The England winger missed this summer's World Cup with an ankle injury which he picked up against Stoke City in late April, ruling him out of action for 10 weeks and therefore a potential trip to Brazil.
Tom Carroll also played 90 minutes Sunday's game in Seattle
But the 23-year-old has been back in training under new Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino this month and their first match came on the club’s summer trip to the USA with a 3-3 draw against Seattle Sounders.
Townsend played the first half of the game, when a goal from Lewis Holtby put Spurs ahead before strikes from Gonzalo Pineda and Osvaldo Alonso turned the game on its head.
But second-half penalties from Roberto Soldado and Iago Falque, either side of another Seattle goal, ensured Pochettino’s first game in charge ended all square.
England Under-21 internationals Tom Carroll and Zeki Fryers enjoyed 90 minutes of action, while fellow Three Lion Harry Kane also played the full first half at Century Link Field.
England defender Kyle Walker was an unused substitute for the match whilst Aaron Lennon and Michael Dawson also played 45 minutes in front of a 55,000 strong crowd.
"I’m happy as it was the first game of the tour, the conditions were difficult with warm temperatures and all the players did their best," said Pochettino, who joined the White Hart Lane club from Southampton earlier this summer.
"This is the time to improve and learn and I'm very pleased with all the players."
Spurs continue their tour by making a hop across the border into Canada, where they will face a match against Toronto FC on Wednesday, where former Spurs and England striker Jermain Defoe now plies his trade.
