Howe's last-minute goal gives Sounders a 2-2 tie

BURNABY, B.C. -- A free-kick goal by Greg Howes in the 90th minute earned the Seattle Sounders a 2-2 tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium on Friday night.

Roger Levesque put the Sounders ahead in the 16th minute before the Whitecaps scored two unanswered goals with the second coming from Alan Marcina, one of Vancouver's four new signings this week.

Levesque connected on a long throw-in from Kenji Treschuk and headed his third goal in four matches into the back of the Vancouver net.

In the 54th minute, Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer inserted the veteran Howes into the lineup to replace Leighton O'Brien.

At the end of stoppage time, Seattle earned a free kick 28 yards in front of the goal. Howes blasted a low, hard shot that took a bounce into the back of the net.

The final whistle blew immediately on the restart and the teams finished level.

Next up for the Sounders is a home match against the league-leading Portland Timbers at Qwest Field on Wednesday.