Portland Timbers Escape Chicago Fire with 1-1 Draw

The Portland Timbers ground out a frustrating 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire, bringing home a single unsatisfying point from their Eastern Conference excursion.

The Timbers jumped on top of the Fire in the 18th minute as Diego Valeri bodied off a defender to win an errant clearance and get in on goal. With the ball at his feet, Valeri hit a simple shot from a tight angle, beating Fire keeper Sean Johnson at the far post and putting the Timbers up 1-0.

The Fire would strike back just two minutes later, getting the ball quickly down the pitch to Kennedy Igboanaike down the Timbers' right. With the Timbers' defense recovering Igboanaike slipped a ball into the box, finding recently returned striker David Accam, who touched the ball home past Jake Gleeson for the equalizer.

With the score level, the both sides looked to break quickly down the pitch and each managed to find chances. Valeri almost found the back of the net again in the 28th minute as he hit a curled shot toward the far post, only to see his shot skip just wide. The Timbers almost got on the board again in the 38th minute off a free kick as Valeri hit a curled shot on goal and Jack McInerney tried to send a flicked on header past Johnson, but instead put it wide of goal.

As the second half ground on, the Timbers ceded possession to the Fire and chance were few and far between.

The Timbers play at home on Wednesday, hosting the San Jose Earthquakes.