Kenny Cooper scored early and the Portland Timbers preserved their playoff chances with a 1-1 draw at D.C. United on Wednesday night.
After Dwayne De Rosario tied it in the second half for D.C., Timbers goalie Troy Perkins made two late point-blank saves to preserve the tie and eliminate United (9-12-12) from from postseason contention.
The Timbers (11-14-8) are only barely alive, needing New York to lose at home to Philadelphia on Thursday and then win their own finale at Salt Lake on Saturday.
Portland could tie New York in the standings with a win and a Red Bulls tie, but would need to make up a 12-goal differential in the process.
Cooper put Portland ahead in the 24th minute, heading in Rodney Wallace's cross from the left after getting away from two defenders.
De Rosario tied it in the 73rd when he sent a quick, turnaround shot past Perkins and inside the near post. He then nearly set up the game-winner twice. However, Blake Brettschneider's header in the 89th minute was ruled offside, and Jospeph Ngwenya and Brettschneider were both stopped by Perkins after De Rosario's cross in stoppage time.
