Portland’s Four-Game Winning Streak Snapped In Brutal Loss at StubHub Center
Soccer News: The Portland Timbers could not overcome a three-goal halftime deficit in a midweek road match as the club’s four-game winning streak ended in a 5-0 loss against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night in front of 21,207 fans at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA.
Wednesday’s loss marked Portland’s first in league play since May 23 and ends the team’s MLS-club record streak at four consecutive wins, which is tied for the longest streak in MLS this season.
LA, finally able to put together a veteran first-choice lineup after an early-season injury crisis, have scored 16 goals in the past eight days, following a 6-1 rout of amateurs PSA Elite in the Open Cup’s fourth round with the 5-1 destruction of the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.
Against the run of play early in the match, the Galaxy (7-5-7, 28pts) tallied the opening goal as midfielder Sebastian Lletget finished a deflected cross from defender Dan Gargan from close range. Just five minutes later, forward Robbie Keane converted a penalty kick to put the home side ahead 2-0 after Lletget earned a foul in the box.
“He’s (Robbie Keane) a great player. He makes my life a lot easier,” said Lletget. “His communication with me is outstanding. It’s going well; I can’t complain.”
Keane finished the match with a goal and two assists for the Galaxy as he also provided the key pass on defender Robbie Rogers’ one-time finish in the 33rd minute and midfielder Juninho’s goal from close range in the 72nd minute. Substitute forward Jose Villarreal netted the final goal for the Galaxy, curling a low free kick around the defensive wall and inside the near post in the 88th minute.
Portland (7-6-4, 25pts) was reduced to 10 men for the final 12 minutes of the match after defender Liam Ridgewell was issued a red card after he and Galaxy forward Alan Gordon challenged for a ball in the air.
The Timbers finished the match with 52% of the possession and a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.
The Galaxy plays Saturday at California Clasico rival San Jose Earthquakes, and the Timbers are home Sunday in a Cascadia Cup showdown with Seattle Sounders FC, their first meeting since Portland’s controversial US Open Cup victory a week ago.
