After two disappointing home draws against Colorado and Orlando City, the Portland Timbers broke out of their home slump with an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night. Cristhian Paredes scored twice for the Timbers while Diego Valeri and Jeremy Ebobisse also scored. Steve Clark recorded the shutout in goal.
The first 25 minutes had only a few good chances for either team, but the Timbers came close to scoring on a long run by Brian Fernandez that ended with a shot going just wide right, and Diego Valeri getting a good chance from close-in that was saved by Galaxy keeper David Bingham.
The Timbers did break through in the 37th minute when a long cross from Jorge Moreira found Cristhian Paredes unmarked in front of the Galaxy goal, and his header beat Bingham to put the Timbers up 1-0. Just four minutes later, the Timbers doubled their lead when a long pass from Sebastián Blanco had Valeri with only Daniel Steres defending him. The Timbers midfielder beat his defender and curled a perfect shot in past Bingham to put the Timbers up by a 2-0 score, which would be the score at the half.
The Galaxy had a great chance to halve the lead in the 75th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s pass found Uriel Antuna wide open at the far post, but his shot from just five yards out was blocked by a sprawling save from Timbers keeper Steve Clark.
In the 81st minute, the Timbers would add to their lead when Jorge Villafaña found Paredes open near the top of the Galaxy box, and the Timbers midfielder put a perfect shot into the upper right corner to put the Timbers up by a 3-0 score.
The Galaxy would go down to 10 men when Efrain Álvarez was red carded in the 85th minute.
The Timbers would add a fourth goal in the 88th minute when Villafaña’s deep cross found Jeremy Ebobisse just a few yards out from the far post, and his header from close range put the Timbers up by a 4-0 score, which would be the final on the night.
After the final whistle, Portland’s Dairon Asprilla and the Galaxy’s Diego Polenta were both red carded for an after match shoving match.
Portland’s Steve Clark and Los Angeles’ David Bingham each had six saves on the night.
Timbers Match Report | Video Highlights
