Timbers Fall to LA Galaxy 3-2 on the Road

July 20, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release

CARSON, Calif. – Despite a pair of second-half goals scored by Jonathan Rodríguez and Santiago Moreno, the Portland Timbers fell 3-2 to LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Rodríguez scored first for Portland in the 52nd minute, notching his team-leading 12th goal, while Santiago Moreno bagged a goal in the 73rd minute, his sixth of the season. Next week, the Timbers will pause MLS regular season play to open their Leagues Cup 2024 account against Club León on July 28 at Providence Park.

Numbers in the Attack

Jonathan Rodríguez scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season tonight. Santiago Moreno tallied his sixth goal of the season while also recording his 11th assist – a career season-high for Moreno. It marks Moreno’s fifth multi-goal contribution match of the 2024 campaign and a third consecutive match with multiple goal contributions. Evander registered his team-leading 13th assist and leads the team in points with 35 (11G, 13A). The Timbers remain the only team in the league to have three players with 11 or more goals apiece (Rodríguez – 12, Mora – 11, Evander – 11), and are tied for most of any team in the league with four players with six or more goals alongside LA Galaxy and Philadelphia Union. The Timbers have scored in 22 of 25 matches this season, while registering multiple goals in 20 games. Portland’s 50 goals in the 2024 campaign are tied for second most in the Western Conference, trailing only Real Salt Lake (51), and tied for third most in the league behind Inter Miami CF (56).

Leagues Cup 2024 Campaign

After tonight’s result, Portland will head into next week in eighth place of the Western Conference standings with a 10-9-6 record (36pts). The Timbers are set to open their 2024 Leagues Cup account next week as they host LIGA MX side Club León on Sunday, July 28 at Providence Park. A part of West 5 Group, Portland will also host the Colorado Rapids in the group stage of the international tournament in a midweek matchup on Thursday, August 1.

Goal-Scoring Plays

LA – Gabriel Pec (Joseph Paintsil, Riqui Puig), 38th minute: Riqui Puig started the play from the midfield when he distributed the ball onto the right side of the wing to find Joseph Paintsil. Paintsil, on his first touch, beat James Pantemis to the ball and sent to the middle of the 18-yard box where Gabriel Pec finished the play with a left-footed shot into the middle of the goal.

LA -…