Beyond the Spotlight: LA Galaxy's bend but don't break defense key to win over Portland
Analyzing the LA Galaxy's defense in the final 15 minutes of the victory over the Portland Timbers
“The last 15-20 minutes felt like an hour”.
Those were the words of LA Galaxy defender John Nelson following the Galaxy’s 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday. The Galaxy had to defend its one-goal lead for the final 17 minutes of regulation and then eight minutes of stoppage time.
The Timbers’ front three of Jonathan Rodriguez, Felipe Mora, and Evander combined for 33 goals and 22 assists heading into this game against the Galaxy. The Cascadia side found ways back into this game to keep a close distance to LA on the scoreboard.
“A lot of these games like tonight was a lot of transition back and forth, back and forth and that's something we don't want, especially with a team like Portland,”, said Nelson to reporters.
There were many transition moments for both teams but the Galaxy did well to hold down the fort - espically in the final 15 minutes of the game.
One of the changes from this backline compared to Wednesday’s match against Colorado was the inclusion of Martin Caceres. The Uruguayan defender’s experience was on display during multiple defensive scenarios but made the most impact with the level of physicality he brought to the pitch.
At 5’11”, Caceres isn’t the tallest central defender on the roster but he brings a presence that not many players have. In a way, he plays bigger than he actually is at times.
Head coach Greg Vanney’s decision to start Caceres over Jalen Neal is a tactical move that went under the radar. For as much as Neal adds in possession and with his impressive poise at his age, the 20-year-old defender still lacks the physicality and aerial dominance to be a defensive anchor on the Galaxy.
The experience of Caceres and captain Maya Yoshida was key to eliminating Mora’s impact on the match and kept the Timbers in check during attacks inside the box.
The moment Yoshida was left isolated defensively was when Santiago Moreno was running through the middle towards the Galaxy goal. The speed of the Colombian was too much for LA’s captain as Moreno found space to get his shot off leaving the score at 3-2 with 17 minutes to go.
Vanney then called upon Emiro Garces, one of LA’s most recent international acquisitions, to be part of a back three to close out the match.
The 22-year-old center back had gotten most of his first team minutes during garbage time in wins or losses. There were few moments leading up to this game where Garces was called upon in high-pressure scenarios. This was the first major test in front of Vanney and the home crowd and the Colombian passed with flying colors.
His raw athleticism was on display as the Timbers began to whip in crosses to the box. Garces contested every header and made it so difficult to beat him in the air. He won 2/3 duels and recorded three clearances during his time on the pitch.
Garces recorded a crucial clearance in the final moments of the match as a low cross into the box was on course for Rodriguez to tap in but the Colmbian’s anticipation led to a clearance close to goal. If that ball gets past Garces, LA likely doesn’t keep all three points and drops out of pole position in the Western Conference.
“Emiro (Garces) won a couple of headers and balls and he got out tight on a couple of guys where he dogged a couple of guys. He made the one thing coming across the face of the goal which was a huge play,” said Vanney postgame.
Mauricio Cuevas, another substitute, added fresh legs for the LA Galaxy to help manage transition moments. With the Galaxy unable to keep control of the match, the recovery speed of Cuevas helped LA defend in those moments of vulnerability.
I think just coming in fresh legs, Miki (Yamane) had done a ton of work up and down and Mauri came in, gave us fresh legs defending tough guys out there and gave us some fresh legs in the possession and he was clean in his possession moments,” said Vanney.
His highlight of the match was a sliding clearance to prevent Rodriguez from getting a clean look on goal just a few away from the net. Sliding tackles/clearances are big plays for full backs - especially when it prevents a big chance from happening. You can see Cuevas celebrating this play as it set the tone for the Galaxy’s defense during the eight minutes of stoppage time.
“Once we went to three in the back, Mauri (Mauricio Cuevas) did great, big headers, even guys like Miguel (Berry) who came in and did defensive work, that's huge for us. Everyone is contributing defensively to win a game like that, it's massive for us,” said Nelson.
Was the defense perfect on the night, absolutly not. But you can’t ignore the way LA grinded out the win as the Timbers began to push forward.
This bend but don’t break approach for LA showed the flashes of the quality team defense and how the younger players are making key contrituions in the Galaxy’s continued quest for Western Conference supremecy this season.