LAFC vs Portland Timbers – September 9, 2023
The LAFC vs Portland Timbers matchup on Saturday night at Providence Park ended in a 2-0 loss as Larrys Mabiala and Claudio Bravo scored a goal each to give their team a 8-11-9 record with 33 points. LAFC has now lost three in a row (11-9-7, 40 points) and are tied for third place in the Western Conference standings with Real Salt Lake.
Mabiala scored the first goal of the game in the 28th minute of the match while capitalizing on LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy’s hiccup where he ran out to field the ball, only to see the ball bounce past him as the Portland defender followed through.
Despite giving up two goals, McCarthy finished the match with three saves with one of them being the lone save of the first half. McCarthy blocked a shot from Timbers forward Santiago Moreno when he struck outside the top center of the 18-yard box.
Claudio Bravo doubled the lead in the 53rd minute where a scuffle down the penalty box cleared up just enough space for the 26 year old to drill one to the back of the net. Bravo dribbled close to the box and rolled a left-footed effort beneath McCarthy after the Timbers made five passes on the play.
LAFC will try to brush off the bad juju and get back on their feet on Saturday, September 16 when they face LA Galaxy back at home at BMO Stadium for the fourth episode of El Tráfico for the 2023 MLS season.
