Portland Timbers Top LA Galaxy 1-0 on Urruti Wondergoal

With rain pouring down for the first whistle, the Portland Timbers beat the LA Galaxy 1-0 today thanks to Maximiliano Urruti's first MLS goal and a stout defensive effort.

The Timbers went ahead in the 52' when Will Johnson's in-swinging corner fell to the outstretched boot of Urruti. Urruti, driving to the near post, threw a leg out and flicked the ball on with the sole of his boot, putting it just past the outstretched arms of LA keeper Jaime Penedo. In his second start as a Timber Urruti put pressure on the Galaxy defense from the starting whistle and, after some early miscues, seemed to settle into the timbers set up nicely! particularly in the second half as the Timbers asserted themselves on the game.

As the game wore on, the galaxy made a strong push to find the equalizer and though they had it when Robbie Keane headed home Landon Donovan's free kick in second half stoppage time, only to have the goal called back by the linesman for offsides. Although Keane never actually made it onsides during the play, he and the rest of the Galaxy players were apoplectic and will likely earn their clubs fine for mass confrontation this week.

Helping with the lack of chances for both sides, weather conditions made for a sloppy game at times today, with missed touches an all too common sight on both sides of the ball. Neither side was able to get much control of the ball with both teams completing only 73% of their passes and the Galaxy only completing 63% in the first half.

The win keeps the Timbers in 3rd place in the Western Conference only one point behind the Seattle Sounder, who take on the New York Red Bulls tonight at 6:00, and two points behind Real Salt Lake. The Timbers could clinch a playoff berth for the first time since joining MLS with a win over the Vancouver Whitecaps next weekend and a San Jose Earthquakes loss to Chivas USA tonight.