Timbers can’t keep up with Galaxy, lose 3-1

CARSON, Calif. — Robbie Keane scored twice to help the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Portland Timbers 3-1 on Saturday.

Keane broke a tie in the 73rd minute, beating defenders to the back post to head home Landon Donovan’s left-footed service. Keane converted a penalty shot in the 85th minute to seal the victory. It was his 12th goal of the season, moving him to fourth in MLS.

“The first half is what cost us,” Timbers coach Caleb Porter said. “After we got the goal, we stopped playing. We played very reactionary. It was as if we tried to ride out the 1-0 result, and that’s just not us.”

The Timbers opened the scoring when Diego Valeri converted a free kick into the upper right corner from just outside the box in the 14th minute. Los Angeles nearly tied it in the 29th minute, but Gyasi Zardes’ header hit the bar squarely.

The Galaxy (9-4-6) drew even in first-half stoppage time as Zardes didn’t miss his next chance, heading Robbie Rogers’ left-footed cross past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

Porter said his team should have reacted better on both Galaxy goals.

“For me it’s managing the cross, but also box defending better in those two moments,” Porter said.

Porter said injuries that kept Darlington Nagbe from playing and forced Gaston Fernandez out of the game before halftime were not an explanation of the lackluster effort. Also not an excuse, the coach said, was the heat or playing on a field that was re-sodded on Wednesday.

“We seemed, for whatever reason, a step late, a step slow, today.”

The Galaxy, Porter said, deserved the victory.

“They’re a very good team, and they’re hitting their stride and they’re confident. They’re flying right now.”

Portland fell to 6-7-9.

GALAXY 3, TIMBERS 1

Portland 1 0–1

Los Angeles 1 2–3

First half–1, Portland, Valeri 6, 14th minute. 2, Los Angeles, Zardes 8 (Rogers, Keane), 45th+.

Second half–3, Los Angeles, Keane 11 (Donovan), 73rd. 4, Los Angeles, Keane 12 (penalty kick), 85th.

Goalies–Portland, Donovan Ricketts; Los Angeles, Jaime Penedo.

Yellow Cards–Sarvas, Los Angeles, 75th; Chara, Portland, 81st.

Referee–Kevin Stott. Assistant Referees–Brian Poeschel. Jeremy Hanson. 4th Official–Ricardo Salazar.

A–20,089 (27,000)

Lineups

Portland–Donovan Ricketts, Liam Ridgewell, Michael Harrington (Jorge Villafana, 77th), Diego Chara, Danny O’Rourke, Will Johnson, Jack Jewsbury, Diego Valeri, Rodney Wallace, Maximiliano Urruti (Fanendo Adi, 60th), Gaston Fernandez (Kalif Alhassan, 25th).

Los Angeles–Jaime Penedo, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Dan Gargan, Juninho (Chandler Hoffman, 86th), Robbie Rogers, Landon Donovan, Stefan Ishizaki (Baggio Husidic, 60th), Marcelo Sarvas, Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes.