The Portland Timbers knew they had a tough matchup in Los Angeles against LAFC. Already missing two of their Designated Players, plus Diego Chara out on yellow card suspension, plus the Timbers have never matched up well with LAFC.
LAFC would take the early lead on when Carlos Vela knocked in a rebound in just the 5th minute to give LAFC a 1-0 lead. The home team continued to control most of the match and would have shots ring off the left post, crossbar, and right post but the score stayed at 1-0 until late.
The Timbers finally got their first shot on goal in the 80th minute when Diego Valeri one-timed a shot right at the LAFC keeper.
Then in the 90th minute, the Timbers got a surprising late equalizer that totally changed the playoff matchups in the west, when Valeri played a long cross-field pass to a wide open Jorge Villafaña, who headed home the goal to make it 1-1, which would be the final.
If the Timbers had not scored the late equalizer, the Timbers would have faced LAFC in the playoffs. But with the equalizer, it’s FC Dallas that will be coming to Portland for the first playoff match in two weeks.
MATCH RECAP | Los Angeles FC 1, Portland Timbers 1 | Timbers Website
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | Los Angeles FC 1, Portland Timbers 1 | Nov. 8, 2020 | Timbers Website
