Spokane Velocity Drew Portland Hearts of Pine 3-3

A late penalty kick denied Spokane Velocity a guaranteed spot in the USL League One playoffs.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Soccer

Spokane Velocity Drew Portland Hearts of Pine 3-3

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Spokane Velocity played to a 3-3 draw against Portland Hearts of Pine at ONE Spokane Stadium. The result pushed back the team's opportunity to clinch a postseason berth.

Why it matters

Securing a playoff spot remains a primary objective for Spokane as the regular season reaches its final stages. The draw leaves the team searching for the final points needed to guarantee advancement.

Spokane recorded 32 total clearances in the match, with defender Ibrahim Covi accounting for 12 of those efforts. Portland controlled 58% of the possession during the second half of play.

The players

Nil Vinyals

He is a key offensive contributor for Spokane Velocity who recorded a goal and two assists in this match.

Carlos Merancio

He serves as the goalkeeper for Spokane Velocity and recorded four saves during the contest.

Diego Gonzalez

He is a player for Portland Hearts of Pine who secured the draw with a successful penalty kick in stoppage time.

Ibrahim Covi

He is a defender for Spokane Velocity who anchored the backline with 12 clearances during the match.

The details

Nil Vinyals led the Spokane offense with one goal and two assists during the first half of the match. Despite an early lead and a 10-3 shot advantage in the first half, Spokane conceded the equalizer when Nick Spielman fouled Diogo Barbosa in the box, allowing Diego Gonzalez to convert a penalty in the 90+7th minute.

Nil Vinyals scored the opening goal in the 38th minute.
Neco Brett added a goal in the 39th minute.
Andre Lewis scored for the team in the 45+3rd minute.
Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile scored for Portland in the 59th minute.
Diego Gonzalez converted a penalty in the 90+7th minute.

Season Trajectory

This result disrupts the immediate momentum Spokane Velocity built during their pursuit of a postseason spot. The draw forces the club to remain in a competitive battle for seeding as they move closer to the end of the regular season.

Spokane now holds 47 points, which leaves them just short of the threshold required to lock in a playoff position. The draw necessitates additional points in future matches to secure their standing in the league table.

The takeaway

Maintaining defensive consistency during stoppage time is critical for teams looking to secure late-season points. Close games often hinge on individual defensive fouls inside the box that can shift the outcome in the final minutes.