Recap: Nagbe scores late to hand Timbers 2-2 tie at TFC

TORONTO – The Portland Timbers scored first and last at BMO Field, coming away with a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Wednesday night in a clash between the bottom teams in each conference.

Darlington Nagbe saved the point for Portland when Toronto's porous defense allowed him to head home a pass from Steven Smith in the 82nd minute.

After Sal Zizzo scored in the first half for the Timbers, Eric Hassli and Luis Silva scored for Toronto in the second half to put the Reds into the lead, but they were unable to hold on for the three points.

Toronto (5-13-5) still have the worst record in the league with 20 points while the Timbers (5-12-6) have just 21.

HIGHLIGHTS: TOR 2, POR 2




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There was a bright spot for the Reds, however, as Hassli opened his TFC account and added an assist in his 80-minute home debut after being acquired via trade from Vancouver on July 20.

But soon after he came out some of the luster wore off, with Portland notching the tying goal two minutes later.

The Timbers were coming off a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Aug. 5 that ended a five-game string of losses while Toronto had lost their two previous games.

Portland had the first chance at goal in the eighth minute when David Horst headed a corner kick over the goal. There was also an anxious moment for TFC when defender Adrian Cann, returning from a knee injury, had an attempted clearance blocked by the dangerous Kris Boyd precariously close to the goal, though it amounted to nothing.

Toronto’s first threat came from Hassli, who tested Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts with a close-range shot from the left side in the 19th minute.

OPTA Chalkboard: Porous defenses hurt both teams

But Portland nettedd in the 21st minute off a corner kick  when an unmarked Zizzo knocked in a rebound from close range. Eric Avila was on the line and had blocked the ball after Horst got his head to Smith’s corner, but could do nothing about the rebound. It was the seventh goal conceded by Toronto league play this season from a corner kick and the fourth scored by Portland from such a situation.

Hassli’s first goal for Toronto FC tied the game in the 57th minute as he pounded home the rebound high into the net after Ricketts saved from Silva, who then put Toronto into the lead six minutes later. Ashtone Morgan worked the ball deep into Portland territory then put a cross in front that was flicked by Hassli to Silva, who put the ball home.

Toronto’s next game is Saturday at home against Sporting Kansas City while Portland visit the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

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