This has been a lackluster season for the 4-time MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy, but the team has now started to return to top form in perfect timing to reach the playoffs. This is great news for Galaxy and its fans, but not what the Portland Timbers were hoping for in today’s morning match. Galaxy started out sloppy and allowed Portland the first goal, but it was able to equalize and ultimately win the match 3-1. This was just what the Galaxy needed, because it allowed it to move up to second place in the Western Conference, right under the Seattle Sounders who they beat earlier this week.
Diego Valeri was the man to get the ball rolling for the match when he scored the first and only goal for the Timbers. It was a controversial call, because the Timbers were awarded a costless kick just outside the box on a soft foul. Valeri was obviously able to score the goal, which then gave Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena more fuel for his short shout match at the referees. “That was not a costless kick!” is what Arena kept yelling to deaf ears.
All was not lost for Galaxy, in the first half, because three minutes into stoppage time, Gyasi Zardes came up big and scored the equalizer. This was a big boost to the Galaxy. Zardes has been on fire for the team, which is why he is now a consistent player in the lineup. He has scored seven goals in his last eight matches and is only four goals behind Robbie Keane, who is Galaxy’s top scorer this season.
Keane added two goals to his tally during today’s match. He made a stellar match winning goal, which reminded everyone what a world-class player he is. Social media went wild debating whether or not he is the best foreign DP in the league, and the naysayers were few in between. He was also the player to score the last goal of the match, which was from a penalty kick. He is a true captain to the team, because he shows a great deal of leadership.
Galaxy dominated the field and scoreboard against the Timbers, but it did put up a fight. The Timbers fell to injuries even before the match began. Darlington Nagbe missed his first match of the season due to a knee sprain he obtained during last week’s match against Montreal Impact. To add to that, early on in the match Gaston Fernandez was substituted off the field because of an injury. The Timbers had back luck on its side today.
All in all, it was a great match to witness, but it was not perfect for either side. The Timbers need to hope its injured players have a quick road to recovery, while Galaxy need to continue its streak to make it to the top of the table.