COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew drew Portland Timbers 1-1 on Sunday afternoon. The Crew were the better team in the first half with Kevin Molino scoring his first goal of the year. Cucho Hernandez could have had a goal as well. The game opened up in the second half with both teams going for a decisive goal. Yimmi Chara had a great chance in the opening minutes of the half. Eloy Room made several big saves. Derrick Etienne Jr. appeared to make it 2-0 in the 80th but he was ruled offside. A mad scramble in the fourth minute of stoppage time saw Santiago Moreno score on a broken play.
Timbers draw Crew at the death: Three things we learned
This game had a cagy playoff like energy to it. Portland looked second best in the second half. They found a way to get a result. The Caleb Porter Derby ended with intense emotions and his former team making his life more difficult.
After a scoring correction, we can confirm that Bill Tuiloma has been credited with the assist on the Santi Moreno equalizer…and he is okay 👍#RCTID
pic.twitter.com/FfJqeMWDry— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) September 18, 2022
Hot Boy is coming back, Columbus have a potential three headed monster in the attack:
Molino has missed significant time this year due to an ACL injury that dates back to last year. He’s now played 78 and 84 minutes in back-to-back games with a goal and an assist. With the international break coming up, he could be 90 minutes fit just in time for the final three games of the season. At his peak, he was a Best XI caliber attacker in this league. If he can be a quality third option, Columbus will be a threat if they can make the playoffs. He’ll be a great compliment to Hernandez and Lucas Zelarayán.
Portland Timbers are hanging around for a playoff push:
The Timbers are now unbeaten in their last five games, having won four straight going into this match. They’re now fifth in the table and three points above the redline. Portland isn’t guaranteed the postseason just yet. It’s a log jam around the red line in the Western Conference with six points separating fifth from ninth. They finish the season at home to LAFC and at RSL on decision day. That’s two tough games with LAFC making one last push for the Supporters’ Shield and RSL likely competing for their own playoff chances on the final day. But they’ve got a chance. And history shows this is a tournament team that is at their best when it matters most, just like the final moments against Portland.
The Crew still have frontrunner yips:
Columbus has dropped 13 points the last six games from a winning position. With Inter Miami getting a result later in the day, Columbus is now one spot below the red line. There’s tension. Lots of fans are starting to question Caleb Porter. He’s got two aces up to in Zelarayán and Hernandez. He’s got defensive corps that’s shown in the past they can be great. On talent, this is not a mid table team. There has to be something to all the dropped points. Maybe it’s poor adjustments late in games. Maybe it’s a mentality or intensity issue. Whatever it is, it’s real and it needs to be addressed. Time is running out.
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