St. Louis City SC secured a 2-2 stalemate against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, preserving an impressive 15‑match unbeaten streak in Major League Soccer. The match, played at CityPark, saw the home side dominate possession but struggle to convert early chances into goals.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when recent signing Rafael Navarro, the club’s latest acquisition from the Mexican league, fired a low drive into the bottom corner to give St. Louis the lead. Navarro doubled his tally in the 38th minute, capitalising on a quick counter‑attack and slotting a header past Timbers goalkeeper.
Portland responded swiftly, with a set‑piece goal in the 44th minute that leveled the score at 2-2 heading into halftime. The second half was marked by tactical adjustments from both coaches, but the deadlock held until the 78th minute when veteran midfielder Kristoffer Velde, celebrating his 27th birthday, struck a late winner for the Timbers after a precise through ball found him in the box.
Despite the late concession, St. Louis City’s defensive unit, marshalled by captain Andrew Brody, kept the Timbers from adding a third, and the club’s unbeaten run now stretches back to early April. Head coach Bradley Carnell praised Navarro’s immediate impact, noting that the newcomer’s two goals “show the quality we’ve added to the squad.”
The draw leaves St. Louis City in third place in the Western Conference, three points behind league leaders Seattle Sounders, while Portland remains in the middle of the pack, hoping Velde’s birthday goal can spark a late‑season surge.
