The Portland Timbers have secured their spot in the 2020 Major League Soccer playoffs with a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. Jaroslaw Niezgoda scored the first two goals on the night, while Diego Valeri, Eryk Williamson, and Andy Polo also added goals for the Timbers. Cristian Pavón scored twice for the Galaxy in the losing effort.
Jaroslaw Niezgoda opened the scoring for the Timbers in just the sixth minute, when he headed in a cross from Jorge Villafaña to put the Timbers up by a goal early.
The Galaxy nearly equalized a few minutes later when a header by Yony González off a Galaxy corner kick rang off the right post of the Timbers goal.
In the 19th minute the Timbers would double the lead, when Pablo Bonilla’s shot was headed in on a redirect by Niezgoda, who was barely onside but the goal would stand, and the Timbers had a 2-0 lead.
The Timbers would widen the lead ten minutes later when at attempted cross by Yimmi Chará was blocked by the arm of defender Nicholas DePuy, and the referee would not hesitate to point to the spot. Diego Valeri converted the penalty kick, and the Timbers led by a 3-0 score which would be the score at the break.
The Galaxy wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the second half, scoring just 17 seconds in when they took advantage of an errant Timbers pass, and González played a perfect backheel into the run of Cristian Pavón, who converted easily and the lead was narrowed to 3-1.
But in the 60th minute the Timbers would widen the lead back to three goals, when Eryk Williamson beat Galaxy defender Daniel Steres in the box, and coverted low past goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann to make the Timbers lead 4-1.
Then in the 74th minute, the Timbers finished off their scoring on the night with what may turn out to be the team’s goal of the year, as a cross from Yimmi Chará was lined up for a spectacular strike by Andy Polo, who one-timed the ball out of the air, and curled it into the top left corner of the goal to give the Timbers a 5-1 lead.
But for the third straight match, the Timbers would allow a stoppage time goal, though unlike the last two matches, this one would not cost the Timbers a win. As stoppage time began, Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark blocked a shot from González, but it rebounded to a wide open Pavón, who converted easily to make the score 5-2, which would be the final score.
Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark would have four saves on the night, while Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann recorded two saves.
MATCH RECAP | Portland Timbers 5, LA Galaxy 2 | Timbers Website
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | Portland Timbers 5, LA Galaxy 2 | Oct. 28, 2020 | Timbers Website
