MidValleySports.Com

Robbie Keane scored twice for the Galaxy but it wasn’t nearly enough

By Tim Peterson

(Carson) – Portland scored five goals in the second half and went on to rout the Galaxy 5-2 Sunday before a sold out crowd of 27,000 at StubHub Center.

The Galaxy led 1-0 at the half on a goal in the 36th minute by Robbie Keane but the Timbers erased that with the second half onslaught.

The Galaxy had several other opportunities to score in the first half but couldn’t cash in. Steven Gerrard hit the crossbar in the fifth minute after Robbie Keane was taken down on  penalty. Later Sebastian Lletget missed wide right on a shot on goal in the tenth minute.

Earlier in the half Leonardo headed one off the cross bar off of a corner kick and Giovani Dos Santos fired one wide right in the 18th minute as the Galaxy missed two on both chances.

In the second half it was all Timbers.

Portland’s Liam Ridgewell booted one high the head of Orlando Ricketts and over the crossbar early in the second half.

Then Fanendo Adi broke through and tied it for Portland in the 65th minute on a shot over Ricketts right in front. Adi then gave the Timbers the lead three minutes later when he was knocked down and then scored on a penalty kick.

Diego Chara rushed Ricketts and buried a header past him in the 75th minute and suddenly it was 3-1 Portland as the Timbers scored three goals in ten minutes.

Keane tried to spark a rally as he scored off a nice dish by Omar Gonzalez but late in the half but before the PA guy finished announcing the Galaxy goal Timbers came right back to score as Darlington Nagbe kicked a shot home off a dish from Maxiillinao Urruti in the 85th minute.

Urruti found the net again in the 90th minute. Four minutes of additional time were added but it didn’t matter as Portland enjoyed the big victory.

The Galaxy fell to 14-10-9 by losing the last regular season home game while the Timbers improved to 14-11-8.

The Galaxy honored Todd Dunivant before the game. Dunivant announced earlier this year that he is retiring after the season is over.