An own-goal by Portland’s Nat Borchers gave the listless Galaxy a 1-1 draw against the Timbers in Los Angeles in a clash of the last two MLS Cup champions.
Fanendo Adi had given reigning title holders Portland the lead in the 52nd minute, taking advantage of Rafael Garcia’s hesitation to belt a low drive into the bottom right corner.
But Borchers, who enjoyed an otherwise solid outing, handed an equalizer to the hosts in the 84th, diving in a bid to clear Sebastian Lletget’s cross but instead heading into his own net.
Borchers’s miscue came after the Timbers were infuriated by Nigel de Jong’s ugly challenge on Darlington Nagbe.
Nagbe left the game injured while Dutch midfielder de Jong, signed by the Galaxy in February after negotiating his exit from AC Milan, drew only a yellow card.
In other games on Sunday, Chad Marshall’s injury-time strike gave the Seattle Sounders a much-needed point with a 1-1 draw against the Dynamo in Houston.
Giles Barnes had put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute, taking advantage of some sloppy Seattle defending to arc a shot over Sounders keeper Stefan Frei.
Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid’s second-half substitutes sparked what had been a listless starting lineup, and the Sounders poured on the pressure in the later stages.
Their efforts paid off when Raul Rodriguez failed to cope with Oalex Anderson’s cross, leaving Marshall to finish in injury time.
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“We took the game to them in the second half,” said Schmid. “Our movement was quicker and we were better.”
New York City FC and the Chicago Fire, who combined for seven goals in their first meeting of the season, couldn’t find a breakthrough at Yankee Stadium, where a goalless draw left City still in search of a first victory at home.
The Fire appeared to have taken the lead on the hour when rookie defender Jonathan Campbell headed the ball into the back of the net on a set piece, but match official Mark Geiger waved it off after consulting with one of his linesmen.
City’s Spanish star David Villa was a dangerous presence, with two attempts denied in the first half by Matt Lampson, who also saved another Villa effort after the interval.
