PORTLAND, Ore. — With a free-kick goal from forward Jose Villarreal, the LA Galaxy Reserves defeated the Portland Timbers Reserves 1-0 in MLS Reserve League play on Sunday evening in front of 3,751 fans at JELD-WEN Field.
Villarreal scored the game’s lone goal on a direct free kick just outside of the 18-yard box in the 11th minute, putting the ball over the Timbers Reserves’ wall and into the upper right corner of the goal. The loss was the first for the Timbers Reserves (3-2-2, 11pts) at home in the 2013 MLS Reserve League season.
The Galaxy Reserves (2-1-2, 8pts) extend their unbeaten run to three games and move into third place in the MLS Reserve League West Division on points per game, just ahead of the Timbers Reserves in fourth
The game opened up after the goal, with the Timbers Reserves finding their best chances for an equalizer just before halftime as forwards Sal Zizzo and Jose Valencia fired back-to-back shots in the 45th minute. Zizzo fired the first shot, pushing a ball to the left of Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Perk from the right side of the box. Perk dove to save the shot, but the ball fell to Valencia, who immediately put another shot on frame from the top of the six-yard box. Perk then deflected Valencia’s shot over the crossbar.
Both teams had looks on goal in the second half. The Galaxy Reserves had their best chance for a second goal in the 47th minute, when a cross fell to midfielder Laurent Courtois on the back post, but Courtois' shot was blocked by Timbers defender Ryan Miller. Portland's Steven Evans had a shot bounce off the left post in the 61st minute.
Perk subbed out at halftime for the Galaxy Reserves and goalkeeper Brian Rowe came on to help finish the clean sheet; the two combined for six saves.
MLS Reserve League
Portland Timbers Reserves (3-2-2, 11pts) vs. LA Galaxy Reserves (2-1-2, 8pts)
July 14, 2013 – JELD-WEN Field (Portland, Ore.)
Scoring Summary
LA: Jose Villarreal, 11
Misconduct Summary
POR: Sebastián Rincón, 59
LA: Tommy Meyer, 84
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Milos Kocic, D Ryan Miller, D Alvas Powell (Jacob Kempf^, 71), D Rauwshawn McKenzie, D Anthony Hobbs, M Steven Evans, M Anthony Macchione^, M Foster Langsdorf^, F Sal Zizzo, F Jose Valencia (Jesse Garcia^, 86), F Sebastián Rincón
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jake Gleeson
TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 8; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1
LA: GK Brian Perk (Brian Rowe, 45), D Greg Cochrane, D Leonardo, D Tommy Meyer, D Oscar Sorto (Kofi Opari, 69), M Colin Clark (Laurent Courtois#, 45), M Pablo Mastroeni, M Rafael Garcia, M Michael Stephens, F Jack McBean (Drew Murphy^, 82), F Jose Villarreal (Chandler Hoffman, 69)
Substitutes Not Used: F Raul Mendiola^
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 6
# indicates guest player; indicates Timbers U-23s player; ^ indicates academy player
