Timbers Shine in an Epic 4-2 Showdown with LA Galaxy

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Timbers playmaker Evander Ferreira celebrates his second goal, Portland’s third, during MLS Regular Season Los Angeles Galaxy at Portland Timbers by Diego G Diaz.

The Portland Timbers rose up to the challenge of facing the top Western Conference team in this 2024 season, earning three vital points to stay in the race for a spot in the postseason. Jonathan Rodríguez opened the score in the 17th minute. Evander doubled the advantage in minute 39, with LA Galaxy right winger Gabriel Pec scoring in first half stoppage time. Evander would strike again in the 51st minute, then Galaxy left winger Joseph Paintsil would keep LA in the fight with his goal in the 58th. Felipe Mora would sentence the ordeal in 80th minute.

A full house on a school night is more than loyalty and love of a game, it’s a city’s sign of faith on a sporting project. The Rose City responded and showed up to support the Portland Timbers in a delicate moment in their chase for a spot on the playoffs in this 2024 MLS Season. Portland is hanging on and badly needed to keep these points at home to not fall off the wagon.

LA Galaxy on the contrary, has already clinched a spot and now is solely concerned in chasing Messi’s Inter Miami for the Supporters Shield–the trophy for the team that has earned the most points in the regular season. 

Very different problems for very different teams in philosophy and history.

Galaxy came to Portland to play, they were loyal to their attacking philosophy and pursued victory from kick off. The Timbers were also very aggressive from the start, and surprised with a first half that showed some of the best minutes of its defensive half, especially a very effective Dario Zuparic and Kamal Miller playing left D for injured left back Claudio Bravo. 

On the front end, Jonathan Rodriguez put on a clinic on the left wing, outwitting constantly the LA defense with his ability to find spaces. He seems to struggle in the goal production, and he was unlucky to only get one goal. 

Argentine defensive half David Ayala showed a milestone on his growth as a player in MLS. Sharing the center of the pitch with club legend Diego Chará, they had the very tough job of disrupting LA’s midfield, one of the bests of the league, and the kid from Berazategui, was par with the occasion. 

Pec’s goal in the closing moments of the first half, gave life to LA and they came on the second half carrying the initiative of the game, and fully committed to winning in Providence Park. This opened spaces int he back that were exploited in Portland’s counterattacks, with Rodríguez being a nightmare for the defensive half of the visitors. Rodríguez in one of his diagonal runs outwards to the wing would serve Evander with the 3-1. 

LA tried and tried, specially after Joseph Paintsil goal in the 58th minute, making it 3-2. However, they will very well remember September 18th as “it wasn’t meant to be”, as they broke through the Timbers defense repeatedly, wasting many chances, but were also confronted by a great showing from Timbers goalie Máxime Crepeau. Portland’s counter could also have rendered more goals if it wasn’t for the Uruguayan DP, Jonathan Rodríguez’s lack of aim on goal. 

Rodríguez would eventually be subbed off in the 79th minute for Anthony. The Brazilian winger would make an immediate impact on the game serving Felipe Mora with the final 4-2. LA kept the push, but it was clear that Mora’s goal and the many goal chances squandered sat heavy in the visitors psych. 

The match also left a magnificent duel between some of this season best playmakers, LA’s Riqui Puig and Portland’s Evander Ferreira, both number 10 showed their qualities, but the match up was clearly on the Brazilian’s favor with two goals and assisting Rodriguez in the first goal. Evander was clearly man of the match and rightfully made it to the Team of the Week. 

The game also resulted in minutes on the pitch for Borussia Dortmund legend midfielder Marco Reus, now on the Galaxy’s roster, who started in the bench and subbed in 61’ for Marco Delgado. 

Bellow  you can relive the unforgettable night in images in the following gallery, photos by Diego G Diaz.