Los Angeles FC are unbeaten at home this season, but the Portland Timbers believe they can pull an upset on Saturday based on the teams’ first meeting two weeks ago.
Portland (2-3-4, 10 points) earned a 2-2 home draw in that previous encounter April 13, but that felt like a win after surviving the final 42 minutes plus stoppage time down a man following goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau’s ejection for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Portland coach Phil Neville also took solace from how his team performed prior to the match-altering red card.
“I think it was a really even game up until the sending-off,” Neville said. “So we know each other.”
Portland could also see Brazilian attacker Antony return. He suffered an ankle injury in the second half against LAFC (3-3-3, 12 points) and missed last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Columbus.
But it’s Evander, another Brazilian, whom LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo says has to be the focus of opposing defenses.
In his second MLS season, Evander has contributed to eight of the Timbers’ 18 goals, scoring four and assisting four more.
“Those little transition moments with their creativity and ability to combine with direct and one-touch passing up the middle — usually starting with Evander — are excellent,” Cherundolo said. “And are something we have to be aware of and we’ll be careful with.”
Though LAFC are still unbeaten at home in 2024, they’ve settled for a draw on two of those five occasions. And it took Denis Bouanga scoring his second goal of the match in second-half stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw against the visiting New York Red Bulls last Saturday.
The reigning MLS Golden Boot winner has five goals so far, but has scored in only three games for the Black and Gold.
When he doesn’t find the net, LAFC are still searching for a reliable second option.
Mateusz Bogusz has three goals while playing striker but isn’t a natural fit. Veteran striker Kei Kamara is scoreless in four appearances. And if the widely expected deal to sign European star Olivier Giroud goes through, he won’t be eligible until the secondary transfer window opens in July.
–Field Level Media
