Portland takes first in Group F with 2-2 draw against LAFC

Substitute Jeremy Ebobisse scored his third goal in as many matches, finding the net on an 81st-minute header to lift the Portland Timbers to a 2-2 draw with LAFC on Thursday night and helping them secure the top spot in Group F at the MLS is Back Tournament near Orlando.

- Play Soccer Playoff Pick 'Em through the MLS knockout rounds

- Stream MLS is Back on ESPN networks, App | FC Daily on ESPN+

- Schedule, TV info: What you need to know | Group standings

Jaroslaw Niezgoda also scored his first MLS goal early in his maiden start for Portland (2-0-1, 7 points in the tournament; 3-1-1, 10 points overall). The Timbers will receive an extra day of rest by winning the group, and they will face FC Cincinnati in their round of 16 match on Tuesday.

Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his third goal in as many starts for LAFC, who like Portland had already guaranteed themselves a spot in the knockout phase prior to Thursday's match. LAFC (1-0-2, 5 points in the tournament; 2-0-3, 9 points overall) will oppose the Seattle Sounders in the round of 16 on Monday.

Mark-Anthony Kaye added a goal shortly before halftime that gave LAFC a 2-1 lead. But after conceding late, the draw means they'll next face the same Seattle side that knocked them out of the 2019 playoffs.

Los Angeles had more of the chances and possession, but with the second-half insertions of Ebobisse and Diego Valeri, the Timbers began to show signs of finding an equalizer in the final 15 minutes. Ebobisse stabbed a one-time effort just wide of the far post, and then Dario Zuparic's header forced Pablo Sisniega into a reflex save.

After LAFC failed to clear Bill Tuiloma's header from an ensuing corner, Tuiloma reached the ball for a second header across the penalty area. Ebobisse was next to reach it, and from about 9 yards out he directed a looping header back across goal between Sisniega and the right post.

Down early after Marvin Loria and Sebastian Blanco helped set up Niezgoda's seventh-minute strike, LAFC turned a deficit into a lead during a five-minute stretch.

In the 36th minute, Latif Blessing's long probing pass found Wright-Phillips, who turned, took three touches toward goal and then unleashed a ferocious strike from beyond the penalty arc that beat a diving Steve Clark.

A short time later, it was Kaye who headed LAFC into the lead, spinning away from Tuiloma to meet Brian Rodriguez's corner kick at the back post.