Loons allow late goal and settle for 1-1 draw at Portland

Minnesota United flipped back to Page of its playbook scoring on set pieces to take a second-half lead on the Timbers on Saturday But the Loons gave up an equalizer in stoppage time and were forced to settle for a - draw in Portland Ore The Timbers were able to salvage a point on their -year anniversary celebration at Providence Park With San Diego and Vancouver playing to a draw in Southern California MNUFC - - points squandered a chance to move into a first-place tie with San Diego The Loons success on set plays returned when they scored on a recycled corner kick in the th minute with Anthony Markanich s header finishing off a great cross from Julian Gressel But in the second minute of stoppage time Omir Fernandez got between Loons defenders Jefferson D az and Gressel to points at the back post He finished a cross from Juan Mosquera who put a shot off the crossbar moments earlier Markanich has scored four goals in the last five matches to give him six on the season Gressel had his third assist since joining Minnesota in May Minnesota was more dangerous in the first half with an - edge in total shots but Felipe Mora s shot on a counterattack was the best overall chance of the first half But the Portland forward s shot went straight to goalkeeper Dayne St Clair in first-half stoppage time With veteran leaders Michael Boxall and Wil Trapp given respites outside the starting lineup St Clair wore the captain s armband for the first time this season Boxall received the armband when he subbed in alongside Trapp at halftime Briefly Joaqu n Pereyra and Nico Romero s bookings for yellow cards on Saturday will product in both Argentines being issued one-match suspensions for accumulation against St Louis City next Saturday Sam Shashoua will go on loan with Birmingham Legion in the USL Championship for the rest of the season the club announced Saturday Joseph Rosales grabbed his right hamstring when he subbed out in the th minute