CARSON, Calif. – The Portland Timbers could not overcome a three-goal halftime deficit in a midweek road match as the club’s four-game winning streak ended in a 5-0 loss against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night in front of 21,207 fans at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
Wednesday’s loss marked Portland’s first in league play since May 23 and ends the team’s MLS-club record streak at four consecutive wins, which is tied for the longest streak in MLS this season.
Against the run of play early in the match, the Galaxy (7-5-7, 28pts) tallied the opening goal as midfielder Sebastian Lletget finished a deflected cross from defender Dan Gargan from close range. Just five minutes later, forward Robbie Keane converted a penalty kick to put the home side ahead 2-0 after Lletget earned a foul in the box.
Keane finished the match with a goal and two assists for the Galaxy as he also provided the key pass on defender Robbie Rogers’ one-time finish in the 33rd minute and midfielder Juninho’s goal from close range in the 72nd minute. Substitute forward Jose Villarreal netted the final goal for the Galaxy, curling a low free kick around the defensive wall and inside the near post in the 88th minute.
Portland (7-6-4, 25pts) was reduced to 10 men for the final 12 minutes of the match after defender Liam Ridgewell was issued a red card after he and Galaxy forward Alan Gordon challenged for a ball in the air.
The Timbers finished the match with 52 percent of the possession and a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.
On a quick turnaround, the Timbers return to the Rose City for a nationally televised match on Sunday, June 28, against Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC at Providence Park. Kickoff for Sunday’s match is scheduled for 4 p.m. (Pacific). The match will feature a live national broadcast on FOX Sports 1 with a local radio broadcast on 750/102.9 The Game and in Spanish on La GranD 93.5 FM.
Portland Timbers (7-6-4, 25pts) at LA Galaxy (7-5-7, 28pts)
June 24, 2015 – StubHub Center (Carson, Calif.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 0 0
LA Galaxy 3 2 5
Scoring Summary
LA: Lletget, 13
LA: Keane (penalty kick), 18
LA: Rogers (Keane), 33
LA: Juninho (Keane), 72
LA: Villarreal, 88
Misconduct Summary
LA: Rogers (Caution), 65
POR: Ridgewell (Ejection), 78
LA: Gordon (Caution), 78
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Kwarasey, D Powell, D Borchers, D Ridgewell ©, D Villafaña, M Jewsbury, M Chara, M Nagbe (Fernández, 60), M Valeri (Adi, 70), M Wallace (Nanchoff, 75), F Urruti
Substitutes Not Used: GK Weber, D Paparatto, D Peay, M Johnson
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Valeri, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Chara, 1); FOULS: 12 (Urruti, 4); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 4
LA: GK GK Penedo, D Gargan, D Gonzalez, D DeLaGarza, D Rogers, M Ishizaki, M Juninho (Walker, 76), M Lletget (Gordon, 66), M Husidic, F Zardes (Villarreal, 83), F Keane
Substitutes Not Used: GK Rowe, D Leonardo, M Garcia, F Maganto
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Husidic, Keane, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Keane, 3); FOULS: 13 (Rogers, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1
Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Fabio Tovar
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 21,207
Time of Game: 1:49
Weather: Clear, 70 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
