TORONTO — It’s like Groundhog Day.

A 2-2 draw Wednesday night against visiting Portland saw Toronto FC, once again, go ahead only to squander the lead. To make matters worse, it was courtesy of another late goal.

In the 12 times that TFC have led in MLS this season, they have gone on to lose their advantage 60 per cent of the time. This inability to see off an advantage is the main problem coach Paul Mariner will have to solve if the Reds don’t want to be cellar-dwellers again in 2013.

Portland is in last place in the Western Conference and only has one more point than the Reds. The Timbers rely far too much on Scottish striker Kris Boyd who, true to his new side’s name, has certainly put on some timber since his arrival stateside. Portland only gained two points away all season before their visit to Toronto. Their interim coach, Gavin Wilkinson, brought his team to BMO Field with one point in their last six games. This was a game that the Reds should have won.

Admittedly, Paul Mariner had some selection worries due to international call-ups: Terry Dunfield and Doneil Henry both started in Canada’s win over Trinidad and Tobago; new boy Darren O’Dea played 90 minutes for Ireland against Serbia; Dicoy Williams and Ryan Johnson were with Jamaica.

Ty Harden filled in for Henry at right-back, and his name certainly isn’t short for Tyrannosaurus as he was his usual uninspiring self, getting muscled off the ball and generally looking a bit clueless.

The first half was forgetful. Toronto’s long balls were professionally dealt with by the Timbers’ defence, and it took some intricate twisting and turning from Hassli to lose his markers and engineer his side’s only chance of the half.

The Reds’ defence, on the other hand, were static when Portland took the lead on 21 minutes. A corner aimed at the back post was headed back across goal by defender David Horst, leaving a lone Sal Zizzo to prod home. There was little fight from TFC to try and get into the break level, leaving Mariner stomping and gesticulating on the touchline.

The second half was better with TFC scoring two goals in six minutes. Donovan Ricketts got down well to save a Silva effort, but Hassli was clinical on the rebound, side-footing the ball into the top corner and scoring on his home debut.

This strike partnership has potential, with Hassli returning the favour to set up Silva. Great endeavour by Ashtone Morgan found him some space on the left, and his cross was flicked on with a deft diving header from Hassli to Silva, who made no mistake as he lifted the ball over the helpless Ricketts and into the roof of the net.

Alas, this is TFC and, when winning, they like to stand back and watch the other team play. It’s infuriating: there’s no better tonic for a team reeling after they’ve conceded than being allowed to retain possession. It’s an invitation for them to ease themselves into the game, and the Timbers duly accepted it.

The first warning was not heeded when Milos Kocic came out on top of a one-on-one with Boyd in the 70th minute. So when the unmarked Darlington Nagbe nodded home in the 82nd minute equalizer from a Steven Smith cross, it was the least the Portland Timbers deserved.

Youngster Keith Makabuya almost stole a winner for TFC in the 86th minute when he directed a Torsten Frings free-kick inches wide, but a draw was a just result for the two worst teams in MLS.

Sporting Kansas City visits BMO Field on Saturday in what should be O’Dea’s debut for the club. A lot of expectation is on his shoulders, and his first task isn’t easy: stop TFC surrendering leads.

Daniel Rouse is a columnist and podcaster for Red Nation Online, and a short story writer. He moved from England in 2011. Follow him on Twitter.

TORONTO — If Toronto FC is going to climb out of Major League Soccer’s basement it’s going to have to do it with a bit of a patchwork squad.

The Reds host Portland on Wednesday night, and a win would propel TFC (dead last in MLS with 19 points) just ahead of the Timbers (second last with 20 points).

But it won’t be easy, as the Reds will be missing five players because of national team duties: defender Doneil Henry and midfielder Terry Dunfield (Canada), defender Darren O’Dea (Ireland), and defender Dicoy Williams and forward Ryan Johnson (Jamaica).

Also, right back Jeremy Hall (ankle) is out injured, as is midfielder Matt Stinson (thigh). And to make matters worse centre back Logan Emory is suspended.

Toronto coach Paul Mariner likely would have put up a greater fight with regards to releasing players for national team duty if his side was in playoff contention. But with the Reds having little chance of securing a post-season berth, Mariner said he didn’t want to stand in their way because he felt it’s important for them to play for their countries.

To his credit, Mariner is making the best of the situation, and isn’t whining about his depleted options. Instead, he views this as a chance for players who haven’t played a lot this season to prove what they can do and make a case for themselves.

“Everybody wants to play, so now people are going to get a chance to play. … We’ve got experienced players in this, so it should be a tremendous ding-dong battle,” Mariner said after Tuesday’s practice.

Still, the Englishman concedes that missing so many key figures (Dunfield and Johnson are starters, O’Dea would have made his club debut, and Henry provides defensive cover) makes the task of beating an opponent, even a struggling side like Portland, all the more difficult.

“We’re in a position at the present moment where there’s no easy games, especially when you lose (so many) of your players with international call ups and suspension. It does upset the rhythm, there’s no two ways about that,” Mariner said.

However, he refuses to use that as an excuse to simply write off this game.

“This is why we’re pros. This is why we train hard and work at it — for this opportunity,” Mariner stated.

Two players who will get an opportunity are defenders Adrian Cann and Ty Harden. With O’Dea and Henry gone and Hall injured, Mariner is expected to field a starting back line featuring Ashtone Morgan at left back, Cann and Richard Eckersley in the centre, and Harden at right back.

Injury problems this season have limited Harden to just four league appearances (289 minutes). He hasn’t played in an MLS game since Apr. 7. Likewise, Cann has struggled with injury issues, and has played in six games (495 minutes), with his last league appearance coming on Jun. 16.

Despite the lengthy layoff, the Canadian defender isn’t worried about rustiness or lack of timing, and feels he’ll be able to find his rhythm pretty quickly.

“Maybe the first 10 or 15 minutes (will be rough), but other than that you just have to get on with it and adapt quickly,” Cann stated.

Keeping it simple has been the mantra of Mariner ever since he took over the coaching reins from Aron Winter in mid-June. It was a message he reiterated to his players during Tuesday’s practice.

“I think it’s been like that (keeping it simple) ever since Paul took over. It’s black and white, very direct (soccer). Get the ball forward and move up and start the attack. … and don’t play too much in the back field,” Cann explained.

Defence has been a major problem area, as TFC has conceded 40 goals and sports a minus-15 goal difference, both second worst in MLS.

In light of this, and the fact they’ll be fielding a makeshift back four, it’s even more important for the defence to keep things simple against the Timbers.

“We can’t afford to make any errors. We have to be an error free team,” Mariner warned.

NOTES: After Wednesday, TFC returns to MLS action on Saturday when it hosts Sporting Kansas City… Mariner said Stinson is expected be out for a month… Hall told sportsnet.ca he might be ready to play against Kansas City… Injured forward Danny Koevermans underwent surgery on his knee Tuesday, Mariner revealed. The Dutch forward tore his ACL last month, ruling him out for the remainder of the season… The three players who were on trial with the Reds last week (English defender Paul Robinson, Mexican centre back Diego Cervantes, and Bermudian forward Antwan Russell) are no longer with the club.