CARSON, Calif. – Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made four saves to help the Portland Timbers shut out the LA Galaxy in a scoreless draw at the StubHub Center on Wednesday evening, extending their MLS-club record unbeaten streak to 14 matches..
Sean Franklin hit the right post with a bouncing header and Timbers center back Pa Modou Kah made three big stops to deny Landon Donovan opportunities as Portland (6-1-9), posted its third shutout in its last four matches, and ran its road unbeaten streak to 10 thus becoming only the second club in MLS history to assemble a road unbeaten streak of 10 or more games. Timbers head coach Caleb Porter now owns the longest unbeaten streak by a first-year MLS head coach in the history of the league.
With a point on the road, Portland is tied with Real Salt Lake for second place in the Western Conference and the two clubs trail conference-leader FC Dallas by just one point in the standings.
READ: Kah: "You have to stand your ground"
The Galaxy (6-6-3) had conceded eight goals in the past two games, ugly losses at New England and Real Salt Lake, but they conceded very little to the Timbers, who found paths to LA's box but rarely got past a tight backline anchored by A.J. DeLaGarza.
The game featured impressive ball movement between the boxes but few distinct chances to score. The Galaxy's best were thwarted by Kah, who stopped Donovan three times in the first half from Robbie Keane through balls; by Andrew Jean-Baptiste, who cleared a Gyasi Zardes cross aimed for Keane in the goalmouth with 15 minutes to go; and by former LA goalkeeper Ricketts, who slapped away a Colin Clark shot in the 77th minute.
The Galaxy possessed nicely through midfield in the first half but struggled to penetrate, even with Keane's return to the lineup. Portland created even less but twice tested Carlo Cudicini, most potently with a 30-yard Darlington Nagbe blast in the 31st minute that LA's Italian keeper parried.
READ: Quotes & Notes
Robbie Rogers received his first start for the Galaxy, starting on the left flank but swapping spots with left-sided midfielder Gyasi Zardes late in the first half. He lasted until the 69th minute, his longest stint since joining LA last month.
Portland coach Caleb Porter made a few changes for middle match of a three-games-in-nine-days stint, and dropped his backline deeper to prevent LA from playing over the top and into runs from Donovan, Keane and Zardes. It was largely effective, though the Timbers do come away with a concern as starting left back Michael Harrington was taken off on a stretcher after a collision with Ben Zemanski.
The Galaxy will be visitors against Chivas USA on Sunday. Portland is home Sunday against the Colorado Rapids.
Portland Timbers (6-1-9, 27pts) at LA Galaxy (6-6-3, 21pts)
June 19, 2013 – LA Galaxy (Carson, Calif.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 0 0
LA Galaxy 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
None
Misconduct Summary
POR: Kah (Caution), 7
LA: DeLaGarza (Caution), 73
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Ricketts, D Miller, D Jean-Baptiste, D Kah, D Harrington, M Chara, M Valeri (Piquionne, 67), M Johnson, W. ©, F Alhassan (Zizzo, 88) , F Johnson, R. (Zemanski, 81), F Nagbe
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kocic, D Jewsbury, M Nanchoff, F Valencia
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (R. Johnson, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players, 1); FOULS: 11 (Four players, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
LA: GK Cudicini D Franklin, D Meyer, D DeLaGarza, D Dunivant, M Rogers (Clark, 69), M Juninho (Jimenez, 90+3), M Garcia (Mastroeni, 90+1), F Zardes, F Donovan, F Keane ©
Substitutes Not Used: GK Rowe, D Leonardo, D Cochrane, F McBean
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Zardes, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players, 1); FOULS: 16 (DeLaGarza, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 4
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Fabio Tovar
4th Official: Jesus Cisneros
Attendance: 23,675
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Clear
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
