Christian Ramirez came off the bench to score in the 81st minute as the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy pulled off a 1-1 tie against the Portland Timbers on Sunday.
Ramirez’s late score allowed the Galaxy (0-3-1, 1 point) to earn their first point of the season after becoming the first team in MLS history to lose its first three games immediately following a championship season.
In his first MLS start of the season, LA goalkeeper John McCarthy had three saves. McCarthy, who was the starter for two CONCACAF Championship Cup games, had been on the bench in MLS action while Novak Micovic started and gave up seven goals in three MLS games.
Felipe Mora scored early in the second half for the Timbers, while James Pantemis made three saves. Mora’s goal was just the third in four games for the Timbers (1-2-1, 4 points).
Mora gave the Timbers a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute when he redirected a feed by David Da Costa from just outside the right side of the penalty area and into the goal past McCarthy.
Ramirez entered in the 73rd minute as the Galaxy appeared to be on their way to getting shut out for the third time in MLS play. LA broke through when Zanka sent a long ball toward the penalty area in front of the Timbers’ goal and Ramirez gathered the pass and scored just inside the right post past Pantemis.
The only other Galaxy goal on the season came from Gabriel Pec in the second game of the season, which ended in a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Galaxy’s offense has been in disarray without midfielder Riqui Puig (knee) and forward Joseph Paintsil (quad) in any of the four games this season.
The Timbers thought they earned a chance from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time but no call was made on an apparent LA foul just inside the box against Cristhian Paredes.
–Field Level Media
