CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy may have opened their MLS Cup title defense with a dominant 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire last Friday at StubHub Center, but they weren’t exactly satisfied. Far from it, actually.
Head coach Bruce Arena, asked what his team needs to improve on heading into Sunday’s match in Portland against the Timbers at Providence Park (4 p.m., Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes), was quick to respond.
“Everything,” he said. “Be better in all areas. You saw throughout the league, opening games are really sloppy, which is typical; they’re sloppy everywhere in any league at the start. You just want to get better week-to-week.
“We played a good game. If we were a little sharper, maybe we win by more. For the most part for an opening game it was OK.”
The Galaxy’s Robbie Keane, who scored one of his team’s two goals – Jose Villarreal had the other -- agreed with his coach.
“We won the game, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “Like any team, starting off it’s going to take a few games to hit your stride. But as long as you win it’s OK. The first game is always a little bit slow. You need to be sharper, but that’s only going to come with games.
“You probably will see a difference three, four games down the road when everybody’s going to hit their stride. That’s kind of usually a normal thing.”
The Galaxy have had their share of troubles with the Timbers in Portland and are just 1-3-1 with seven goals scored at Providence Park. Galaxy coaches and players called it one of the league’s best venues and said the atmosphere is almost unmatched in MLS.
“Hands down it’s among the best we play in,” Galaxy defender Dan Gargan said. “They have great support. What they’ve done with that stadium gives it kind of a unique atmosphere, which is really cool to play. They have knowledgeable fans, and it’s always fun to play in front of people that hate you. It adds a little extra something to the game.
“They’re a tough team to play against there. They will be tough to break down.”
Portland, coming off a season-opening 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake, will be missing something – namely Diego Valeri, who had 11 goals and 14 assists last season. But the 28-year-old Argentinian suffered a torn knee ligament in last year’s season finale, a 2-0 win over FC Dallas, underwent surgery in November and was expected to miss at least five months.
“Obviously you lose a quality player, but they’re a similar team,” Arena said of the Timbers. “Very aggressive at home. Obviously you don’t replace Valeri with another player, but they’re still a good team.
“They’re always tough games there, an outstanding crowd, one of the best venues in the league for a home team. And a good team, which will make for a good game.”
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs LA GALAXY
PROVIDENCE PARK, Portland, Ore.
March 15, 2015 (WEEK 2, MLS Game #17)
4 p.m. PT (FS1; FOX Deportes)
A compelling matchup in the Western Conference highlights Week 2 of the new season when the Portland Timbers meet the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park. The Timbers started off their new season with a point, playing to a scoreless draw in front of their Rose City faithful last weekend. The Galaxy opened defense of their MLS Cup title on the right note, easing to a 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire at StubHub Center in the first game of the year.
• The Timbers picked up right where they left off in 2014, reaching a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake in the season opener at Providence Park. The Timbers concluded last season with a 304-minute shutout streak; they now have recorded clean sheets in four consecutive league matches.
• LA Galaxy midfielder Jose Villarreal scored the first goal in the MLS season, netting the opener midway through the second half as the Galaxy began their defense of the MLS Cup title with a 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire on Friday evening.
• The Galaxy have won the last two meetings between the clubs, both coming at StubHub Center. The Galaxy have never lost to the Timbers in Carson, with five wins in six matches there all-time.
• The Timbers had won two home meetings in a row with the Galaxy before the clubs played to a 1-1 draw in their only match at Providence Park last year.
REFEREE: Hilario Grajeda. AR1 (bench): Paul Scott; AR2 (opposite): Felisha Mariscal; 4th: Baboucarr Jallow
MLS Career: 119 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 20; pens: 20
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (11 meetings): Timbers 3 wins, 14 goals … Galaxy 5 wins, 19 goals … Ties 3
AT PORTLAND (5 meetings): Timbers 3 wins, 10 goals … Galaxy 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 1
RETURN MATCHES: 6/24: LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers, 8 p.m. PT (ESPN2); 10/18: LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers, tbd (FS1)
LAST YEAR (MLS)
5/11: POR 1, LA 1 (Valeri 95+ – Keane 92+)
7/4: LA 2, POR 2 (Sarvas 65; own goal 86 – Valeri 67; Villafana 70)
8/2: LA 3, POR 1 (Zardes 48+; Keane 73, 85 – Valeri 14)
• The Galaxy have won the last two meetings between the clubs, both coming at StubHub Center. The Galaxy have never lost to the Timbers in Carson, with five wins in six matches there all-time.
• The Timbers had won two home meetings in a row with the Galaxy before the clubs played to a 1-1 draw in their only match at Providence Park last year.
• Coaches record: Caleb Porter vs. LA: P6 W2 L1 D3 … Bruce Arena vs. POR: P11 W5 L3 D3
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
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