Galaxy survive shootout with Timbers, maintain first place

If getting back into first place in the Western Conference was tough enough for the Los Angeles Galaxy, then maintaining it will prove to be just as difficult.

Playing its first match as the top dog in the conference, the Galaxy had a somewhat hard time with the Portland Timbers on Saturday night, but in the end, the Galaxy got the result it needed to maintain its hold on first place in the West, as they held off a resilient Portland Timbers squad 3-2 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“This group of players that we have we’re so good, either we play a good game and we win games or we make mistakes and sometimes it costs us,” Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagundez said. “You can see we can score goals, we just have to be a little bit better so we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot. “

The Galaxy’s goals came from three players that are quickly starting to become a big three, as Gabriel Pec, Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil found the back net. The win against Portland on Saturday night was key for the Galaxy, as it was the last match before the start of the Leagues Cup tournament, which the Galaxy will start on July 31 with a road match against its in-state rivals from Northern California, the San Jose Earthquakes.

“I think it’s good for us just to see rewards for our labor,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “Getting these points helps you down the stretch. You never know in Leagues Cup, too, what can happen with teams. It can be anywhere from two to five, six games and you never know with teams. You don’t know what teams are going to do in the window to re-enforce so every point matters.”

The Galaxy finally found the back net in the 38th minute. Riqui Puig split the Portland defense with a perfect through ball, Paintsil made the run from the right, which drew out keeper James Pantemis. Pec also joined the break from the middle lane and Paintsil made Pantemis pay for his decision to leave his line, as he played a short pass to Pec, who finished into the open net.

The Galaxy doubled its lead three minutes into the second half, as Paintsil played a ball to Puig, who took a touch, then blasted a 25-foot shot that got past a crowd of players, then Pantemis into the back net and just like that, the Galaxy were up by two goals. The Timbers however were not keen to simply roll over for the hometown Galaxy. Portland got on the score sheet in the 52nd minute, as Evander led a Timbers break down the middle, played a ball to Jonathan Rodriguez inside the penalty area, and Rodriguez fired a ball past keeper John McCarthy far post to get the Timbers back into the match.

The Galaxy however had a response in the 58th minute. Diego Fagundez played Paintsil into the penalty area, Paintsil took a touch to evade Timbers defender Dario Zuparic, then fired a shot past Pantemis far post to restore the two-goal advantage. Portland however would not go down without a fight, as Santiago Moreno dribbled all the way down the left side, cut inside, then fired a shot just inside the penalty area that sailed past McCarthy into the back net to again pull the Timbers a goal back. The Galaxy however were able to hang on.