T&T midfielder Kevin Molino scored his first goal of the season in the US Major League Soccer but it was not enough to earn his Columbus Crew a win as Portland Timbers scored late in stoppage time through midfielder Santiago Moreno to earn a road point at Lower.Com Field.
The attack for the Crew was often ignited by Cucho Hernandez, who got started in the second minute with an open look that he sailed over the crossbar.
In the tenth minute, Diego Chara fouled Hernandez, setting up a dangerous set piece chance that ultimately came up empty for Columbus.
A pair of yellow cards were handed out in the tenth and 25th minutes: the first to Columbus’ Aidan Morris for his challenge on Diego Chara, and the second to Yimmi Chara for an incidental kick to the face of a Columbus defender.
In the 28th minute, Hernandez got back to work and fired a long shot that just missed the frame of the goal. One minute later, on the other end, Dairon Asprilla missed a header on the feed from Sebastian Blanco — a rare offensive opportunity for Portland squandered.
Columbus finally broke through to score in the 36th minute when Molino, who missed the start of the season due to injury made a run past a frozen Asprilla, and with no backup behind Portland’s right wingback on the day, he scored with ease to put the Crew up 1-0.
Molino, who was called up to the T&T squad for the upcoming international window, gave the home side the lead in the 36th minute when he scored his first goal of the season— and his first for the Crew since August 4, 2021.
Portland came out in the second half with an increased sense of urgency, putting itself in more promising positions to score, and in the 58th minute, Moreno put a perfect ball across to a streaking Yimmi Chara, but the shot was saved well by Columbus keeper Eloy Room.
Room made another impressive save one minute later as Eryk Williamson’s corner kick met the head of Tuiloma, who was able to put it on target. Moreno had a pair of corners smacked away by Room in the 62nd minute as well.
Hernandez had a pair of chances in the 75th and 78th minutes, neither of which found the back of the net, while in the 81st, Molino seemed to score the second goal for Columbus, but he was just a hair offside.
Portland brought on a trio of substitutes in the 82nd minute: new signing Juan Mosquera for Mabiala (Mosquera’s debut), Marvin Loria for Yimmi Chara, and Cristhian Paredes for Williamson. In the 88th minute, they brought on Nathan Fogaça for Diego Chara, hoping to add even more attacking prowess.
The Timbers had their share of chances down the stretch, but it was Moreno’s curling beauty from outside the box in the 95th minute — just as the referee was about to blow his whistle and end the match—that brought the game to a stunning 1-1 final score line.
There will be plenty of time to recover and refocus for the final three matches of the regular season, for the Crew though, with the international break beginning, and their next match being at home on October 1 at Lower.com Field against the New York Red Bulls.
The Crew has 42 points from 31 games, like Inter Miami CF, the club of T&T’s Joevin Jones in the race for the final playoffs spot, after their 32- win over DC United on Sunday but is behind based on total wins. Miami has 12, while Columbus has nine.
The Timbers (11-8-13, 46 points) ascend to 5th in the Western Conference with the draw, one point ahead of Minnesota United and one point behind Nashville SC with two games remaining on their schedule.