CARSON, Calif. – The Portland Timbers (1-0-0, 3 pts) defeated the LA Galaxy (0-1-0, 0 pts), 3-1, in an MLS Reserve League match on Sunday afternoon in the Track & Field Complex at The Home Depot Center. Spencer Thompson scored two goals to lead the Timbers, while Bryan Jordan notched the Galaxy’s lone goal.
The tide would turn early against the Galaxy in the 29th minute as the Timbers’ Ryan Pore was taken down from behind by the Galaxy’s Michael Stephens at the top of the box. With no hesitation the referee showed red to Stephens for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, sending him off. However, Portland would send the ensuing freekick from the top of the box just wide of the left post keeping the match scoreless.
With the man advantage, Portland opened the scoring in the 39th minute as Thompson found the back of the net, beating the Galaxy’s Josh Saunders. Adam Moffat provided the original shot which went to Rodrigo Lopez who touched the loose ball to Thompson for him to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, the Timbers would strike first as Kevin Goldthwaite nodded home a corner kick from Lopez for a 2-0 advantage.
In the 79th minute, Los Angeles’ Bryan Jordan would convert the penalty kick to pull within a goal at 2-1. A member of the Galaxy’s Under-18 Academy team, Justin Dhillon would draw the foul as Freddie Braun took him down in the box.
With time running out, the Timber’s Thompson recorded his second goal of the game in the 89th minute, slotting home a beautiful pass from Pore for a 3-1 win.
READ: Match Recap (ESPN Los Angeles)
Up next in MLS Reserve League action, the Galaxy will take on Chivas USA at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at The Home Depot Center, while the Timbers will visit the Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, May 15 at 11 a.m. at Starfire Sports Complex.
Scoring Summary:
POR – Thompson (Lopez, Moffat) ‘39
POR – Goldthwaite (Lopez) ‘48
LA – Jordan (penalty kick) ‘79
POR – Thompson (Pore) ‘89
LA Galaxy Lineup: Josh Saunders; Frankie Hejduk (Justin Dhillon ’66), Sean Alvarado, Jovan Kirovski, Ryan Thomas; Hector Jimenez, Michael Stephens, Paolo Cardozo (Dustin McCarty ’74), Chris Birchall; Juan Pablo Angel (Daniel Keat ’45), Bryan Jordan (Matt Tilley ’84).
Substitutes Not Used: Brian Perk.
Portland Timbers Lineup: Jake Gleeson; Chris Taylor, Kevin Goldthwaite, Ross Smith, Freddie Braun; Darlington Nagbe (Sean Morris ’45), Adam Moffat, Rodrigo Lopez, Sal Zizzo (Darren Spicer ’70); Ryan Pore, Spencer Thompson.
Substitutes Not Used: None.
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Michael Stephens (red card – Denying Obvious Goalscoring Opportunity) ‘29
POR – Freddie Braun (caution – Tactical Foul) 45’
POR – Freddie Braun (second caution/red card – Reckless Challenge) ‘84
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Referee's Assistants: Marlene Duffy, Jonathan Hughes
4th Official: Hector Perez
Attendance: 67; Weather: Cloudy, 65 degrees
