Los Angeles Galaxy 2, Portland Timbers 1
Before this match, the Portland Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese made one of his trademark bold moves in his initial eleven. After seeing his sides losing in back to back games were, the defense was the main culprit.
For this match the Timbers Boss gamble with a daring and effective formation.
After all, they were to play a hardened Galaxy squad that was to align its top playmakers in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romain Alessandrini. No cause for the Rose City squad to be intimidated or impressed but in the end this became a reason to put on an amazing game.
Armed this time with a 5-3-2 formation, the idea of putting five defenders was to stop the dynamic game the locals were displaying in the course of this nascent season. Very well looking for the win that almost the Timbers could netted if they would been involved in a couple of doubtful plays.
Still these Galaxy are one tough squad to play in this season at home, where many squads will have its troubles against them. In spite of the first play that led to a penalty in favor of the locals when Claude Dielna fouled Ibrahimovic inside the area.
This lead for the Galaxy first goal in the 33’ minute but in the ending minutes of the first, half the comeback of the Rose City squad was very visible in a well-practiced play in the 44’ minute. With Diego Chara starting the play to a well-placed David Guzman then him passing to Diego Valeri and Guzman finding an opportune Jeremy Ebobisse for the equalizer.
Showing off the teamwork and unity the Portland Timbers need to uplift their season.
However, the Portland Timbers were to see another disbelieving call against them when their goalkeeper Jeff Attinella fouls against Zlatan leading to another penalty and the game winner. In spite, the moves by Giovanni Savarese these did not incommode the Galaxy backfield until added time.
The Portland Timbers had a clear opportunity but a bad decision from Lucas Melano the possibilities went futile. In the end despite the fight, Portland netted its third loss of the season but with many positive prospects ahead.
Goals
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 33’ LAG, Jeremy Ebobisse 44’ PTFC, Zlatan Ibrahimovic 66’ LAG
Highlight of the Match
The five defenders use in today’s formation in the end became lethal and pure poison to the Galaxy attack limiting it to just 11 shoots but just two on target.
The incorporation of Jorge Moreira and moving Zarek Valentin to the left became an accurate move for manager Savarese.
This team has fight and the way these showed it with a genuine play that exposed the lost unity and teamwork this team needs to get back to its winning ways.
Defensively the team improvement dramatically seen but with a few details to take care but in the end, the initiative is there and the Timbers are not a team that looks that gives up that easily.
Next Match: Portland Timbers (0, 3, 1, 1 point) vs San Jose Quakes (0, 5, 0, 0 points)
Avaya Stadium, San Jose, California Saturday April 6, 2019 5:00 PM PST/ 8:00 PM EST
MLS Western
Portland
