Stats Perform
·24 July 2020
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsStats Perform
·24 July 2020
Portland Timbers advanced to the MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage as Group F winners following their 2-2 draw against Los Angeles FC.
Jeremy Ebobisse's 81st-minute equaliser clinched top spot for the Timbers, who finished two points clear of LAFC on Thursday.
Portland will now face FC Cincinnati in the last 16, while LAFC will take on Seattle Sounders for a place in the quarter-finals in Orlando, Florida.
The Timbers hit the front in the seventh minute through Jaroslaw Niezgoda at Walt Disney Resort, where the Polish forward beat the offside trap before tucking the ball underneath LAFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega.
Bradley Wright-Phillips became the first LAFC player to score in each of his first three appearances for the club following his 36th-minute equaliser before team-mate Mark-Anthony Kaye put the reigning Supporters' Shield holders ahead five minutes prior to half-time.
But Portland substitute Ebobisse – who replaced Niezgoda – restored parity nine minutes from the end after heading home from a corner.
Meanwhile, New York City benefited from a dramatic late draw as Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy crashed out of the tournament in Group F.
Cristian Pavon converted a 91st-minute penalty to salvage a last-gasp 1-1 draw for the Galaxy against the Dynamo.
Houston – who required victory to advance – were on track to move through to the last 16 thanks to Darwin Quintero's 17th-minute opener before Pavon equalised from the spot after Maynor Figueroa was penalised for a foul.
The result means the Dynamo and Galaxy, both winless from three matches, are both eliminated with NYC progressing to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams in Group A.
New York City and Toronto will go head-to-head in the round of 16, with the winner to face either the Timbers or Cincinnati.