Reus and Haak strike as LA Galaxy top Portland Timbers

Marco Reus finished with his left foot in the 16th minute, and that goal set LA Galaxy on course for a 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers at Dignity Health Sports Park. Justin Haak's header, coming late in the match, sealed a result that leaves the Galaxy with three important points in MLS.

The match told a story of contrasts: Portland controlled more of the ball and created more chances, but LA Galaxy was more clinical when it mattered. The opener came early, in the 16th minute, when Reus picked up the ball at the top of the box, on the right side of the goal, and finished with his left foot after an assist from Robert Taylor. It was a direct blow to a Portland side still settling into the game.

The visitors answered with persistence. João Klauss had a clear chance for the Galaxy before halftime, and Kristoffer Velde tried his luck for the Timbers in first-half stoppage time, but the score stayed put until the start of the second half, when Portland really turned up the pressure: between the 46th and 59th minutes they produced several dangerous chances, with shots from José Caicedo, Vincent Janssen, Kamal Miller and three separate attempts from Velde, none of which found the net.

The second goal settles it

With the game wide open and Portland pushing forward, LA Galaxy struck again in the 79th minute. Off a free kick into the box, Marco Reus delivered the cross and Justin Haak met it with a header from close range, sending it into the top right corner. It was the second goal and, for all practical purposes, the game was decided: from there the Galaxy managed the lead despite the attacking substitutions Portland made in search of a way back.

The numbers reflect a match of two different stories: Portland had more possession and more corners, but LA Galaxy was sharper in front of goal.

Based on our post-match estimate calculated from the game's shots, the Galaxy generated 1.52 expected goals compared to 1.05 for the Timbers, a gap that lines up with the efficiency the home side showed on the two plays that decided the scoreline.

Our pre-match preview gave LA Galaxy a 40% chance of winning, with 24% for a draw and 36% for Portland, with expected goals of 1.87 for the home side and 1.77 for the visitors, for a total near 3.63. The final result, with a tighter scoreline and a clear home win, ended up falling closer to the least likely outcome in terms of the probability split, even though the forecast did have the Galaxy as favorites.

What it means in the standings

In the Western Conference, LA Galaxy sit in eighth place with 39 points after 30 games (10 wins, 9 draws and 11 losses) following this result, while Portland Timbers are in tenth place with 33 points from 29 games (9 wins, 6 draws and 14 losses). The gap between the two sides before this match was 6 points, and Saturday's win helps the Galaxy pull further ahead of a direct rival in the lower-middle of the table.

With yellow cards handed out to both sides (Pablo Ruiz, Sergi Roberto, Jimer Fory, Justin Haak, Kristoffer Velde and David da Costa) and several substitutions from both benches late on, the match came down to the finishing of Reus and Haak against a Portland side that had the ball but couldn't find the goal to show for it.