Second-half scores from Diego Valeri, Dairon Asprilla and Bill Tuiloma completed the Portland Timbers' comeback against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, with the team concluding their preseason trip to Tucson, Arizona, with a 3-3 draw in the 2021 Visit Tucson Sun Cup.
Sporting opened the game's scoring just before halftime through forward Khiry Shelton's 44th minute goal, with teammate Wilson Harris doubling SKC's lead three minutes into the second period. Seven minutes later, a Sporting foul on Timbers forward Felipe Mora gave Valeri a chance from the penalty spot, with the Portland captain's finish into the right of goal reducing Sporting's lead to one.
SKC midfielder Roger Espinoza restored his team's two-goal lead in the 64th minute before a second quick response from Portland, with Asprilla rounding Sporting's goalkeeper in the 66th minute before a short-range finish into an empty goal.
Portland completed their comeback in the 88th minute through Tuiloma, whose headed shot from near SKC's penalty spot left the teams even, 3-3.
Wednesday's result leaves the Timbers 1-0-1 in 90-minute games during their trip to Tucson, with Portland having defeated Phoenix Rising FC, 3-1, on Saturday. Portland split a pair of 45-minute scrimmages in Tucson on Tuesday, April 16, losing 2-0 to the Colorado Rapids before defeating Rising FC, 1-0.
The Timbers will now return to Portland ahead of their final preseason game, an April 30 match in Tukwila, Washington, against Seattle Sounders FC, before their competitive schedule opens on April 6 in Honduras against CD Marathón in Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League play.
Result: Portland 3, Sporting Kansas City 3
Goals, Portland: Valeri (52'), Asprilla (66'), Tuiloma (88')
Goals, Sporting: Shelton (44'). Harris (48'), Espinoza (64')
Timbers Starting XI: Claudio Bravo, Diego Chara, Yimmi Chara, Steve Clark, Jeremy Ebobisse, Larrys Mabiala, Felipe Mora, Cristhian Paredes, Diego Valeri, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Dario Zuparic
65th minute substitutions, on: Dairon Asprilla, Eryk Williamson; Off: Y. Chara, Paredes.
70th minute substitutions, on: Jeff Attinella, Pablo Bonilla, Tega Ikoba, Zac McGraw, Bill Tuiloma, Renzo Zambrano, three trialists; Off: Bravo, D. Chara, Clark, Ebobisse, Mabiala, Mora, Valeri, Van Rankin, Zuparic.
