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Timbers, Red Bulls Battle to 3-3 Draw


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(Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers)

March 3, 2013, 6:48 pm

It was a tale of two halves for Portland, who found themselves in a 3-1 hole at the half, but used an offensive onslaught in the second to escape with the draw.
 
It wasn't a pretty start for the Timbers' 2013 season. New York had an early 1-0 lead nine minutes into the game when a Mikael Silvestre defensive error lead to Fabian Espindola goal.


Five minutes later, Portland notched their first goal of the season off a beautiful run by Diego Valeri.

Listen to Valeri's goal

The Timbers defensive mistakes came back to bite them twice more in the first half, first when Espindola found the back of the net for the second time in the 23rd minute, and then once more in the 27th minute on a Jamison Olave goal.


The score was 3-1 at the half, and the Timbers Army had been taken completely out of the game.

Portland tightened things up, however, and Caleb Porter continued to stress an attacking offense. It worked in the 56th minute when Darlington Nagbe successfully putback a Valeri shot deflected by Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles, cutting the lead to 3-2.

Listen to Nabge's goal

The Timbers were able to find the equalizer in the 83rd minute, courtesy of an Olave own goal.


Portland has several opportunities to take the lead over the final fifteen minutes, the closest coming off a beautiful bicycle shot by Ryan Johnson in added time at the end of the game.

Ryan Johnson bicycle kick just misses

Nothing could find the net, and Portland salvaged a 3-3 draw and their first point of the season.

The Timbers out shot the Red Bulls 21-9 and held 63% of possession, but the early defensive miscues cost Portland a shot at three points.

Portland plays again on Saturday when Montreal comes to town.

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Caleb Porter spoke to the media after the game: