Talvez a equipe empate no segundo tempo.

Because after talvez (maybe / perhaps), Portuguese usually uses the subjunctive when the speaker is expressing doubt, possibility, or uncertainty.

• empata = present indicative
• empate = present subjunctive

So in this sentence:

• Talvez a equipe empate no segundo tempo.

the form empate is the expected standard choice.

A native speaker may sometimes use the indicative in casual speech, but for learners, talvez + subjunctive is the safest and most standard pattern.

It is the present subjunctive of empatar.

The present subjunctive in Portuguese is often used for:

• doubt
• uncertainty
• possibility
• wishes
• emotions
• certain conjunctions and expressions, such as talvez

Even though it is called present subjunctive, here it can refer to a future possibility, which is very natural in Portuguese.

So Talvez a equipe empate no segundo tempo means something like:

• Maybe the team will tie in the second half
• Maybe the team ties in the second half

In natural English, will tie is often the best translation.

It can mean both, depending on the variety of English you use.

In sports:

• empatar = to tie in American English
• empatar = to draw in British English

Related forms:

• um empate = a tie / a draw
• o jogo empatou = the game ended in a tie/draw
• o time empatou = the team tied / drew

In this sentence, empate is a verb, not the noun empate.

Because of the sentence structure.

In:

• Talvez a equipe empate no segundo tempo

a equipe is the subject, and empate is acting as the verb that tells what the team might do.

If empate were a noun, the sentence would need a different structure, such as:

• Talvez haja um empate no segundo tempo. = Maybe there will be a tie in the second half.

So here:

• a equipe = subject
• empate = verb

Because equipe is a feminine noun in Portuguese.

So you say:

• a equipe
• uma equipe
• essa equipe

Even though it refers to a group of people, the grammatical gender of the noun itself is what matters.

Examples:

• A equipe está pronta.
• A equipe venceu.

A related point: in Brazilian Portuguese, people often also use o time for the team, and time is masculine:

• o time
• um time

So both can be used, but the gender changes with the noun:

• a equipe
• o time

Both can mean team, but they are used a little differently.

• time is extremely common in sports, especially soccer
• equipe is also common, but can sound a bit more formal, broader, or more neutral depending on context

In sports:

• o time empatou
• a equipe empatou

Both are correct.

Outside sports, equipe is often more natural for work or professional groups:

• a equipe médica = the medical team
• a equipe de vendas = the sales team

So in your sentence, a equipe is perfectly natural, just a bit less specifically sporty than o time might sound.

No segundo tempo means in the second half of a game.

It is made from:

• em + o = no
• segundo tempo = second half

In sports Portuguese, primeiro tempo and segundo tempo are very common:

• no primeiro tempo = in the first half
• no segundo tempo = in the second half

Literally, tempo often means time, but in sports it can refer to a half or a period of play, depending on the sport and context.

Because Portuguese normally contracts em + o into no.

Common contractions:

• em + o = no
• em + a = na
• em + os = nos
• em + as = nas

So:

• no segundo tempo = in the second half
• na equipe = on/in the team depending on context

Using em o would sound unnatural in normal Portuguese.

Yes. That is also correct.

Both of these are natural:

• Talvez a equipe empate no segundo tempo.
• A equipe talvez empate no segundo tempo.

The difference is mainly one of word order and focus.

• Talvez a equipe empate... starts with maybe/perhaps, so it foregrounds uncertainty right away.
• A equipe talvez empate... starts with the subject, so it feels a bit more centered on the team.

Both are fine in Brazilian Portuguese.

A very common alternative would be:

• Talvez o time empate no segundo tempo.

That may sound a bit more everyday and sports-focused, especially in casual conversation.

You might also hear:

• Quem sabe o time empate no segundo tempo. = Maybe the team ties in the second half / The team might tie in the second half.
• Pode ser que o time empate no segundo tempo. = It may be that the team ties in the second half.

These all express possibility, but talvez + subjunctive is one of the clearest patterns to learn.

A simple approximate pronunciation is:

tal-VEZ a eh-KEE-pee em-PA-chee no seh-GUN-do TEM-poo

A few useful notes:

• talvez has stress on the last syllable: tal-VEZ
• equipe has stress on qui: e-QUI-pe
• empate has stress on pa: em-PA-te
• In many Brazilian accents, the final te in empate can sound a bit like chee
• segundo has stress on gun
• tempo has stress on tem

If you want a more spelling-based breakdown:

• Talvez = tahl-VEHZ
• equipe = eh-KEE-pee
• empate = em-PAH-tee
• segundo tempo = seh-GOON-do TEM-po

You normally would not say:

• Talvez a equipe empatará...

That sounds unnatural here.

After talvez, Portuguese usually prefers the subjunctive, not the simple future.

So for an uncertain future event, Portuguese often uses:

• Talvez a equipe empate no segundo tempo.

This is one of the places where Portuguese and English work differently. English often uses maybe + will, but Portuguese usually uses talvez + present subjunctive instead.