PORTLAND — Bright Dike scored in the 79th minute to lift the Portland Timbers to a 1-1 draw with D.C. United on Saturday night.

The Timbers (7-15-9), eighth in the Western Conference, avoided elimination from the postseason race.

Chris Pontius scored on a penalty kick in the 60th minute to give United (15-10-6) the lead. D.C. snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped to fourth place in the Eastern Conference. United began the day tied with New York for third, but the Red Bulls beat Toronto to pull into a tie with Chicago for second.

Pontius's 12th goal of the season came after a hand ball call on Timbers defender David Horst, which had several Timbers in the referee's face. Horst was given a yellow card and Timbers fans shouted boos and expletives on the officials. The officials were also booed as they left the field after the game.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson took off after the officials, appearing to yell his disapproval and a bottle thrown from the stands came close to hitting the crew.