LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney has praised his attacking gamers’ confidence and hopes they’ll construct on it towards Portland Timbers on Wednesday.
The Galaxy got here from 2-0 down with an outstanding second-half comeback towards rivals Los Angeles FC final outing, profitable 4-2 to go seven factors clear within the Western Convention.
They’ve misplaced simply certainly one of their final 5 MLS matches, however that did come of their final away match, a 2-1 defeat to St. Louis Metropolis.
Nonetheless, Vanney insisted his group can discover the stability they want at each ends of the sphere to get one other win.
“This group is constructed to assault, particularly should you have a look at the fellows now we have on the sphere,” Vanney stated.
“Now we have some high-quality attacking guys. Over the course of the 12 months, we’ve grown a ton of confidence to attain targets and end possibilities, however it comes all the way down to the stability of with the ability to do this and with the ability to defend by not giving up issues.”
They face a Portland group coming off the again of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Colorado Rapids on the weekend, leaving them eighth within the desk.
The Timbers have received simply certainly one of their final 4 league outings, although that did come at house towards Seattle Sounders.
Head coach Phil Neville was upset by the weekend’s defeat however admitted it will be rapidly put behind them.
“At this stage of the season, you may’t dwell on [losses],” Neville stated.
“We might be pissed off and upset, the gamers are as properly, however the sport plan was there [against Colorado], we didn’t execute it.
“However now it’s again to Windfall Park on Wednesday which can be a tremendous sport in a tremendous environment.”
14 matches undefeated at house pic.twitter.com/Th6KIm0dW3
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 17, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Evander
Evander has recorded an help in eight consecutive house matches, equalling the MLS document set by Eric Wynalda in 1996-97.
Evander’s 9 straight matches general with a objective contribution equals the Timbers’ membership document set by Diego Valeri in 2017.
LA Galaxy – Riqui Puig
Riqui Puig starred for the Galaxy within the derby towards LAFC, scoring as soon as and getting two assists. He’s the third participant to succeed in double-figure targets for LA Galaxy within the 2024 common season (10, behind Dejan Joveljic on 14 and Gabriel Pec on 11).
That is the fourth time the Galaxy have had three completely different gamers rating 10 targets in a season (1998, 2014, 2018), tied for probably the most such seasons in MLS historical past (San Jose Earthquakes).
MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN
Portland are unbeaten in 11 straight house matches in all competitions, profitable 9 of them (D2). That is the Timbers’ longest house unbeaten run throughout all competitions since a 12-match stretch from April to July 2018.
Nonetheless, the Galaxy are unbeaten in seven straight regular-season matches towards Portland (W4 D3), together with a 3-2 house win on July 20. The one longer unbeaten run towards the Timbers in common season play was an eight-match streak by Actual Salt Lake from 2011-14.
The Galaxy have already received at Vancouver and drawn at Seattle this season. LA has averted defeat in away matches towards all three Cascadia golf equipment in a single season twice earlier than, doing so in 2014 and 2016, however they don’t seem to be the favourites to win right here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 45.2%
Draw – 26.9%
LA Galaxy – 28%
