CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy were out-worked, out-played, and out-scored in a disastrous second half that saw them fall 5-2 to the Portland Timbers, sending their hopes of qualifying for the second seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs into question.
The Galaxy went up early on Robbie Keane’s goal in the 35th minute but once the second period began, it was all Portland. The Timbers mercilessly pressed forward in search of an equalizer and found it in the 65th minute when Fanendo Adi leveled the score. A penalty called on the Galaxy minutes later saw Adi give Portland the lead that they never relinquished.
Once the final whistle was blown, the score was 5-2, and the Galaxy suffered their second home defeat of the season, and one of their worst ever losses at StubHub Center.
“Soundly beaten, if I could tell you exactly it wouldn’t have happened but let’s give Portland credit. They dominated us in the second half and deserved to win the game,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “If you look at individual battles, their eleven against our eleven; they just thoroughly dominated us in a physical nature I’d say. It wasn’t tactical; it wasn’t anything more than I thought their desire to win that game and fight and work was much greater than ours.”
The Galaxy’s showing left many asking just what happened to a club that had not conceded five goals at home in an MLS match since 2009.
When asked what went wrong, midfielder Steven Gerrard offered up a perfect response: “How long do you got?”
“There is two ways to go about this now,” Gerrard continued. “You either feel sorry for yourself and drag this into next week, or you come in tomorrow, get yourself down, you look in the mirror this evening, and you find out yourself individually and then collectively, we’ll find the answers and go again next week and be better.”
The Galaxy may be incredibly frustrated with Sunday’s disappointing performance, but their hopes of earning the second seed in the Western Conference still remain in their hands.
A win over Sporting Kansas City next week secures the Galaxy the bye into the Western Conference Semifinals regardless of other results. A draw or a loss, however, and the Galaxy can finish anywhere from third to sixth once the postseason begins in two weeks.
Los Angeles have never won at Sporting Park in three attempts, but the defending champions are confident that they can go into the hostile venue and earn the result that they need.
“We play Sunday in Kansas City and try to win the game,” said Arena. “I mean we would try to win the game regardless. I don’t know all the scenarios and all of that, it is what it is, but we’ll go play.”
Added Keane, “It’s going to be a tough game, but it’s in our hands. We still have a chance to go in there and get three points, and still claim that second spot. The good thing about football is that there is always another game.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
