LOS ANGELES (October 14, 2026) – The LA Galaxy (10-11-9, 39 points) defeated the Portland Timbers (9-14-6, 33 points) 2-0 in a midweek contest at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Marco Reus capped off a team move with his eighth goal of the season. LA then closed out the match with a second goal late in the second half, as Reus' set-piece delivery found Justin Haak for the headed finish. Tonight's result also marked JT Marcinkowski's fourth clean sheet of the regular season.
Goalscoring Plays
LA – Marco Reus (Robert Taylor, Pablo Ruiz), 17th minute: Ruiz delivered a long diagonal ball over the Timbers' backline to Taylor, who brought it down and squared it across the box for Reus to finish from close range.
LA: Justin Haak (Marco Reus), 80th minute: Reus' free kick from just outside the box found Haak in the penalty area, and the defender headed the ball into the back of the net to extend LA's lead.
Postgame Notes
- Joseph Paintsil made his first regular season start for the Galaxy since August 29 in San Diego, after which he missed the next four league matches before coming on as a second half substitute against CITY SC in St. Louis three nights ago.
- With a goal and an assist tonight, Marco Reus has now registered an impressive eight goal contributions in his last seven matches, including in back-to-back games so far this week. The German international opened the scoring tonight with his eighth goal of the season, ninth in all competitions, and has now been involved in 19 of LA’s 41 league goals so far this season (46.3%). Notably, tonight’s performance was Reus’ fifth multi-contribution match of the season in all competitions, and third of the past month.
- Robert Taylor extended his contribution streak to four consecutive matches (one goal, three assists) with his game-winning assist in the 17th minute tonight.
- Pablo Ruiz recorded his first assist as a member of the LA Galaxy, the 18th assist of his MLS career.
- Defender Justin Haak scored his second goal of the season for the Galaxy, both coming in the past three matches.
Next Up
The LA Galaxy remain at home to close out a crowded three-match week with an MLS Regular Season bout against San Diego FC this Saturday, October 17 (7:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV) at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Match Information
Match: LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers
Date: October 14, 2026
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park; Carson, California
Weather: Clear and 69°F
Scoring Summary
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
LA Galaxy
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
Portland Timbers
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
LA: Marco Reus (Robert Taylor, Pablo Ruiz), 18’
LA: Justin Haak (Marco Reus), 80’
Lineups
LA Galaxy: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Lucas Calegari, D Justin Haak, D Emiro Garcés (Maya Yoshida, 86'), D John Nelson; M Pablo Ruiz, M Sergi Roberto (Lucas Sanabria, 72'), M Marco Reus (Elijah Wynder, 82'); F Joseph Paintsil (Harbor Miller, 72'), F Robert Taylor (Erik Thommy, 72'), F João Klauss
Substitutes not used: Novak Mićović, Jakob Glesnes, Julián Aude, Troy Elgersma
Portland Timbers: GK James Pantemis; D Ronald Hernandez, D Joel Waterman, D Kamal Miller, D Jimer Fory (Ian Smith, 63'); M David Da Costa, M Jose Caicedo (Eric Izoita, 74'), M Joao Ortiz (Diego Chara, 81'); F Ariel Lassiter (Omir Fernandez, 81'), F Kristoffer Velde, F Vincent Janssen (Alexander Aravena, 74')
Substitutes not used: Trey Muse, Eric Miller, Cole Bassett, Antony
Stats Summary
|
LA
|
POR
|
Shots
|
9
|
12
|
Shots on Goal
|
5
|
5
|
Saves
|
5
|
3
|
Corner Kicks
|
2
|
5
|
Fouls
|
7
|
11
|
Offsides
|
1
|
2
|
Possession
|
48.4%
|
51.6%
|
Misconduct Summary
LA: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 29’
LA: Sergi Roberto (caution) 31’
POR: Jimer Fory (caution) 39’
LA: Justin Haak (caution) 47’
POR: Kristoffer Velde (caution) 62’
POR: David Da Costa (caution), 82'
Officials
Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Felisha Mariscal
Fourth Official: Servando Berna
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic, Mike Kampmeinert
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
LA Galaxy Postgame Top Quotes
LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney
On what he liked about the team's approach against the Timbers:
“I thought we stayed connected for most of the night. We were front to back. We were close. We weren't out pressing as much tonight, which isn't so easy when you turn around from a Sunday to a Wednesday to necessarily come out with the same energy and everything else. But I thought, in light of that, we still stayed connected together. We closed off the space as well. It's tough because their nine comes really low, and he comes and plays in different positions. He's all over the place, and so you kind of have to manage the overload there. I thought we had some good moments in terms of our play as well. So I just think it was a balanced game. We got a shutout. I mean that for me is huge. When you give up six in the last game, some individual mistakes, some decisions, some poor defending, some poor collective play. Just in general, when you give away six, a lot of things have to go wrong to bounce back and get a zero. I think it's really positive for the group. I just thought it was a professional performance in a short turnaround with a super busy week and a game that you need to win. And by the way, by winning it, with the other results, it becomes even bigger win in some ways.”
On the performance by Marco Reus:
“He, again, is just so smart and smooth and aware. The quality that he brings into different situations is so unique. He gets a lot of things ticking in there and gets things moving from that possession phase into that final action. Obviously, the set piece he drops it right on Justin's head, literally. Obviously, getting himself into the box after starting, being a part of the start of the play on the first one is huge because he was deep in the box on that. Just arriving in that situation, super aware on the defensive side, cutting out things in the middle of the field as well, keeping the group engaged. Keeping Joao [Klauss] close to us, so those two guys weren't getting too far away which allowed us to stay connected. So I think again, just discipline, smart as he always is, and just so much quality inside of what he's capable of.”
On the importance of playing at home:
"Winning at home in this league is vital because winning on the road is tough. I think I read somewhere at some point that winning on the road in MLS is one of the toughest things you can do in terms of leagues around the world, just because of the travel and the time change and all the different things that come with different surfaces, the different variables that come into MLS travel. It's better now that we have charters and we don't have just commercial, but it's tough to win on the road. So to win at home is just really important. If you want to have a successful season, you have to have success at home. I think our stretch here in the second half of the season, our return to form has been getting good results at home, and then the odd road result that we've gotten along the way as well, but getting the home form results has been crucial. We look forward to another one this weekend again to be able to turn around in two days, but to stay at home is important. So we look forward to a lot of energy in the stadium on the weekend against San Diego, and we'll need all of it. And so looking forward to that.”
On if it's about points versus performance in this final push towards the playoffs:
"I always love a performance, but I have to say that points are vital. I rarely think you pick up points without some kind of performance, so I think it requires something. Today we weren't out the pressing team all over the place, and it wasn't that type of performance today. We were pretty pragmatic and solid, and I thought really professional in the way people would define a professional victory. I thought we did a nice job on that side, but for sure at this time of year, you want to find form because that's what's going to give you the best chance later. When I say later, I mean the playoffs, but I think points are critical right now, so we'll take those.”
LA Galaxy Midfielder Marco Reus
On if the midfield is flowing better lately:
“Oh yeah, one hundred percent. At the end, I would say we are not where we should be in terms of the connection and that we control the middle more. But of course, when you bring someone like Sergi [Roberto] in who understands the game really well, the same with Pablo [Ruiz], it makes it easier for me to control the middle. But I think we can do better, and that's a good thing. Even after today, after the win, we can manage our options, relationships on the field even better, so we are working on that every day. Hopefully, we can see improvement on Saturday too.”
On if the team is improving in the playoff push:
“I hope. We have the quality, but it's not enough. To just have the quality, you have to show it every game, and we are struggling with that for so many reasons and so long a time in every game. And for me, it's always to play with the right attitude and with confidence, and to understand the game, to read the game. And I hope this game today gives us more confidence for Saturday, but we can play much cleaner, especially in the final third. We can dominate more games, and I think we are a bit far away from that. But on the other side, I would say in this moment and on this stage now, it's just important to win games. We can speak about so many things, but at the end it's more important that we win the game and that we are going through [to] the playoffs, and then everything is possible in our sport. Why not? But until then, the job is not done.”
On the importance of set piece goals down the stretch:
“Set pieces are so important, especially in these kinds of games. Where you have to win, you have to get a result, and set pieces are very important. And in the last games, we showed that we are capable of trying it in training and then doing it on the pitch. Justin's goal today was really nice. It was coming with so much speed. And I told him before. I told João before 'the first post for sure', because the second post makes no sense. You cannot defend in this kind of situation when you're coming with speed. You are wide. Set pieces are very important, especially now on this stage.”
LA Galaxy Forward Robert Taylor
On how he feels about the way he's integrated with the team:
“Absolutely. I feel one hundred percent fit and confident to keep going. When it comes to the whole group with the new players and how we're playing together, everyone's linking up really well. As I said earlier about the turnover after St. Louis, it was important to show up and get the fans going again. Get the three points."
On Emiro Garcés' play in tonight's match:
“He had a great game. He brings to the backline a lot of speed and aggressiveness, which is great, obviously. As a team, I don't think he necessarily needed any extra push from the players. We all know what he can do. I think he knows what he can do. He's always been confident in training, and he's been showing it in games when he comes on. I feel like he's been really good. Today was just a really solid performance from him."
On if he's receiving feedback from the coaching staff about his strong performances:
“I think that I get the confidence from the coaches and the staff and the players gives me the freedom to express myself on the field, and that gives me obviously the confidence to do what I know I can do. And then, also, the trust makes me want to work extremely hard for the team, for the badge and the staff and everyone, because they are giving me the trust. So I think that's a combination of two things."
