The game in 100 words (or less): For most of the match, Portland seemingly played as an away side, content with staying tight defensively and attacking off the counter. Fanendo Adi thrived, bagging a brace for the Timbers as he used his speed and strength to get in behind the Galaxy defense. Gyasi Zardes tallied for LA and could have scored more if not for some poor touches inside the box. In the end it was Alan Gordon who saved the day for LA, rescuing a point with a strong header off a corner kick deep into stoppage time.
Three moments that mattered
65′ — Zardes finds an equalizer for LA: After Fanendo Adi opened the scoring for Portland in the first half, Gyasi Zardes made amends by finding an equalizer for the Galaxy. Jose Villarreal made a run down the left flank and whipped in a cross to the near post. As Timbers keeper Adam Kwarasey came out to collect, Zardes beat him to the cross and snuck a foot in to tap the ball home and knot the score at one.
90′ — Adi’s second almost wins it: Los Angeles looked the stronger team throughout the second half, but the Timbers remained strong and Fanendo Adi scored his second of the match in what seemed to be the game winner. Darlington Nagbe took a long ball to the box where his cross found Adi, who stuffed the ball home past an array of Galaxy defenders. Portland thought they had all three points until…
90’+2′ — Alan Gordon saves a point for LA: After Fanendo Adi seemingly sealed a win for Portand, former Timber Alan Gordon salvaged a tie for LA. The Galaxy pushed everyone forward for a last-second corner kick, where Gordon’s big header found the far post in stoppage time, silencing a packed Providence Park.
[ FOLLOW: All of PST’s MLS coverage | Standings | Stats | Schedule ]
Man of the match: Alan Gordon — The former Timbers frontman made his old team pay as he scored at the brink of time to steal a point for Los Angeles. Gordon came on as a late substitute, and his manager Bruce Arena will surely be pleased that he could contribute off the bench.
LINEUPS
Portland Timbers: Kwarasey, Powell, Borchers, Ridgewell, Villafana, Jewsbury, Chara, Asprilla (Fernandez 56′), Nagbe, Wallace (Urruti 82′), Adi
Goals: Adi (31′, 90′)
Los Angeles Galaxy: Rowe, Gargan, Gonzalez, Leonardo, Rogers (Dunivant 87′), Ishizaki, Juninho, Husidic (Vayrynen 62′), Villarreal (Gordon 76′), Keane, Zardes
Goals: Zardes (65′), Gordon (90’+2′)
