LA Galaxy's 3-3 draw drops points in key match against the Portland Timbers

The Galaxy get in a shoot-out once again but that's not good enough

Photo Credit: LA Galaxy

The LA Galaxy and Portland Timbers leave Dignity Health Sports Park with a point each following a 3-3 draw. It was a thrilling match that had plenty of goals and key moments.

The Timbers got the opening goal just five minutes into the game. Colombian’s Darion Asprilla and Santiago Moreno combined to get a tap-in for Moreno’s third goal of the season.

LA replied quickly through Eriq Zavaleta’s header from a corner kick. Douglas Costa with a great delivery from the dead ball opportunity in his return from injury.

However, Zaveleta found himself on the scoresheet again for the worst reason. Felipe Mora’s shot deflected off the Salvadorian defender and into the back of the net in the 38th minute. Costa scored his first goal of the season in the 42nd minute to tie the match 2-2. He capped off the first half by setting up LA’s third goal via a free kick that Zavelata headed into the back of the net two minutes into stoppage time.

Portland didn’t go away and scored their third goal of the game through Mora in the 76th minute. The ball scrambled in the box between defenders but only Mora got a key touch. The Galaxy couldn’t create danger in the second half and failed to jump up the standings due to other results around the league.

“With every game that goes by and we end up with a draw, the margins get finer. It gets finer. We have two on the road now, which are going to be really difficult. And, so, we’ve got to go on the road and we’ve got to take points,” coach Greg Vanney told the media following the game.

“The margins are really fine for us right now, but, there’s still a chance, so everybody is going to keep paddling and we’ll try to close our gaps as much as we can. And push for it.”

Here are the Western Confrence standings following Saturday’s round of MLS matches.