LA Galaxy Portland Timbers match recap

Sebastian Lletget, Robbie Keane, Robbie Rogers, Juninho and Jose Villarreal all scored as the LA Galaxy thumped the Portland Timbers 5-0 before 21,207 at the StubHub Center Wednesday night.

LA went with the returning back four of Dan Gargan, Omar Gonzalez, AJ DeLaGarza and Robbie Rogers. Junihno and Baggio Husidic paired in the middle with Sebastian Lletget and Stefan Ishizaki on the wings, while the duo of Gyasi Zardes and Robbie Keane started up top once again.

Early in the match, Lletget quickly squared to Keane outside the box, and Keane's pacey shot required Kwarasey to tip the shot over the bar with two hands.

The Timbers were active early as well, almost capitalizing on a Galaxy turnover early before the LA defense eventually cleared the ball. Soon afterwards, Portland midfielder Diego Valeri played a swerving cross into the box that was headed wide.

However, it was Sebastian Lletget who ended up getting LA on the scoresheet. In the 13th minute, Lletget scored for the 4th game in a row after crashing into the box to put away Dan Gargan's deflected cross.

Playing like a man on a mission, Lletget looked hungry for more, and just a few minutes later earned a penalty for LA when he stampeded down the field and never pulled up until Maximilliano Urruti barged into Lletget from behind inside the box, sending the former West Ham product sprawling to the turf. On the onsuing penalty kick, Keane sent Kawarsey the wrong way before burying a low shot into the left netting.

Portland continued to attack, and in the 32nd minute a Jorge Villafana free kick from the right side of the box fissed just high and wide of the left corner.

But moments later, the Galaxy attack was lethal once again. On the top of the box, Lletget probed before dropping the ball off to Robbie Keane. Keane waited before finding Robbie Rogers streaking in behind Alvas Powell on the left, and Rogers quickly one-timed into the corner for his first goal as a Galaxy player.

LA should have added a fourth before halftime when a wild sequence that included three stabs at the goal from Baggio Husidic finally ended with Gyasi Zardes skiing a right footed blast inside the six yard box.

Things calmed down in the second half as the Timbers attempted to probe the Galaxy defense but to no avail. Stefan Ishizaki was active on the flank, first finding Lletget who just missed his attempt to pass the ball into the net, then finding Husidic later on, but he pulled his shot wide as well.

Juninho scored goal number four in the 71st minute, collecting Keane's no-look pass and calmly slotting past Kawarsey into the net.

Portland continued to struggle offensively, as they were unable to put a shot on goal until the 82nd minute. Liam Ridgewell was ejected late for a rough challenge on substitute Alan Gordon.

The Galaxy ended the Timbers' misery in the 88th minute when Jose Villarreal snuck a free kick from outside the box around the Portland wall and into the goal.

With the win, LA jump to within a point of the top of the Western Conference standings. The Galaxy now travel north to battle the Earthquakes in the California Clasico this Saturday.