KPTV - FOX 12Timbers earn 1-1 draw in final match of season

Defender Futty Danso's equalizer in second-half stoppage time helped the Portland Timbers close their inaugural Major League Soccer season with a 1-1 road draw against Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 into the final moments of the match, Danso was on the receiving end of a Brian Umony cross from right side. The ball bounced across the box, through forward Bright Dike and to an unmarked Danso on the back side. Danso buried the ball into the back of the net to help the Timbers pull level. Real Salt Lake scored just before halftime on a goal by leading scorer Alvaro Saborio.

The Timbers (11-14-9, 42pts) completed their first MLS season by earning points in each of their final three road matches. Danso scored his third goal of the season, Umony notched his first MLS assist and defender Rodney Wallace totaled a team-high four shots.

Saborio scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season and took a team-best five shots, forward Fabian Espindola recorded his third assist and midfielder Will Johnson took three shots for Real Salt Lake (15-11-8, 53pts). Bound for the MLS Cup playoffs, Real Salt Lake was winless in its last six games of the regular season.

The striking pair of Saborio and Espindola linked up just before halftime to give Real Salt Lake a 1-0 lead. Espindola played in Saborio behind the Timbers backline and Saborio put himself in a prime position to force a one-on-one with Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins. As Perkins charged off his line, Saborio chipped a shot over the goalkeeper and the ball landed in an open net as the clock struck 45 minutes.

A handball called on Real Salt Lake defender Chris Wingert in the box set up the Timbers for a chance to tie the match with a penalty kick attempt in the 55th minute. From the spot, midfielder Jack Jewsbury's shot struck the crossbar, sending the ball over the goal.

Portland would get another chance in second-half stoppage time. Pressuring the Real Salt Lake defense throughout the second half, the Timbers had possession deep down the right side in second-half sub Umony. His cross in deflected off of Dike in front of goal and continued across the goal mouth. Danso ran in unmarked on the left post to fire home the late equalizer. 

Saborio was dangerous for Real Salt Lake throughout the match and had a pair of shots inside the first 10 minutes miss just wide of the goal. In the 12th minute, he nearly connected with a threatening cross from Javier Morales at the left post.

In the 42nd minute, a quickly taken free kick set up Real Salt Lake's Johnson for a sharp run into the box. Danso cut inside to get in front of Johnson's drive to block the threat. A minute earlier, Jewsbury's timely tackle cut short a charging run towards the box by Espindola.

Timbers forward Kenny Cooper tried to find the back of the net off a free kick in the attacking third in the 25th minute, but his ball was deflected on its way through and landed just wide of the target. Just before halftime, Cooper let loose on a shot from beyond 35 yards on frame, but Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando was in position to calmly secure the ball for the lone save of the half.

The Timbers showed life early in the second half, as midfielder Eric Alexander capped a charging run with a shot from 22 yards out that was tipped wide by Rimando.

In the 77th minute, midfielder Diego Chara moved the ball down the left side of the box and delivered a short cross in to the back side, where midfielder Kalif Alhassan was crashing in. Alhassan's half volley went just wide of the right post and into the side netting.

After being out-shot 11-7 in the first half, the Timbers held Real Salt Lake to just four shots in the second half as both clubs finished the contest with 15 shots each; Portland had three shots on goal to Real Salt Lake's one.

Copyright 2011 KPTV. All rights reserved.