A well-rested Portland Timbers showed their might today over the slumping LA Galaxy in Carson, California with a six-goal rout and stopping any possibilities of staging a rally, despite two goals scored by the locals in the second half.
Give credit to the two men of the match, Jeremy Ebobisse and Felipe Mora.
The Chilean scored his first two-goal game as a Portland Timber and Jeremy Ebobisse scored twice as well. Jebo scored a beauty of a goal with a free shot, fooling LA’s experienced goalkeeper David Bingham.
Down two goals, the Galaxy’s Julian Araujo brought the home side within one goal after a beautiful shot that gave Timbers keeper Steve Clark little to do about, exposing the visitors’ defense off guard.
As previously mentioned, the LA Galaxy’s defense almost staged a comeback. It seemed that they would not allow any more chances to make this match more interesting.
They played with a winning determination and a lot of heart, today posting another goal rout against an anemic LA team. The Rose City side is now within three points of the first place spot held by the Seattle Sounders.
A great win, but at a cost as it was not an easy one despite the six goals scored in the course of the game as the Galaxy could generate a comeback in the second half, but ended with a defensive gem in the end.
Rookie Pablo Bonilla is looking like a true starter and despite looking not too zealous in his defending more than once, in the 40’ minute the lad prevented a goal.
Another plus is the way this team is starting to play as one unit, exposing the Rose City big guns for a second time in the season by delivering another goal-fest game.
Still defensively-speaking, the Timbers could have prevented three goals. There is still a need to step up a more intense game on defensively, though they prevented a scare in the second half once the Timbers stepped up their defensive game.
Now for the Portland Timbers and manager Giovanni Savarese, it’s back to the drawing board as they will have back-to-back games at home on Sunday against the San Jose Quakes and later in midweek traveling to Salt Lake City to face off against RSL.
Goals:
Felipe Mora 14’ PTFC, Jeremy Ebobisse 23’ PTFC, Julian Araujo 34’ LAG, Diego Valeri 47’ PTFC, Ethan Zubak 55’ LAG, Felipe Mora 60’ PTFC, Larry’s Mabiala 63’ PTFC, Cristian Pavon 70’ LAG, Jeremy Ebobisse 80’ PTFC
Highlights
Hail to Felipe Mora’s first brace with the Portland Timbers
Bravo for Jeremy Ebobisse brace with a beauty in his first goal of the night
Jorge Villafaña, Eryk Williamson, and Diego Chara each one contributing with an assist
Yimmi Chara amazing with two assists, becoming important in the Timbers lineup
Pablo Bonilla in the 40th minute spectacular saves to deny the Galaxy a sure goal
The backfield needs to be more zealous on defense as those three goals could been prevented
Gio moves always paying off and delivering today with his traditional 4-3-2-1 formation
Diego Chara a solid as a rock defending and contributing offensively too
El Maestro Diego Valeri still going strong with the game third goal
Marco Farfan solid in defense despite just playing 12 minutes
Steve Clark again with a good game and contributing with an enormous save in the 20 minutes
Larry’s Mabiala showing his effort in scoring a goal
Cristhian Paredes, Marvin Loria in need of more mobility to impress and get more minutes
Give Tomas Conechny more time in the field with just 2 minutes little the Andean could contribute
Kudos to the defensive game to stop the Galaxy rally cold in a comeback in the second half
Men of the Match
Felipe Mora and Jeremy Ebobisse both with a brace
Portland Timbers
