Bagley, Justin Thompson score as Timbers tie Atlanta 2-2

Portland lose two players on red cards, and Silverbacks get equalizer in 88th minute

By Casey Michel

The Portland Tribune, Jun 12, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Portland forward Chris Bagley (left) battles Atlanta for the ball during the Timbers' 2-2 tie with the visiting Silverbacks at PGE Park. Bagley scored the game's first goal.

CASEY MICHEL / THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Chris Bagley wasn’t even supposed to play Thursday night. The Portland Timbers forward was looking forward to an easy night of riding the bench against the Atlanta Silverbacks, just as he had done for most of the season.

But when Andrew Gregor, one of the team’s scheduled starters, went out with a freak warm-up injury, coach Gavin Wilkinson promptly inserted Bagley into the game.

Talk about the right move.

Bagley rewarded his coach’s decision with the Timbers’ first home goal in league since April 26th — a span in which they went 0-2-2 — to help his team tie Atlanta 2-2 in front of an announced crowd of 7,862.

The start was only Bagley’s fourth in the United Soccer Leagues First Division this year, and even in those games the forward had been pulled before the contest was over. He hadn’t scored a goal this season, nor did he even have any points, but his preparation gave him the edge necessary to help Portland earn a draw.

“It’s frustrating, being a forward and not getting the chance to score goals … but that’s not what it’s all about,” Bagley says. “If you eat right, you sleep right, and you prepare, you’ll be ready.”

The long-awaited goal came in the 14th minute, when Bagley broke from the pack and into the top of the box. As the Atlanta defender slipped at his feet, Bagley used the outside of his foot to slip a roller past goalie Ryan McIntosh.

With the goal in the books, the Timbers seemed to find the scoring touch as the night continued, though not always to their benefit. Portland midfielder Miguel Guante took an Atlanta cross in the 29th minute and, instead of heading the ball safely over the net, placed the ball just under the crossbar to even the score.

Atlanta’s Jason McLaughlin was credited with the goal, his team-leading fifth of the year, but there was no question that Guante was at fault.

Scot Thompson redeemed his teammate in the 39th minute, as his midfield cross found the head of Justin Thompson and, with McIntosh nowhere to be found, an open net.

“It was a big goal at the time,” says Justin Thompson, who now has two goals this year. “We were already against the wall. Scot put a great ball in, and I was just able to get a head on it.”

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