The Portland Timbers were dominant Saturday evening at Providence Park, as they rolled past the LA Galaxy, 4-0, a repeat of their Open Cup scoreline back on June 19.
Portland’s first two goals arrived via counterattacks shortly after Zlatan Ibrahimovic chances, starting in the 37th minute. Cristhian Paredes made a late-arriving run into the 18-yard box, then headed home a swooping cross from right back Jorge Moreira.
The lead then became 2-0 in the 41st minute, as midfield maestro Diego Valeri went on a 40-yard dribble. It was capped off by the Argentine nutmegging center back David Steres, then tucking into the far post.
Portland then made it 3-0 in the 81st minute, when Paredes’ volley gave the home side a cushion they never relinquished.
Any hopes of a Galaxy comeback were done and dusted come the 84th minute, as Homegrown midfielder Efrain Alvarez was shown a straight red card for blasting a loose ball off Portland midfielder Marvin Loria after a foul. With a man advantage, Portland then poured on the fourth in the 88th minute on a Jeremy Ebobisse header.
The match could have gone a different way were it not for Timbers’ goalkeeper Steve Clark recording six saves. The best arrived in the 75th minute, as he scrambled across his goalmouth to rob Uriel Antuna, who latched onto a squared pass from Ibrahimovic.
GOALS
- 37' – POR – Cristhian Paredes | WATCH
- 41' – POR – Diego Valeri | WATCH
- 81' – POR – Cristhian Paredes | WATCH
- 88' – POR – Jeremy Ebobisse | WATCH
NEXT UP
- LA: Saturday, August 3 at Atlanta United (5 pm ET | FOX, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
