Products You May Like
Felipe Mora scored two second-half goals against a 10-man LA Galaxy side, and the Portland Timbers earned a 3-0 home win on Saturday afternoon, despite the loss of forward Andy Polo to what appears to be a serious leg injury.
Diego Valeri added a penalty kick goal, two weeks after missing one plus the re-take after an infraction.
– MLS on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)
Already shorthanded without top players Sebastian Blanco and Diego Chara, both out with injuries, the Timbers also were without defender Larrys Mabiala and both of their top two goalkeepers, Steve Clark and Jeff Attinella. And that is just half of their injured list.
Then Portland (3-3-0, 9 points) lost Polo after a dangerous tackle from Galaxy center back Derrick Williams in the 44th minute. The tackle upended Polo, who was helped off the field heavily favoring his right leg.
Williams was issued a red card and sent off.
Timbers owner Merritt Paulson tweeted during the game: “Dangerous doesn’t cut it. Williams shouldn’t see the field for a long time. Disgusting.”
The match was scoreless at half-time, but the Timbers regrouped and won handily. Polo was able to come back to the bench, albeit on crutches with his leg immobilized.
The Galaxy (4-2-0, 12 points) controlled possession for much of the first half, but the Timbers’ attack came to life after the 30th minute.
Jeremy Ebobisse, Dairon Asprilla and Valeri all had good chances after creating space for themselves, Ebobisse on a breakaway, Valeri off a turnover and Asprilla simply dribbling down the field and overpowering a would-be defender.
But Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond stopped shots from Ebobisse and Valeri, and Asprilla’s attempt sailed over the bar.
The red card to Williams cost the Galaxy just two minutes into the second half. Josecarlos Van Rankin whipped a cross into the box, where Mora was in position for a header into the net and a 1-0 Timbers lead.
Mora scored again in the 60th minute when Van Rankin’s shot hit the bar and came out, where Mora pounced on the ball and scored on another header.
A penalty for a trip in the box by the Galaxy’s Daniel Steres set up the Timbers’ penalty kick, and Valeri delivered in the 69th minute.
Timbers goalie Logan Keterrer earned his second straight clean sheet after being called up from El Paso Locomotive FC of the United Soccer League.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, the leading goal scorer in MLS with seven, was held scoreless for just the second time in the Galaxy’s six matches.