Svatok strikes late as Austin FC stuns Portland Timbers in stoppage time

Providence Park had allowed itself to dream of a comeback draw, but Austin FC had other plans for stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, off a corner kick, Oleksandr Svatok poked the ball home from close range to make it 1-2, the final score, just four minutes after Portland Timbers had leveled the match from the penalty spot. It was a heart-stopping finish to an MLS clash that was decided, literally, in the dying seconds.

The first half had just one man on the scoresheet: Facundo Torres. In the 24th minute, the Uruguayan received a pass from Joseph Rosales and finished with his left foot from the middle of the box to make it 0-1. It wasn't an isolated moment either. Earlier, Jon Gallagher had come close with a header that drifted just wide, and Torres tried his luck again before halftime without finding the target. Portland, for its part, created some danger through Cole Bassett and Eric Miller, but couldn't land a telling blow, and the teams went into the break with Austin in front.

The second half followed the same script: more chances at both ends, more blows traded, but the 0-1 held firm. Portland turned to its bench, bringing on Antony, who would end up being decisive, and started generating danger with shots from Kristoffer Velde and David da Costa that Brad Stuver and the visiting defense managed to keep out. The game changed in the 84th minute, when Brendan Hines-Ike handled the ball inside the box. VAR reviewed the play and confirmed the penalty for Portland Timbers in the 85th minute. Antony made no mistake from the spot in the 88th minute to make it 1-1, sending the stadium into a frenzy.

The celebration didn't last long. With the match already in stoppage time (six minutes added by the fourth official), Austin FC kept pushing down the flanks, and after a shot from Brandon Vazquez was saved, the rebound fell to Svatok, who buried it for the winning goal in the 92nd minute. There was still time for Kristoffer Velde to rattle the post, but it wasn't enough to force another equalizer.

By the numbers

The match was even on the field, with possession split almost 50-50, though Portland had more clear-cut chances.

According to our post-match estimate based on shot locations, Portland generated 2.047 xG to Austin FC's 1.538, a gap that reflects the home side's edge in volume of chances, even though the result ended up going the other way.

Our pre-match preview had given Portland Timbers a 54% chance of winning, against 22% for Austin FC and 24% for a draw, with expected goals of 1.97 for the home side and 1.22 for the visitors. The outcome ended up contradicting that projection entirely: the favorite not only failed to win, it lost after having clawed back a goal deficit.

What the result means

In the Western Conference, this result leaves Portland Timbers in 11th place with 28 points, and Austin FC in 14th place with 24, separated by just 4 points. Neither side is in good form in the standings, but the way this match ended, with Portland squandering a hard-fought equalizer, leaves a more bitter taste for the home side than for an Austin FC team that snatched the three points almost at the final whistle.