LA Galaxy Postgame Media Assets, Notes and Quotes: LA Galaxy Earn 2-1 Stoppage-Time Win Over the Portland Timbers at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday Night

LOS ANGELES (Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021) – Playing the first of three games in the span of eight days, the LA Galaxy tallied a stoppage-time winning goal to earn a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez notched his team-leading 13th goal of the season, while Sacha Kljestan recorded the game-winning goal.

LA Galaxy Against Portland
Saturday’s match marked the 29th MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Portland, with the Galaxy leading the series 12-11-6. In 15 regular-season meetings at home against Portland, the Galaxy hold a 9-3-3 record. In three meetings between the two clubs this season, LA held a 2-1-0 record. In three appearances against Portland in 2021, Kljestan has tallied two goals.

Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Victor Vázquez), 62nd minute: Picking his head up in midfield, Vázquez bent his pass behind the Portland defense to Chicharito, who stabbed his shot past Steve Clark from close range.

POR – Sebastián Blanco (Santiago Moreno), 72nd minute: From the left corner of the 18-yard box, Sebastián Blanco looped in a cross that picked out the far corner of the goal.

LA – Sacha Kljestan (Penalty Kick), 90+2nd minute: After Efrain Álvarez was fouled inside the box, Kljestan’s ensuing penalty attempt was fired into the lower right corner of the net.

Postgame Notes

• The LA Galaxy improved to 12-11-6 (42 pts) this season, sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

• LA sits in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, level on points with fifth-place Real Salt Lake (12-11-6, 42 pts).

• Saturday’s match marked the 29th MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Portland, with the Galaxy leading the series 12-11-6.

• In 15 regular-season meetings at home against Portland, the Galaxy hold a 9-3-3 record.

• In three meetings between the two clubs this season, LA held a 2-1-0 record.

• The win over Portland marked LA’s first victory dating back to a 1-0 win over Minnesota on Aug. 14.

• Jonathan dos Santos appeared in his 100th match across all competitions for the Galaxy in the win over Portland.

• Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez notched his team-leading 13th goal of the season against the Timbers.

• In three appearances against Portland during the 2021 campaign, Sacha Kljestan registered two goals.

• The goal against Portland marked Kljestan’s third penalty-kick goal of the year and his fourth goal overall this season.

• Additionally, the goal marked Kljestan’s 12th game-winning goal in his MLS regular-season career.

• Victor Vázquez registered his fifth assist of the campaign.

• Vázquez finished the match with a game-high eight chances created.

• Samuel Grandsir is the only player to appear in every match this season (29) for the Galaxy.

• Derrick Williams made his start for the Galaxy since starting and playing 71 minutes against the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 11.

LA Galaxy (12-11-6, 42pts) vs. Portland Timbers (14-11-4, 46pts) 
Oct. 16, 2021 – Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles)

Goals by Half                1          2          F
LA Galaxy                    0          2          2
Portland Timbers         0          1          1              

Scoring Summary: 
LA: Hernandez (Vázquez), 62
POR: Blanco (Moreno), 72
LA: Kljestan (penalty kick), 90+2

Misconduct Summary:
LA: Hernandez (caution), 38
POR: Bonilla (caution), 44
POR: Chara (caution), 65
LA: Kjlestan (caution), 87
LA: Joveljić (caution), 90+5

Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Julian Araujo, D Nick DePuy, D Derrick Williams, D Niko Hämäläinen; M Kévin Cabral (Efrain Álvarez, 63), M Jonathan dos Santos © (Sacha Kljestan, 63), M Rayan Raveloson, M Samuel Grandsir (Dejan Joveljić, 83); F Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, F Víctor Vázquez (Sebastian Lletget, 70)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Sega Coulibaly, D Daniel Steres; M Adam Saldaña; F Ethan Zubak

TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Chicharito, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Chicharito, 3); FOULS: 15 (Chicharito, 4) OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 5

POR: GK Steve Clark; D Josecarlos Van Rankin, D Dario Zuparic, D Larrys Mabiala, D Pablo Bonilla (Zac McGraw, 89); M Diego Chara ©, M Cristhian Paredes (George Fochive, 83), M Yimmi Chara, M Sebastian Blanco (Diego Valeri, 89), M Dairon Asprilla (Santiago Moreno, 65); F Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Felipe Mora, 65)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Aljaz Ivacic, M Marvin Loria, M Renzo Zambrano

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Sebastián Blanco, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Sebastián Blanco, 3); FOULS: 10 (Diego Chara, 3) OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 7

Referee: Victor Rivas 
Assistant Referees: Micheal Barwegen, Eduardo Mariscal
Fourth Official: Chris Ruska
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Weather: Clear, 69 degrees
Attendance: 15,322

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial