PORTLAND — With two goals in the first 11 minutes, the Galaxy stole a 2-1 victory in Portland.
Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes each scored for Los Angeles to put an end to the Timbers’ nine-game undefeated streak before a national TV audience.
Zarek Valentin scored for the Timbers, who were stung when they lost veteran defender Nat Borchers to what appeared to be a left ankle injury late in the first half. Borchers was a key piece to the Timbers’ team that won the MLS Cup last season.
It was the Galaxy’s fourth straight victory in Major League Soccer play, and fifth overall. Los Angeles (9-3-8) is third in the Western Conference, while Portland (7-7-8) is in sixth.
Neither team added to the score in the second half.
“We definitely wanted to come out aggressive and I thought we did that. We didn’t know what the second half had in hand, but the sun came out, turf got hotter. But I thought the substitutions were phenomenal. The guys that came on were just great and amazing and it worked well for us,” Zardes said.
The Timbers were already without defender Liam Ridgewell, who has a strained right calf and will also miss the MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal next week in San Jose.
The Galaxy were without defender Ashley Cole because of a sore hamstring, and midfielder Steven Gerrard, who has a leg injury.
The Galaxy went ahead early with Keane’s easy tap in off Giovani dos Santos’ cross in the seventh minute. It was Keane’s seventh goal in 10 overall matches this season.
Los Angeles extended the lead to 2-0 in the 11th minute on Zardes’ bouncing header.
“It took us a while to get going, and we didn’t make the plays we needed,” Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson said.
The slow start was a letdown for the Timbers, who were coming off a big 3-1 victory over rival Seattle last Sunday. But Portland narrowed it to 2-1 before the end of the half with Zarek Valentin’s a hard shot from atop the box in the 41st minute. It was his first goal of the season.
“Give them credit, they pushed for the goal. I think our biggest mistake in the game was conceding a goal at the end of the first half. We could have been in position to, I wouldn’t say sail through that game, but deal with it a little bit better in the second half,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said.
A few moments later Portland suffered a major blow when Borchers was injured. It did not appear that the veteran defender was hurt by contact.
Borchers could not stand after he was treated on the field and had to be stretchered off. Arena appeared to wish him well as he was carried to the locker room.
Portland coach Caleb Porter said after the game he had no update on Borchers’ condition.
Portland’s early struggles on defense and the loss of Borchers came as rumors swirled concerning the Timbers’ interest in former Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor, who was at the match.
Portland’s Darlington Nagbe got a good chance with a clear shot in the 86th minute but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. The Timbers also got a free kick late but was unable to score.
The last time the two teams met the Galaxy knocked the Timbers out of the U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 victory at Providence Park in late June. Los Angeles has advanced to the semifinals of the competition, hosting FC Dallas at StubHub Center on Aug. 10.
There was bad blood between the two teams stemming from a match earlier this year, during which Nigel de Jong tackled Nagbe.
Nagbe, who has also been playing with the U.S. national team, sprained his ankle. De Jong was later given a three-game suspension by the league for the hit.
The sellout crowd at Providence Park loudly booed de Jong when the lineups were announced before Saturday’s match.
GALAXY 2, TIMBERS 1
Los Angeles 2 0—2
Portland 1 0—1
First half—1, Los Angeles, Keane 10 (dos Santos, Larentowicz), 7th minute. 2, Los Angeles, Zardes 14 (Boateng, Van Damme), 11th minute. 3, Portland, Valentin 17 (Nagbe), 41st minute.
Second half—None.
Goalies—Los Angeles, Brian Rowe; Portland, Jake Gleeson.
Yellow Cards—None.
Red Cards—None.
Referee—Alan Kelly. Assistant Referees—Ian Anderson, Kyle Atkins. 4th Official—Tyler Ploeger.
A—21,144 (27,396)
Lineups
Los Angeles—Brian Rowe; A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Dave Romney; Giovani dos Santos (Mike Magee, 88th), Nigel de Jong (Baggio Husidic, 70th), Jeff Larentowicz, Emmanuel Boateng (Sebastian Lletget, 63rd); Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes.
Portland—Jake Gleeson; Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers (Amobi Okugo, 45+1), Jermaine Taylor, Zarek Valentin (Ned Grabavoy, 85th); Ben Zemanski (Jack McInerney, 71st), Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri, Lucas Melano; Fanendo Adi.
