Galaxy match a preview of what is to come for Timbers

PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 02: LA Galaxy at Portland Timbers at Providence Park, Portland, OR (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika)>

This is just the beginning of what is ahead in the remainder months of competition in all of Major League Soccer. On Saturdays match, the LA Galaxy showed its readiness to confront a momentum stricken Portland Timbers.  By displaying a very stingy and overzealous defending whenever Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco and Samuel Armenteros all of these took the ball. The Galaxy Boys were up and ready to deliver. Very well as they frustrated the scoring intentions of the Portland Timbers squad had all afternoon long.

There were an array of opportunities with Diego Valeri having two clear chances, accompanied by Andres Flores and two frustrated intents too from Zarek Valentin and Samuel Armenteros. The performance of the Angelinos goalkeeper David Bingham being on the dot and ready to stop any of the Portland intents in the course of the match certainly stymied the Timbers’ efforts. That became the highlight of this match for the struggling LA Galaxy coming from a midweek loss at home.

Still I do blame openly the weather that this heat made it impossible for any of the two squad’s players in concentrate and display their games. This played a role in favor of the LA squad scorer Chris Pontius scoring the visitor’s first goal, making the right moves on Portland defender Bill Tuiloma. He beat him with a sublime cut that gave him the perfect opportunity at goal.  A veteran striker like Pontius might not have the legs of a 20 year old but he still knows hot to score. That is something that a player never loses.

PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 02: LA Galaxy at Portland Timbers at Providence Park, Portland, OR (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika)>

The Portland Timbers defensive backfield seeing a couple of absences in its starting foursome. With Julio Cascante and Bill Tuiloma making the start along Larry’s Mabiala and Zarek Valentin, these despite the early goal in the 20 minute, these stood their ground too but at times beaten in the counter by the Angelinos.

In the other side of the field, the Portland defense doing his work and standing tall with the arrivals of Romain Alessandrini, Emmanuel Boateng, Sebastian Llegett and especially when Zlatan Ibrahimovic subbing in the 72 minute. This world-renowned superstar, held at bay by Zarek Valentin, Marco Farfan, Julio Cascante and Larry’s Mabiala. At the end, this match ended up in a stalemate.

As this match saw, the best of both squads really battling to dominate this match filled with a lot of physicality. But it was an all-around contest for the local Portland squad to start a rally that in its beginnings was stopped by the Galaxy eleven.

Once again, the Portland Timbers when the pressure increases its strikers and playmakers employ a style of defending called Catenacio. All of its offensive might become obsolete and in operant as this Saturday put in display. With this club new philosophy and more ambitious lead to that play when Andres Flores fouled inside the area by Galaxy defender Jorgen Skjelvik. The game official did not hesitated to award a penal to the local Portland Timbers and converted by Diego Valeri in the 57th minute.

In this week to come Portland Timbers have a couple of tough tests in the US Open Cup against San Jose and on Saturday a league game against the Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City. The Midwest Boys if you recalled beat us with a clean sheet match preventing the Timbers offensive game to display its might. Hard work is the way this Portland Timbers will prevail in a contested and much disputed campaign.

PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 02: LA Galaxy at Portland Timbers at Providence Park, Portland, OR (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika)>