Goals and Highlights: Los Angeles Galaxy 1-2 Portland Timbers in MLS is Back Tournament

Los Angeles Galaxy loses a game due to a lack of effectivity and terrible defending against a Portland Timber side lead by Blanco that showed good play.

There. It. Is. 👀

Chicharito opens his MLS account! pic.twitter.com/xBnBx8KDAq

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2020

 

Chara tries his luck, but his attempt hits the side netting.

Four minutes of added time.

Andy Polo replaces Williamson.

The third time is the charm!

Chicharito makes a tremendous movement inside the box and is found by a low cross.

He finally makes it 1-2 with a good finish to the near post.

Once again, the officiating team detects an offside in a play that ended with the ball in the back of the net.

VAR lets the referee know that there was offside on the play and the game remains 0-2.

An excellent cross from Pavon finds Wild at the far post. He finishes it with his left to make it 1-2.

Ebobisse is replaced by Niezgoda.

Valeri comes off instead of Tuiloma.

Klejstan leaves his place on the pitch for Wild.

Pavon takes the free-kick to the far post. The ball seemed to be going in, but it bounces off a teammate and a good chance is wasted.

Pavon seemed to be through on goal, but he gets fouled a few inches outside the box.

The play costs Zuparic his second yellow card and he's sent-off!

Sebastián Blanco is on fire right now. #LAvPOR | #RCTID pic.twitter.com/RQqAB7PVf5

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) July 14, 2020

Dumbar is replaced by Cuello.

Sebastián Blanco ➡️ Jeremy Ebobisse @kingjebo strikes first and @TimbersFC leads, 1-0. #LAvPOR pic.twitter.com/ysEkSWM9fB

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2020

 

Blanco wins a ball near the end-line and powers himself into the box. His effort is rewarded as he makes it 2-0 for Timbers.

Blanco continues to be the best man on the pitch, opening up spaces for the rest of his teammates with his movement.

Blanco gets inside the penalty area, gets rid of the keeper and puts the ball in the middle so Ebobisse can finish it!

Loria is replaced by Yimmy Chara.

Chicharito strikes the ball with the back of his head and the attempt is just over the bar.

The LA players argue for a foul inside the box on Dunbar. The referee and VAR do not see it that way.

Chicharito misses a huge chance for LA Galaxy. With the goal wide open, he's unable to direct his shot to the target.

We're ready for the last 45 minutes of the match between Galaxy and Timbers.

We go to the break with neither team being able to break the deadlock. Chicharito missed a penalty.

A great ball from Feltscher looking for Hernandez, but the Mexican striker is caught offside.

Blanco gets inisde the box and shoots with his left,  but Bingham makes the save.

The game has lowered its amount of attacking plays. Ebobisse sends a cross from the left, but again it's straight at Bingham's hands.

Klejstan tries his luck from long distance, but Clark makes an easy diving save.

The game resumes after the pause for rehydration.

The game stops for a cooling break.

Bingham makes a good save to a powerful shot from Ebobisse.

Williamson sends a good low-cross, but the defense is able to get a small deflection on it before the ball could reach Valeri.

Williamson tries to put Valeri in scoring position, but his pass is just a little too long for the Argentine player to reach.

Clark stops Chicharito's shot from the spot and then makes another save to Klejstan shot on the rebound.

Pavon finds space at the edge of the box. Zuparic slides with his arms wide open and the referee rules a handball inside the box.

First important chance of the game. Williamson finds good space to make a header, but his attempt is wide.

Portland starts the match with more possession and willingness to attack.

We're underway with the match between LA Galaxy and Portland Timbers.

Go time. @CH14_ pic.twitter.com/uCEaIUrvLu

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 14, 2020

Everything set for the start of the match! We're short moments away from LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers!

The Portland Timbers players are ready for the start of the match. They've made their way to the soccer field at Orlando's bubble.

Bingham; Gonzalez, Steres, Insua, Feltscher; Kitchen, Klejstan, Lletget, Dunbar; Pavon, Hernandez.

Clark; Zuparic, Mabiala, Villafaña, Duvall; Williamson, D. Chara, Loria; Blanco, Valeri, Ebobisse.

LA Galaxy captain Jonathan Dos Santos sent his best wishes to his teammates ahead of the game against Portland.

Un mensaje especial desde Los Ángeles de parte de nuestro capitán @jona2santos 👊💙🤍💛#VamosGalaxy | #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/ZYdjz2d9IW

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy_Es) July 13, 2020

The Los Angeles Galaxy jerseys will also feature messages denouncing social injustice.

The Timbers will wear customized messages on their shirt regarding current global events.

More than a match day kit. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/619A0f54fJ

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) July 13, 2020

The LA Galaxy organized viewing parties respecting social distancing protocols.  Fans will stay in their cars to view giant screens set up by the club.

We're an hour away from the start of the match between Los Angeles Galaxy and Portland Timbers.

Don't go anywhere! Line-ups are coming soon!

Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries of VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis, and lineups for this Los Angeles Galaxy vs Portland Timbers match.

 

 

The referee for the match is Ramy Touchan.

He'll be assisted by Chris Wattam and Claudiu Badea, while  Ismail Elfath will act as the fourth official.

VAR will be operated by Jair Marrufo.

Dairon Asprilla is out of action thanks to a knee injury.

Felipe Mora is questionable. The former Cruz Azul and Pumas player has a right thigh strain.

The Galaxy won't count with Jonathan Dos Santos who is out with a groin injury and with Danilo Acosta who is also suffering from an ACL injury.

Joe Corona is also unavailable as he'll be serving a one-match ban after seeing the red card in the last league match.

Clark; Zuparic, Mabiala, Villafaña, Duvall; Polo, D. Chara, Valeri; Blanco, Y. Chara, Ebobisse.

Bingham; Gonzalez, Depuy, Insúa, Feltscher; Kitchen, Alvarez, Klejstan; Lletget, Pavon, Hernandez.

The Portland side also had a rough opening match for the 2020 season. Despite greater possession and more shots, they were bested by Minnesota United at home.

Their second game, however, ended in a win thanks to an early goal by Diego Valeri. They'll hope that the Argentine can lead them to victory once more tonight.

The 2020 regular season had not started well for the LA Galaxy despite big anticipation due to the arrival of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez.

Their season opener ended in a 1-1 draw at Houston Dynamo, while their first game at home was a disappointing 0-1 defeat to the Whitecaps thanks to a goal by Ricketts on the 74th minute.

If you want to watch the game on TV, your options are FS1 and TUDN.

If you want to directly stream it: FOX Sports App, TUDN App

If you want to follow it on the internet, VAVEL USA is your best option!

The entirety of the MLS is Back Tournament will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Orlando, Florida behind closed doors.

Only essential personnel will be at the site, while players and staff are not allowed to leave the complex during the tournament.

The "MLS is Back" tournament features a group stage and knockout rounds. The winner of the tournament will earn  $1 million in prize money and a spot in next year's Concacaf Champions League.

 

Plus, points earned in the group stage will count towards this season's standings. 

Welcome to VAVEL.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2020 MLS match: LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers! 

My name is Juan Pablo Rodriguez and I’ll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.