The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) suffered a 2-1 home defeat to the Portland Timbers on Wednesday night at Banc of California Stadium. Danny Musovski scored LAFC’s only goal in the 55th minute, but it was not enough as the Timbers tallied just before halftime and again four minutes after Musovski equalized to earn all three points. LAFC is now 9-12-6 on the season for 33 points, leaving it in ninth place, four points out of the seventh and final playoff spot in the MLS Western Conference.
Goalkeeper Jamal Blackman made his MLS debut after signing with LAFC earlier this month, and he helped keep the Timbers off the board until just before halftime. Portland forward Dairon Asprilla collected a loose ball at the top of the box and fed a pass forward to Yimmy Chara whose quick left-footed shot beat the dive of Blackman and settled just inside the far post, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break.
LAFC head coach Bob Bradley made three changes at halftime, and one of those paid off just 10 minutes after the intermission. LAFC’s Jose Cifuentes forced a turnover in the center of the Timbers half of the field and quickly played a pass through for Musovski, who had entered the game in place of Diego Palacios at the half. Musovski placed his right-footed shot just inside the far post for his third goal of the season to tie the score at 1-1.
However, the score would stay that way for just four minutes before the Timbers were back in front. Felipe Mora won the ball near midfield and raced in on goal down the right-center channel. His initial shot hit Blackman’s left post, but the rebound went directly to Asprilla, who fired a left-footed shot into the open goal, giving Portland a 2-1 lead.
LAFC appeared to have earned a penalty kick in the 73rd minute, but the call of a handball in the box was overturned on video review and the score remained 2-1. Late in second half stoppage time, Kim Moon-Hwan saw his powerful right-footed shot parried by Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark, sealing the defeat for LAFC.
LAFC returns to action on Sunday, October 3 when it travels to Carson to take on the rival LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. That game kicks off at 5 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live nationally in English on ESPN and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.
WHAT: LAFC suffers 2-1 home defeat to the Portland Timbers.
