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West rivals clash as Galaxy host Timbers

Jun 24, 2015 - 12:06 AM Carson, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Portland Timbers will aim to continue their hot form on Wednesday when the club travels to the StubHub Center to face West rivals the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Portland's season had its ups and down through the first two-plus months, but Caleb Porter's team is nicely rounding into form with four straight wins and key players returning to the lineup in midfielders Will Johnson and Diego Valeri.

Last time out, the Timbers claimed three points with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on home soil at Providence Park.

Max Urruti found the net after 34 minutes and Gaston Fernandez converted a penalty kick just after the hour mark as the Timbers locked down the Houston attack en route to a clean sheet.

Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric was called into action in the 25th minute when a powerful long-range free kick from Will Johnson forced him to make a leaping stop.

However, a free kick nine minutes later led to the opening goal for Portland as Jorge Villafana lofted the ball into the area for Urruti, whose rose up above his defender and turned a header past Deric.

The Houston netminder did well a few minutes later to keep his team within a goal as he tipped a shot from Alvas Powell to safety as it was heading for the top corner.

Villafana helped the Timbers double their lead in the 61st when he was knocked over by defender David Horst inside the area, allowing Fernandez to send Deric the wrong way from the spot.

"It's another three points. It's no bigger than that, but it's certainly indicative of our form over our last four league games to have four wins and 12 points. We can't do any better results-wise but we can still play better," said Porter. "We need to make sure we continue doing what we've been doing. We have a tough game on Wednesday against LA. We will enjoy this tonight, file it away and get back to work on Monday. We need to continue to perform like we have been each game. It doesn't get any easier. The next game's not easier because we've won four games in row. It doesn't get any harder either but it's definitely not any easier."

Los Angeles, meanwhile, is also flying high after a 5-1 dismantling of the Philadelphia Union at the StubHub Center last time out.

The Galaxy entered the match on a three-game winless run, but broke out in a big way as Baggio Husidic and Gyasi Zardes each recorded a goal and two assists. Juninho scored in the opening half before goals from Zardes, Stefan Ishizaki and Sebastian Lletget netted goals after the break.

"I think the score does not indicate the game correctly. I don't think we were as dominate as the score would indicate," said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. "We were pretty sloppy in the game, but having said that, we finished some great goals. At times we played well, at other times we didn't play so well. So it was far from a complete victory tonight, and we have a way to go. But it is good to have some of these players back, it gives us a little bit more quality obviously in the final third. But we can play better than we did today."