Portland Timbers v LA Galaxy: Vanney impressed by confidence in attacking ranks

LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney has praised his attacking players’ confidence and hopes they can build on it against Portland Timbers on Wednesday.

The Galaxy came from 2-0 down with a superb second-half comeback against rivals Los Angeles FC last time out, winning 4-2 to go seven points clear in the Western Conference.

They have lost just one of their last five MLS matches, but that did come in their last away match, a 2-1 defeat to St. Louis City.

However, Vanney insisted his team can find the balance they need at both ends of the field to get another win.

“This team is built to attack, especially if you look at the guys we have on the field,” Vanney said.

“We have some high-quality attacking guys. Over the course of the year, we’ve grown a ton of confidence to score goals and finish chances, but it comes down to the balance of being able to do that and being able to defend by not giving up things.”

They face a Portland team coming off the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Colorado Rapids at the weekend, leaving them eighth in the table.

The Timbers have won just one of their last four league outings, though that did come at home against Seattle Sounders.

Head coach Phil Neville was disappointed by the weekend’s defeat but admitted it would be quickly put behind them.

“At this stage of the season, you can’t dwell on [losses],” Neville said.

“We can be frustrated and disappointed, the players are as well, but the game plan was there [against Colorado], we didn’t execute it.

“But now it’s back to Providence Park on Wednesday which will be an amazing game in an amazing atmosphere.”

14 matches undefeated at home pic.twitter.com/Th6KIm0dW3

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 17, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander has recorded an assist in eight consecutive home matches, equalling the MLS record set by Eric Wynalda in 1996-97.

Evander’s nine straight matches overall with a goal contribution equals the Timbers’ club record set by Diego Valeri in 2017.

LA Galaxy – Riqui Puig

Riqui Puig starred for the Galaxy in the derby against LAFC, scoring once and getting two assists. He is the third player to reach double-figure goals for LA Galaxy in the 2024 regular season (10, behind Dejan Joveljic on 14 and Gabriel Pec on 11).

This is the fourth time the Galaxy have had three different players score 10 goals in a season (1998, 2014, 2018), tied for the most such seasons in MLS history (San Jose Earthquakes).

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

Portland are unbeaten in 11 straight home matches in all competitions, winning nine of them (D2). This is the Timbers’ longest home unbeaten run across all competitions since a 12-match stretch from April to July 2018.

However, the Galaxy are unbeaten in seven straight regular-season matches against Portland (W4 D3), including a 3-2 home win on July 20. The only longer unbeaten run against the Timbers in regular season play was an eight-match streak by Real Salt Lake from 2011-14.

The Galaxy have already won at Vancouver and drawn at Seattle this season. LA has avoided defeat in away matches against all three Cascadia clubs in a single season twice before, doing so in 2014 and 2016, but they are not the favourites to win here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 45.2%

Draw – 26.9%

LA Galaxy – 28%