Portland is one of nine teams to have scored seven or more goals in the second half of the match. 
• Five of those goals have come in the last 15 minutes of the second half, tied for most in the league (Chicago, Minnesota). 
• Portland has scored 14 goals through seven matches this season, tied for the most in the Western Conference and second most in the league. 
• The Timbers have scored multiple goals in five out of their seven matches this season.
• Evander tallied his team-leading third goal today and first as a penalty kick. 
• In his third appearance of the season, Felipe Mora scored his second goal in the 66th minute. 
• Both of Mora’s goals this season have come in the second half after checking on to the field as a substitute. 
• Notably, Evander and Mora logged consecutive goals in today’s road match after scoring a goal each against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 27. Jonathan Rodríguez tallied his first assist for the Timbers.
• Eric Miller scored his first MLS goal today, also registering the game-tying goal of the match in the 81^st minute. 
• David Ayala registered his first start of the season and sixth appearance.
• Claudio Bravo made his first appearance in the 2024 campaign after coming back from injury.
• Eight different players have scored for Portland this season and nine have tallied an assist.

Next Game

The Timbers return to Providence Park to host LAFC on Saturday, April 13. Kickoff is set for 1:45pm PT and will feature a national broadcast on FOX, a stream on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish and local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

TICKETS | PORvLAFC

Portland Timbers (2-3-2, 8pts) at Sporting Kansas City (2-1-4, 10pts)

April 7, 2024 – Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS)

Scoring Summary:
SKC: Agada, 13
SKC: Rosero (Rodriguez), 38
SKC: Agada (Voloder), 45+3
POR: Evander (penalty kick), 64
POR: Mora (Rodríguez), 66
POR: E. Miller, 81

Misconduct Summary:
SKC: Rosero (caution), 25
POR: K. Miller (caution), 36
SKC: Rodriguez (caution), 48
POR: E. Miller (caution), 82

Lineups:
POR: GK Crépeau, D E. Miller, D K. Miller, D Araujo, D Mosquera (Bravo, 45), M Ayala (Chara, 54), M Paredes (Williamson, 90+5), M Evander ©, F Moreno (Mora, 45), F Rodríguez, F Antony (Asprilla, 89)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Pantemis, D Zuparic, F Fogaça

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Rodríguez, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Mora, Rodríguez, 2); FOULS: 20 (Paredes, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 1, SAVES: 3

SKC: GK Melia, D Voloder, D Rosero, D Leibold, D Davis, M Radoja, M Rodriguez (Vargas, 82), M Thommy, M Walter, F Salloi ©, F Agada (Pulido, 79)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Pulskamp, D Bassong, D Castellanos, D Fontas, D Pierre, M Hernandez, F Tzionis

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Agada, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Agada, 3); FOULS: 16 (six players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 7, SAVES: 5

Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Sorin Stoica
VAR: Jonathan Johnson
Weather: Sunny, 64 degrees
Attendance: 17,424

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.