PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 02: LA Galaxy at Portland Timbers at Providence Park, Portland, OR (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika)>
Portland Timbers 1, LA Galaxy 1
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
I can say for sure that Sigi Schmid and his Galaxy Boys were ready for this match. Just a few days rest after their loss at home on Wednesday against FC Dallas the American version of the Galacticos perhaps showed that they play better football on the road than at home. In Saturday’s match, Sigi Schmid sent an improvised initial eleven that played a very overzealous and stingy defensive game over the local Portland Boys. Despite missing three of his stellar players to international, play. Their main role fulfilled when they stopped the Portland offensive momentum at home.
For manager Giovanni Savarese before this match he had to make some improvisations in his initial eleven. With important players on the DL, the novelties in Gios initial eleven were Bill Tuiloma for Alvas Powell and Andres Flores in lieu of Andy Polo. Among one of the most notable absences were of Liam Ridgewell, Alvas Powell and Andy Polo in the Portland squad. Despite the Timbers defending, still these were not in their best days that have delivered that recent winning streak. In addition, the numbers of opportunities missed by the PTFC were numerous: eighteen shoots at goal with ten direct.
Ask that to Diego Valeri that had two narrow escapes in the LA Galaxy posts and their goalkeeper David Bingham defended it successfully. The first half saw a very close defensive matchup between both squads until a Timbers defensive stumble in the 20th minute. That left LA Chris Pontius to score and LA taking the lead. Still do not call these Timbers quitters as their persistence paid off in the second half.
With a smart play in the second half a bold Andres Flores was foul inside the eighteen yard-box area by LA defender Jorgen Skjelvik. The game official did not hesitated to award the locals a penalty kick, taken by Diego Valeri successfully.
PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 02: LA Galaxy at Portland Timbers at Providence Park, Portland, OR (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika)>
Goals
Chris Pontius 20’ LAG and Diego Valeri PK 57’PTFC
The Highlight of this Match
The perseverance showed by the Portland Timbers despite being down in the scoreboard until the 57 minute. For Andres Flores and his play that generated the foul on him by LA Swedish back for a foul in the area. That became a notable point after many minutes of frustrating intents that almost could become a score and seeing a very tight LA defensive game. For the Portland Timbers with this draw they have their share of points and still undefeated at home. The negative is the heat how it affects the pitch in Providence Park diminishing the players performance to exhaustion.
The Portland defense despite not having one of its best performances still deserve some credit. They rose to the occasion denying Zlatan Ibrahimovic the display of a spectacular game.
Next Match: US OPEN CUP Portland Timbers (6, 3, 3, 21 points) vs San Jose Quakes (2, 8, 3, 9 points) at Providence Park, Portland Oregon 7:30 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
Next Match: Portland Timbers (6, 3, 3, 21 points) vs Sporting Kansas City (8, 2, 4, 28 points) at Providence Park, Portland Oregon 7:30 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
LA Galaxy
Portland
