CARSON, Calif. – Motivation would seem to be plentiful for the LA Galaxy (2-1-1) when they take on the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers (1-2-1) on Sunday at StubHub Center (6:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1). But first impressions can be deceiving.
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The Timbers defeated the Galaxy in their previous meeting at StubHub Center last Oct. 18, 5-2, and snapped a five-game winless streak (0-3-2) against their Western Conference rival. The crushing loss was part of a regular-season ending, 1-4-2 slide that was followed by the Galaxy’s stunning 3-2 defeat at Seattle in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Now, six months later, one would think Galaxy coaches and players have additional incentive for the rematch.
Maybe not.
“I forgot about it. That was last year. I don’t need something in the past to motivate me,” said midfielder Gyasi Zardes. “I’m motivated day in and day out.”
“They’re defending champions, so there’s more incentive there,” stated Galaxy left back Robbie Rogers.
Head coach Bruce Arena, who could have midfielder Giovani Dos Santos available – he has been sidelined with a leg injury since the season opener March 6 – said he hasn’t looked at a tape of that game and doesn’t plan on discussing it with his team.
“The game’s over,” he said. “All that’s on my mind is we’ve got a game Sunday.”
Portland’s Fanendo Adi scored two goals three minutes apart, Diego Chara scored on a header seven minutes later, and then Darlington Nagbe and Maximiliano Urruti added late goals during that Timbers romp. All five goals came in a shocking, 25-minute span during the second half.
Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza was on the bench during that game and remembers how the Timbers started rolling at the ideal time of the season.
“They got hot going into the playoffs,” he said. “That’s kind of what you need at the end of the year. They ended up MLS Cup champions and credit to them. They got hot at the right time.”
Midfielder Sebastian Lletget said he still hasn’t forgotten what took place that October night. However, he won’t let those memories affect his preparation for this weekend.
“You don’t want to go into a game thinking about what happened months ago,” he said. “You want it more as a motivation and using it the right way. It gives me a little extra incentive because I was there and I played in the game.”
“I love beating Portland. I don’t know what it is.”
The Timbers are in the midst of a three-game winless streak, including last weekend’s 4-1 loss at Orlando City, but Arena called them a formidable opponent nonetheless.
“Obviously they won MLS Cup last year and return a good nucleus. They’ve had injuries to start the season, as have we. It’s still early,” said Arena.
“They’re obviously going to be ready to play coming off a defeat last week, so it’s going to be a tough game.”
LA GALAXY vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
STUBHUB CENTER, Carson, California
APRIL 10, 2016 (WEEK 6, MLS GAME #52)
6:30 pm PT (FS1, FOX Deportes, MLS LIVE)
A high-profile meeting of Western Conference powers will be featured on MLS Soccer Sunday when the LA Galaxy play host to the Portland Timbers at StubHub Center before an FS1 audience. MLS Cup champions three of the last five seasons, the Galaxy return home after gaining a scoreless draw at Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place last weekend. The defending MLS Cup champion Timbers are coming off their second away defeat of the season, falling 4-1 at Orlando City SC at the Citrus Bowl last Sunday.
- The Galaxy return home following their second shutout on the road this season, playing to a scoreless draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening at BC Place. The Galaxy have scored seven goals in two home wins this year.
- The Timbers suffered their second consecutive loss on the road and saw their winless run stretched to three games, following their 4-1 defeat at Orlando City SC on Sunday evening.
- The teams evenly split their three meetings last season – each scoring five goals in winning one contest. The Galaxy had five different players score in a 5-0 victory June 24 at StubHub Center; Fanendo Adi netted yet another brace as the Timbers rolled to a 5-2 win Oct. 18 in Carson. The teams reached a 2-2 draw March 15 in the lone meeting at Providence Park.
- The Timbers victory in the last encounter snapped a five-game winless streak vs. the Galaxy (0-3-2). It was also the Timbers first win ever at StubHub Center; the Galaxy won six of the first seven meetings there, with one draw.
- The Galaxy haven’t won on their last four trips to Portland, with the last two ending in draws. The only Galaxy victory all-time in Portland came July 14, 2012 – a 5-3 victory.
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert; 4th: Kevin Stott
MLS Career: 73 games; FC/gm: 23.5; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 17; pens: 30
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (14 meetings): Galaxy 6 wins, 28 goals -- Timbers 4 wins, 21 goals -- Ties 4
AT LA (8 meetings): Galaxy 5 wins, 19 goals -- Timbers 1 win, 9 goals -- Ties 2
RETURN MATCHES: 7/23: Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy, 12:30 p.m. PT
LAST YEAR (MLS):
3/15: POR 2, LA 2 (Adi 31, 90-- Zardes 65; Gordon 92+)
6/24: LA 5, POR 0 (Lletget 13; Keane 18; Rogers 33; Juninho 72; Villarreal 88)
10/18: LA 2, POR 5 (Keane 36, 84 -- Adi 65, 68; Chara 74; Nagbe 85; Urruti 90)
- Coaches record: Caleb Porter vs. LA: P9 W3 L2 T4 -- Bruce Arena vs. POR: P14 W6 L4 T4
