The LA Galaxy continued their red-hot form, staving off a Portland Timbers comeback for a 3-2 win Wednesday night at Providence Park.
LA’s three goals were all beauties, and they got started in the 15th minute through Homegrown midfielder Efrain Alvarez’s left-footed curler. He collected a Sebastian Lletget setup in the 18-yard box and picked out the top corner for a 1-0 lead.
Cristian Pavon then made it 2-0 in the 50th minute, finishing at the near post after a brilliant solo run. The Argentine forward collected on the left flank, cut inside and bagged his fifth goal of the year.
Portland revved to life in the second half when bringing on key pieces from their MLS is Back Tournament-winning XI, and it paid off in the 67th minute when Felipe Mora made it 2-1. The Chilean forward volleyed home after Renzo Zambrano served up a lofted cross that goalkeeper David Bingham initially pawed away.
But LA answered right back, as Joe Corona picked out the top corner with an inch-perfect strike in the 71st minute. A defensive intervention bounced out to the midfielder, and his frozen rope resulted in a 3-1 advantage.
Portland continued to bring on game-changers in the second half, and it nearly paid off. Sebastian Blanco struck the crossbar in the 76th minute from range, and Yimmi Chara (79th minute) and Jeremy Ebobisse (80th minute) both had goals waved off through offside decisions.
Although ultimately a consolation goal, Diego Valeri reached a milestone in the 92nd minute. He finished a cross to make it 3-2, allowing the Argentine midfielder to hit 80 goals and 83 assists in regular-season play, joining the select MLS 80g, 80a club.
Goals
- 15' – LA – Efrain Alvarez | WATCH
- 50' – LA – Cristian Pavon | WATCH
- 67' – POR – Felipe Mora | WATCH
- 71' – LA – Joe Corona | WATCH
- 90+2' – POR – Diego Valeri | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: The Timbers are sliding after the MLS is Back Tournament, going 0-2-1 post-Orlando. They’ve now allowed 10 goals across those three matches, all of which were played at home. Head coach Giovanni Savarese opted for a heavily-rotated starting XI, so their normal stars weren’t available until late. It’s the opposite for LA, a side that’s 3-0 after the MLS is Back Tournament and coming together to earn results. It’s a drastic turnaround after previously being bottom of the Western Conference standings.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Should Jeremy Ebobisse’s apparent goal in the 80th minute have stood? That question is going to frame much of this game, because the margin was awfully tight.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Joe Corona went the distance in midfield, linking both phases for the Galaxy with consistency. His goal was a stunner, too.
Next Up
- POR: Sunday, Sept. 6 at Seattle Sounders (10:00 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
- LA: Sunday, Sept. 6 vs. LAFC (10:30 pm ET | UniMás, TUDN, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
