Galaxy defeats Portland to remain in first place in the Western Conference

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig (10) and teammates celebrates with Los Angeles Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, left of Puig, after Paintsil scores a a goal against the Portland Timbers during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Los Angeles Galaxy won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

By Damian Calhoun | dcalhoun@scng.com | Daily Breeze

UPDATED: July 21, 2024 at 8:50 a.m.

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig (10) dribbles the ball against the Portland Timbers during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Los Angeles Galaxy won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig (10) and teammates celebrates with Los Angeles Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, left of Puig, after Paintsil scores a a goal against the Portland Timbers during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Los Angeles Galaxy won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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CARSON — Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said the goal for the week was to head into the Leagues Cup break in first place in the Western Conference.

Mission accomplished.

The Galaxy (14-5-7, 49 points) scored twice in the second half (Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil) and then held on for a nail-biting 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers in front of 23,586 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“I think it’s good for us just to see rewards for our labor,” Vanney said. “Getting these points helps you down the stretch. You never know in Leagues Cup, too, what can happen with teams. It can be anywhere from two to five, six games and you never know with teams. You don’t know what teams are going to do in the window to re-enforce so every point matters.

“So winning before we go on this stretch is beneficial and so I think emotionally it puts us in a good start and it helps me re-enforce some messages because you can see we can be at the top of the table.”

Not only was 90 minutes enough, the Galaxy had to weather an additional eight minutes of stoppage time in the second half before being able to celebrate and exhale.

Defender Emiro Garces had a late clearance to help preserve the win.

The Galaxy head into a break as the league turns its attention toward the Leagues Cup tournament, featuring teams in Major League Soccer and Liga MX. Their first game will be July 31 against San Jose, followed by a meeting with Chivas (Aug. 4). They’re not scheduled to return to league play until Aug. 24.

“Now the question is, how do we evolve to be a knockout champion versus a team that can win games during the season,” Vanney said. “That’s our evolution in the last part of the season, so that we become a threat to win a trophy at the end.”

For a brief moment in the second half, the Galaxy looked on the verge of taking complete control. Puig scored in the 48th minute, assisted by Paintsil for a 2-0 lead.

It wouldn’t last long, because Jonathan Rodriguez kept the Timbers (10-9-6, 36 points) in the game with his goal in the 52nd minute.

Paintsil restored the Galaxy’s two-goal advantage in the 58th minute, but again, the Timbers cut it half, this time on a goal by Santiago Moreno in the 73rd minute.

The back-and-forth was expected considering the high-octane offenses that both teams possessed.

The Timbers entered with 48 goals and boasted three players (Rodriguez, Evander and Felipe Mora) with 11 goals apiece.

The Galaxy had scored 47 and even without leading goal scorer Dejan Joveljic (12 goals), still have enough in the reserve with Gabriel Pec, Paintsil and Puig. The trio had a combined 23 goals between them.

The Galaxy broke through on the scoreboard first in the 38th minute on Pec’s 10th goal of the season Again, it was the work of the Galaxy’s Designated Players supplying the work. Puig’s pass out of the middle opened the play up. Paintsil had possession on the left and fed Pec for the finish.

With the goal, Pec reached soccer’s double-double with 10 goals and 10 assists. He joins Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2018), Romain Alessandrini (2017) and Landon Donovan (2005) in a group of Galaxy players to accomplish the feat in their first season with the Galaxy.

This was the first meeting between the teams since last season, both games ended in draws (0-0 and 3-3).

The Galaxy started their latest three-game in eight-day stretch with a loss against FC Dallas (July 13), but they rebounded with home wins over Colorado and Portland to end the week. The Galaxy improved to 9-1-3 at home and has not lost in 2024 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The team’s only home loss came against LAFC earlier this month at the Rose Bowl.

When the regular-season resumes, the Galaxy will have just eight games left.

Originally Published: July 20, 2024 at 11:00 p.m.