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Recap: Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy

Diego Valeri becomes the third player in MLS history to score and assist 80 goals as the Timbers lose 3-2 to the Galaxy.

By Grant Little
Los Angeles Galaxy v Portland Timbers Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Portland Timbers coach, Giovanni Savarese, decided to rotate his squad on Wednesday. He selected a completely different starting 11 than the 11 from previous match.

Two minutes into the match, the LA Galaxy looked like they had taken the lead. Cristian Pavon drifted away from his defender, while Efrain Alvarez played a ball to the head of Pavon. The Argentine forced Jeff Attinella into a great save early in the match.

In the fifteenth minute, Alvarez picked the ball up in the midfield. He combined with two of his teammates, and the Galaxy got the ball into the wide area. Alvarez made a clever run into the box and was unmarked. Sebastian Lletget played the ball to Alvarez, who curled it into Attinella’s net.

The Timbers responded with a chance of their own in the the 23rd minute. Bill Tuiloma headed a ball to the feet of Cristhian Paredes, who put it just wide of the Galaxy post.

Portland created a few more half chances as Marvin Loria started dictating the pace of the Timbers offense. As Loria grew into the game, so did the Timbers. Toward the end of the half, the Timbers looked more comfortable and more dangerous.

Despite the Timbers having the majority of the ball toward the end of the first half, the Galaxy had opportunities on the counter.

Four minutes into the second half, the Timbers were punished again. Pavon got the ball one versus one against Pablo Bonilla. Pavon beat his man, cut inside, and fired to make it 2-0.

Savarese responded by making a triple substitution. He elected to bring on Sebastian Blanco, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Eryk Williamson.

The substitutes brought life to the Timbers. In the 67th minute, Renzo Zambrano’s cross was deflected off the keeper to Felipe Mora. Mora made no mistake, scoring in his second straight match.

The Galaxy restored their two-goal lead three minutes later. The ball fell to Joe Corona on the top of the box, and he took it first time, flying in to make it 3-1.

Diego Valeri made it 3-2 in added time as he became only the third player to score and assist 80 goals in MLS history.

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