CaliSports News

Galaxy Fall To Timbers 3-1

Galaxy

Trying to get back onto the winning side of things the Los Angeles Galaxy went to Providence Park in Portland Sunday afternoon to take on the Timbers.

Portland, sitting at 7th in the Western Conference standings coming into the game is always tough to beat at their home park and for LA things only got more difficult before the opening kick. Romain Alessandrini picked up a knock to his knee going into this one and would be ruled inactive along with team Captain Jelle Van Damme after he picked up a red card suspension last game.

Things got moving quickly in this one and Van Damme’s absence might’ve had a bit to do with the first goal as Portland’s Center Back Liam Ridgewell headed one past Galaxy Keeper Brian Rowe to make it 1-0 Timbers.

That quick start wasn’t just one-sided though as it took Emmanuel Boateng less than a minute to respond with a goal of his own off of a great pass from Joao Pedro.

The excitement wasn’t over yet though as Gyasi Zardes got his head on a ball just minutes later to make it 2-1 Galaxy. Or did he? Enter Video Assisted Referee. This is the first week in Major League Soccer this new technology has been implemented and it immediately had an impact in this game, and on this call in particular. What seemed like a goal from Zardes was overturned and Zardes was surprisingly then given a yellow card after the referee took another look.

It’s hard to dispute after that evidence his hand clearly knocked the ball in. Disallowing the goal and giving him a yellow was the right call but it essentially zapped any and all momentum Los Angeles had going for them at that point.

That momentum then took a big swing in favor of the Timbers as their attack began to put a great deal of pressure on the Galaxy and they were able to capitalize on it in the 34th minute. Diego Valeri hit a wonderful strike from outside the box that Rowe could do little about making the game 2-1 in favor of Portland.

The second half got under way and little changed in terms of who had the energy, it was the Timbers. In the 53rd minute a great back-heel from forward Fanendo Adi put the ball right on the foot of fullback Alvas Powell with nobody but Rowe between him and the goal and he buried the chance. 3-1 Portland.

Los Angeles would not be able to put together any sort of solid attack after that and never were able to regain momentum after the disallowed Zardes goal and the match would end with that 3-1 scoreline.

One positive to take away from this game were the first minutes of new Designated Player Jonathan Dos Santos who played from the 60th minute on and looked pretty good in the midfield. Hopefully with some more practice time with the squad he will improve even more.

Next the Galaxy will try to change their fortunes against NYCFC back at Stub Hub Center in Carson next Saturday.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things LA Galaxy and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time!

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