LA Galaxy Starting XI: GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, D Jalen Neal, D Maya Yoshida ©, D John Nelson; M Gastón Brugman, M Mark Delgado, M Riqui Puig, M Joseph Paintsil, M Gabriel Pec, F Miguel Berry
Substitutes: GK Novak Mićović; D Mauricio Cuevas, D Emiro Garces, D Eriq Zavaleta, M Diego Fagundez, M Tucker Lepley M Isaiah Parente, M Marco Reus, F Dejan Joveljić
Lineup Notes:
- 2022 MLS Cup MVP John McCarthy makes his 28th league appearance during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against Porland. The Philadelphia, Penn., native made three saves and won his 16th match of the 2024 MLS Regular Season in the 4-2 win at home over LAFC on Sept. 14. McCarthy has posted six shutouts and ranks second in MLS with 109 saves in 27 appearances (26 starts) for the Galaxy during the 2024 MLS Regular Season.
- Japanese International defender Miki Yamane, who recorded his seventh assist of the 2024 campaign across all competitions in the 2-1 Leagues Cup Group Stage win over the San Jose Earthquakes on July 31, makes his 29th league appearance (29th start) during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against Portland. Yamane was named to the J1 League Best XI in three consecutive seasons (2020, 2021, 2022), and helped Kawasaki Frontale earn two J1 League titles (2021, 2020), two Emperor’s Cup titles (2020, 2023) and one Japanese Super Cup (2021).
- LA Galaxy Academy product and U.S. National Team defender Jalen Neal, 21, makes his 17th appearance (14th start) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season in the match against the Timbers. Neal has tallied one goal in 40 career appearances (33 starts) across all competitions for the LA Galaxy (2022-Present).
- Japanese International defender Maya Yoshida starts alongside Neal in the center of defense. Yoshida, who has recorded two goals in 29 league appearances (29 starts) during the 2024 campaign, has tallied three goals in 43 career matches played (43 starts) across all comps for LA (2023-Present). Notably, Yoshida played in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) for the Japanese National Team.
- John Nelson makes his 12th start (22nd appearance) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against the Timbers. Nelson notched his first assist for LA in the 3-2 win over Portland on July 20. The Medina, Ohio, native has recorded five assists in 89 career MLS appearances (54 starts) across six seasons played in the league (2019-24).
- Mark Delgado, who tallied an assist off the bench in the 2-2 regulation tie (5-4 Penalty-Kick Win) against C.D. Guadalajara in Leagues Cup play on Aug. 4, starts in midfield in tonight’s match. Delgado has tallied one goal and seven assists in 31 games played (28 starts) across all comps for LA this season. Notably, Delgado has tallied 22 goals and 37 assists in 305 career games played (267 starts) across 13 seasons in MLS (2012-Present). Additionally, Delgado ranks first amongst all MLS players in distance covered in possession (132.56 km) and second in total distance covered (318.16 km) behind only Cole Bassett (337.39 km) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season.
- Gastón Brugman, who has tallied four assists in 17 matches played (10 starts) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, starts as a holding midfielder in tonight’s match. Brugman has tallied six goals and eight assists in 61 appearances (52 starts) across all competitions in three seasons played for the LA Galaxy (2022-Present).
- MLS Newcomer of the Year candidate Gabriel Pec, 23, who has 24 goal contributions (13 goals, 11 assists) in 31 appearances (28 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy this season, starts on the right wing in tonight’s match against Portland. The 2024 MLS All-Star tallied a goal in the 3-2 win over the Timbers on July 20. Pec is one of six players in MLS this year to record at least 11 goals and 10 assists (Cristian Arango, Lionel Messi, Cucho Hernandez, Luciano Acosta, Evander).
- Riqui Puig, who has scored a goal in four consecutive league matches played (4 goals, 3 assists) dating back to July 17, starts in tonight’s match against Portland. During the 2024 MLS Regular Season, Puig has 23 goal contributions (10 goals, 13 assists) in 24 appearances (23 starts) and leads all players in MLS this season in touches (2,601), passes attempted (2,349), passes completed (2,073), fouls suffered (68) and multi-assist performances (5) and ranks third in the league in distance covered in possession (127.14 km). Notably, Puig is one of four players in MLS this season with at least 10 goals scored and 13 assists (Lionel Messi, Evander, Luciano Acosta). Puig notched a goal and an assist in the 3-2 win over the Timbers on July 20.
- Ghanaian National Team forward Joseph Paintsil, 26, who recorded a goal and two assists in the 3-2 win over the Timbers on July 20, starts on the left wing in tonight’s match. Paintsil has 17 goal contributions (8 goals, 9 assists) in 24 appearances (22 starts) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season for the LA Galaxy. Notably, Paintsil has totaled six goal contributions (2 goals, 4 assists) in his last four league appearances for LA dating back to July 17.
- Miguel Berry, who has tallied three goals and one assist in 29 games played (5 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign, makes sixth start in league play this season in tonight’s match against the Timbers. Notably, each of Berry’s three goals across all competitions during the 2024 campaign have come in the 89th minute or later of a match.
