PORTLAND, OR – The Portland Timbers downed the ailing Los Angeles Galaxy 5-2 Wednesday evening at Providence Park. With the win, the Timbers clinched their spot in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs and share second place (35 points) in the Western Conference standings with Seattle.
Striker Jaroslaw Niezgoda ignited the potent Timbers attack, heading in the first goal of the game in the 6th minute past keeper Jonathan Klinsmann. In the 19th minute, Niezgoda glanced in his second goal of the night after receiving a pacey, enticing ball in the box from Pablo Bonilla.
Just ten minutes later, the Galaxy dug themselves into an even deeper hole when referee Drew Fischer awarded Portland a penalty kick. Defender Nick DePuy’s arm made contact with the ball inside the box when sliding to ground in an attempt to break up a Yimmi Chara cross.
In the 30th minute, Diego Valeri calmly put the ball in the back of the net from the spot to extend the lead and Portland marched on to end the first-half with their foot firmly on the gas pedal.
It took just seventeen seconds to begin the second-half for the Galaxy to find a way back into the match. Sebastian Lleget picked off an ill-advised pass from keeper Steve Clark and the ball eventually found Cristian Pavon in full stride as he slotted in his first of two goals on the night. Pavon’s second goal came in second-half stoppage time after the Timbers had put the game to bed.
Eryk Williamson continued his impressive 2020 form as he found a fourth goal for Portland in the 60th minute. Williamson received a diagonal pass from Niezgoda inside box and glided past Galaxy defender Daniel Steres on his way to finding the bottom-right corner of the net.
Andy Polo made it five goals on the night in the 74th minute, scoring another banger worthy of a goal-of-the-week nod. Yimmi Chara provided his third assist of the match as Polo received the cross from the right side of the box and one-timed it into the far-post side netting.
With just three games to go, the Timbers will continue to jockey for playoff positioning in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. Next up, the Timbers will host Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, November 1st at 7 pm PST (TV: KPDX).
