PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Diego Valeri scored in the final minute of stoppage time to pull the Portland Timbers into a 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday.
The equalizer came after Robbie Keane’s header two minutes into stoppage time appeared to give the Galaxy the win. Los Angeles peppered Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts with shots all game, but couldn’t break through until Keane’s fifth goal of the season.
Valeri’s goal was his second of the year.
“We fell asleep at the end of the game,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. “A bunch of guys can do better on the play. But we played very well today, should have walked away with three points.”
Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan remained at 134 career MLS goals, tied with Jeff Cunningham for the league record.
Neither team was satisfied with the draw.
Portland, which finished with the best regular season record in the Western Conference last season, has only one victory so far this year, last weekend’s late 3-2 win over D.C. United.
“Bottom line is, we’ve not been good enough,” Timbers coach Caleb Porter said.
Arena and Keane were upset that Portland’s Donovan Nagbe wasn’t called for a foul on Juninho on a breakaway before Valeri’s game-tying goal.
“Some poor decisions we have to accept, and take responsibility ourselves as well, because the last minute of the game you shouldn’t be conceding a goal,” Keane said.
The Galaxy were coming off a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids last weekend, snapping a four-match unbeaten streak.
Los Angeles was without center back Omar Gonzalez, who hurt his left knee in the first half of the loss at Colorado. He’s being held out as a precaution so that he can take part in the U.S. national team’s training for the World Cup.
Gonzalez and Donovan are expected to report Wednesday to the U.S. team’s training camp at Stanford.
Portland was hurt early when defender Michael Harrington left the match with an apparent right ankle injury. The ankle had bothered him early this week. Later in the game Portland midfielder Diego Chara came off after what appeared to be a left hand injury, replaced by Ben Zemanski.
“For me it’s just disappointing,” Timbers defender Jack Jewsbury said. “We’re better than we showed today.”
The Timbers looked to have a chance in the 34th minute but Valeri couldn’t get a shot off as he charged Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.
Most eyes were on Donovan, who looked to have a shot in the box in the 39th minute before Chara stole the ball.
Donovan is scoreless in all seven league games he’s played this season. He’s had four goals and three assists in seven career matches against the Timbers dating back to 2011 when Portland joined MLS.
“Landon was the best player on the field today,” Arena said. “Played very well. Good to see.”
Futty Danso’s header for Portland in the 59th minute hit the far post as the sellout crowd at Providence Park gasped. Ricketts tipped a hard shot from Galaxy forward Keane in the 82nd minute, but couldn’t stop Keane’s second shot in stoppage time.
There were five total minutes of extra time at the end of the match.
“We certainly deserved to win today, there’s no question about that,” Keane said.
The Galaxy finished with 21 shots to Portland’s 10.
“We can fault the referee as much as we want, but we were still the team in control at the end of the game where we could have denied a goal-scoring opportunity and didn’t get that done,” Arena said.
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