Another tough test on the road for the Portland Timbers in Tinseltown

APRIL 19, 2025 – PORTLAND, OR: MLS Regular season match between the Portland Timbers vs LAFC at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz).

(4) Portland Timbers (4,2,3, 15 points) vs (15) LA Galaxy (0,6,3, 3 points)

Sunday, April 27, 2025, KO 6:00 PM PST/ 9:00 PM EST

Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson City, California

Portland Timbers Briefly

What a game! The referee, Guido Gonzalez Jr., favored the visiting LAFC side and did a terrible job officiating. Every call seemed to go against the local Portland Timbers. Can the league address this issue once and for all?

I commend both teams for putting on an impressive performance, resulting in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Oliver Giroud made a notable return by scoring his first goal of the season. The match culminated with an equalizer scored by Danny Bouanga.

Overall, I commend the defense for another standout performance, but the Black and Gold are challenging to stop, as this team has consistently posed a problem for the Green and Gold since its inception.

Somehow, I commend the defensive backfield for preventing scores by the visitors and for looking very solid throughout the evening; however, little could be done to prevent LAFC from scoring.

Now, back to Tinsel Town, the LA Galaxy face off against a team that is not in its usual form. With several key players sidelined, the Galaxy has been decimated, but they still have the potential to put up a strong fight, similar to the one they showcased in Providence Park.

With Marco Reus not starting and several key players absent, the Galaxy may struggle in a one-on-one matchup against the Portland Timbers. Can this lead to another road win?

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Galaxy

LA Galaxy Briefly

Manager Greg Vanney is surprised this season hasn’t gone as expected, with his club earning only three points and sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference.

With several key players on the injured list, this heavy toll can significantly affect the team’s performance, as the absence of these notable players is costing them dearly.

Gabriel Pec, the Brazilian player, struggles to perform effectively without Ricky Puig and other key players, who are currently on the injured reserve list, with no indication of when they might return.

This is something manager Vanney needs to address and improve in his revamped lineup regarding who will excel or make significant plays so the team can start gaining traction towards success.

My conclusion is that this season will be challenging for Greg Vanney unless the front office provides him with some top-rated players to help bring the club back from the ashes and potentially secure a postseason spot in the end.

Forecast

Another tough challenge for the Portland Timbers, but this time on the road