An eight-goal thriller in Allianz Field between the visiting Portland Timbers and Minnesota United Loons where both teams in the end drew to a final score of 4-4.
Sebastian Blanco opened the scoring just thirteen seconds into the game, with a nice pass from Jaroslaw Niezgoda inside the box as Blanco shot past Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
The score favored the Rose City side 1-0, but the Loons’ response came in the ninth minute when a corner kick coming from Emmanuel Reynoso and found a wide open and unmarked Franco Fragapane pushing the ball with a header to the disbelief of Claudio Bravo.
As the local Loons with two more scores in the first half and with a 3-1 lead going into halftime with goals from Bongokuhle Hlongwane in the 21st minute with a rebound and left alone by his mark Diego Chara and Luis Amarilla in the 41st minute with a solo run.
The combination of Santiago Moreno and Sebastian Blanco pulled one back for the Timbers in the 50th minute.
After a play where the Timbers took a free kick once again, Jaroslaw Niezgoda again scored in one of the most bizarre of ways by a header with his eighth goal of the season to tie the game at 3 goals each.
Still, with the Timbers were not done, and it was on 65 minutes when Blanco shot from the edge of the box and with the looks of a vague hat trick, going inside goal and to the disbelief of St Clair.
In the end, the game official decided that this became an own goal by Kemar Lawrence and denied history in the making for Sebastian Blanco as he would’ve become the first Timber in their MLS history to score a hat trick.
Still, the Loons weren’t down and out as they put on a fight that in the end had its rewards. Four minutes later, it was the turn of Luis Amarilla in the 69th minute to leave the score at 4-4.
With the Portland Timbers being known to revive in the second half, again they delivered another amazing performance with a rally that in the end shared the spoils with Minnesota United in a match that had its share of physicality from both sides.
The Loons had a total of 17 fouls and 5 yellow cards and for the Timbers with 16 fouls and four yellow cards. The Timbers’ next match will be on Wednesday night against Nashville SC, and they will miss Diego Chara and Dairon Aspirilla both on yellow cards accumulation.
Goals
Sebastian Blanco 1’ PTFC, Franco Fragapane 9’ MIN, Bongokuhle Hlongwane 21’ MIN, Luis Amarilla 21’ MIN, Sebastian Blanco 50’ PTFC, Jaroslaw Niezgoda 53’ PTFC, Kemar Lawrence 65’ OG PTFC, Luis Amarilla 69’ MIN
Men of the Match
Sebastian Blanco, Santiago Moreno
Portland Timbers
Minnesota United FC
