The Portland Timbers were dominant Saturday evening at Providence Park, as they rolled past the LA Galaxy 4-0, a repeat of their Open Cup scoreline back on June 19.
Portland’s first two goals arrived via counterattacks shortly after Zlatan Ibrahimovic chances, starting in the 37th minute. Cristhian Paredes made a late-arriving run into the 18-yard box, then headed home a sweeping cross from right back Jorge Moreira.
The lead then became 2-0 in the 41st minute, as midfield maestro Diego Valeri went on a 40-yard dribble. It was capped off by the Argentine nutmegging center back David Steres, then tucking it inside the far post.
Portland then made it 3-0 in the 81st minute, when Paredes’ volley into the upper 90 gave the home side a cushion they never relinquished.
Any hopes of a Galaxy comeback were done and dusted come the 84th minute, as Homegrown midfielder Efrain Alvarez was shown a straight red card for blasting a loose ball off Portland midfielder Marvin Loria after a foul. With a man advantage, Portland then poured on the fourth in the 88th minute on a Jeremy Ebobisse header.
The match could have gone a different way were it not for Timbers’ goalkeeper Steve Clark recording six saves. The best arrived in the 75th minute, as he scrambled across his goalmouth to rob Uriel Antuna, who latched onto a squared pass from Ibrahimovic.
After the final whistle, Galaxy left back Diego Polenta and Portland forward Dairon Asprilla were both shown straight red cards for violent conduct.
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Goals
- 37' – POR – Cristhian Paredes | WATCH
- 41' – POR – Diego Valeri | WATCH
- 81' – POR – Cristhian Paredes | WATCH
- 88' – POR – Jeremy Ebobisse | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Portland are 4-0-2 across their last six games, but what’s even more impressive is this came without Diego Chara (suspension). This was the Timbers’ first win entirely without the Colombian midfielder since a July 5, 2015 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. For LA, the loss is bad enough after rolling past rivals LAFC 3-2 in last week’s El Trafico. But they’re now up against it for next week’s marquee trip to Atlanta United, with Efrain Alavarez (red card) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (yellow-card accumulation) both out, as well as Diego Polenta (red card).
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: In a game full of highlight-reel moments, Diego Valeri’s first-half strike stood out the most. It was vintage Valeri, giving him six goals and 12 assists on the year.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: There’s long been doubt when Portland is without Diego Chara, but Cristhian Paredes helped squash those concerns some Saturday against the Galaxy. His brace stood out, but so did his industrious work against LA's midfield of Jonathan dos Santos, Joe Corona and Favio Alvarez.
Next Up
- POR: Sunday, August 4 at Minnesota United (4 pm ET | ESPN, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
- LA: Saturday, August 3 at Atlanta United (5 pm ET | FOX, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
