David Da Costa had a goal and an assist and Antony Alves Santos added three helpers as the Portland Timbers held on to defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-2 Sunday night in Carson, Calif.
Santiago Moreno, Kevin Kelsy and Jonathan Rodriguez also tallied for the Timbers (5-2-3, 18 points), who extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches (4-0-3).
Christian Ramirez had a goal and an assist and Marco Reus also scored for the defending MLS Cup champion Galaxy (0-7-3, 3 points).
Trailing 3-0, the Galaxy scored twice in a three-minute span midway through the second half to get back in the match.
Ramirez tallied in the 67th minute, sliding to redirect a cross from Joseph Paintsil into the lower left corner of the net from 8 yards out.
In the 69th, Reus stole the ball about 35 yards from the Portland net and sprinted into the box to take a return pass from Ramirez and put a right-footed shot into the right-side netting.
The Galaxy’s comeback bid was thwarted in the 75th minute when referee Filip Dujic ruled L.A. defender Emiro Garces tripped Rodriguez just inside the top of the 18-yard box. Rodriguez blasted the ensuing penalty kick into the upper left corner of the net to make it 4-2.
The Timbers opened the scoring in the 38th minute on the lone shot on goal in the first half. Moreno dribbled the ball into the penalty area and fed Juan Mosquera on the right wing.
Mosquera’s sharp-angled shot from the right edge of the 6-yard box went across the goalmouth but was tracked down in the left wing corner by Antony, who flicked the ball over defender Miki Yamane, then dropped a pass to Da Costa, whose volley from 10 yards out overpowered Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy and snuck inside the near post.
Portland made it 2-0 on the counterattack in the 53rd minute. Joao Ortiz’s pass to Antony at midfield set up a three-on-two rush. Antony dribbled down the left wing and sent a cross past Kelsy and to Moreno on the right wing just inside the top of the penalty area. Moreno put a 12-yard shot past an onrushing McCarthy to double the Timbers’ lead.
Portland made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute as Moreno kept the ball inbounds on the left wing and passed ahead to Antony. He sent a cross to Kelsy, who put a left-footed shot from 17 yards off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
–Field Level Media
