Portland Timbers Quotes
Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
On how this game played out…
"It seemed like everything that could go wrong today, did. Obviously we were playing a very good team, on the road, they showed what they could do last week versus Philadelphia, and we were well aware of that. They punished us, for it seemed like every mistake we made, and we made some big ones. I thought we started well, we had three or four opportunities where we pressed them and countered them, we looked to be the team that was on the front foot to start the game and then in a five minute span we are down two goals. Their first real look on goal they score, so they are clinical there, and then they get the penalty and now we are down two to zero chasing the game on a big field, on the road, against a team that is very explosive and dangerous and talented going forward. For me, the biggest thing is we have to move on from it. We have a game coming up on Sunday, obviously we have been in good form, we had four league wins in a row, twelve points, we get zero points tonight but we can't let it carry into the next game, we have to move on from it and learn from it, correct the mistakes we made. Hats off to Los Angeles, they are a very good team and they showed that tonight."
On the red card given to Liam Ridgewell…
"I have no idea what happened, I haven't seen the video. They both went up, Alan Gordon and him, and I really didn't see anything in it for either guy, both guys just going up for the ball. Then Ridgewell falls and next thing you know he has a red card and Gordon has a yellow, but I haven't watched it yet and to be honest with you it is the last thing on my mind. I don't care about those plays, the penalty and all the things that happened, what I care about is that we get a good performance versus Seattle."
On his message to the team moving forward…
"Think about it tonight, I think that is very important, you sit on it and think about it, and then tomorrow it is over. We will as a staff address some things in training and video and so on and so forth, but the biggest thing is we can't let this hangover carry into our preparation, and more importantly into our next game, because we have been playing really well. It was a strange game in that I thought from box to box it was pretty even, but they were very clinical and ruthless it seemed like in taking every chance they got. They got some clear chances, and we were not good in the final third ourselves. I think it is a game where we have to throw it away a little bit and look at the things we need to correct, but mostly for the next game we need to move on and put it behind us because we have been playing really well. If we hadn't played well in the last four league games then I would be more worried, but our performances have been good so this game becomes one game that we throw away and move on, and if we get three points versus Seattle then we are still in great shape."
Portland Timbers defender Jorge Villafaña
On tonight’s game…
“It was a game that we unfortunately lost. The loss stings a bit. We committed a few mistakes and they capitalized on them. We weren’t able to get ourselves out of the hole we put ourselves in. Now we have to forget about this game and focus on the next game.”
On giving up five goals…
“We made a few mistakes and they capitalized on them. They were sharp in front of goal and they put them away. If we were to analyze their goal scoring opportunities we would see that it was due to our mistakes and not necessarily due to them controlling the game.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri
On tonight’s game:
“It was a weird game. They are a team that takes advantage of their opportunities. We tried to put pressure on them but unfortunately they got their first goal and shortly after they got the penalty kick. The game changed after the first 20 minutes. They did a good job finding spaces and taking advantage of their opportunities.”
On giving up five goals:
“A team like Los Angeles that takes advantage of their opportunities and that has great players deserve a result like this. To have given up these many goals was due to us making a lot of mistakes in our attacking and defending. In general if we look at the score it was a really bad game and we have to learn from this game and fix our mistakes.”
LA Galaxy Quotes
LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena
On tonight’s game…
"I don't think this was really a five to zero game, but we played really well at times. Portland to start the game was really all over us, and after about ten to twelve minutes we got settled in a little bit and started to play better."
On the play of Sebastian Lletget…
"Very good performance, in the early minutes of the game he was our best player. He made a bunch of good plays and then ultimately got the first goal."
On scoring ten goals in two games…
"There are going to be really good games and some that aren't, that is all part of it."
LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane
On items for team to work on…
“There is always things you can work on. But we’re doing well, we’re doing very well; we’re clinical. Some good goals are scored. Thinking in the final third we’re looking sharp and being very precise with our passing, so when you do that, ultimately you are going to score goals. And we’ve got players on our team that can assist and score goals.”
On Sebastian Lletget…
“He has got some quality. He is very, very comfortable on the ball, sometimes he just has to learn how to get rid of the ball quicker which I’ve spoken to him about. He is young, he is learning, he is great, he is scoring a few goals which is very important to us. If he continues to do that, and listen to experienced players, and know when to take on people, and when to take it simple, and he certainly did that the second half. So he is a lad that listens, and he has already been a big addition and going forward he will be.”
LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget
On the team’s performance…
“The team’s on fire. I think we really played well today. I think it was a good performance against Philadelphia. I thought we played much better today. I’m just doing my job. I forget about the past. I look at the next game; it’s a fresh start for me. I’m excited. I hope I can keep it going.”
Notes:
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Wednesday’s loss marked just the first loss for the Timbers since May 23, ending the team’s four-game winning streak in league play (five games in all competitions).
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Portland was shut out for the first time since May 23 in a 1-0 loss at Toronto FC.
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Despite the loss, the Timbers have lost just twice against the Galaxy in their last eight regular-season games (2-2-4), dating back to the 2013 season.
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Wednesday’s match marked the halfway point in the regular-season schedule (17 games) for the Timbers.
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Midfielder Michael Nanchoff made his second appearance for the Timbers this season. Nanchoff also logged minutes in a season-opening draw against Real Salt Lake on March 7.
- Diego Valeri’s five shots in Wednesday’s match ranks as the second-most attempts in a single game for a Timbers player this season.
- Defender Liam Ridgewell made his 32nd consecutive start for the Timbers on Wednesday.
- The Galaxy edged the Timbers in total shots, 17-16, in Wednesday's match.
