CARSON, Calif. – Forward Spencer Thompson scored two goals as the Portland Timbers Reserves defeated the LA Galaxy Reserves 3-1 in their first MLS Reserve League match of the season Sunday afternoon at the Track & Field Complex at The Home Depot Center.
Thompson, a rookie out of nearby UC-Irvine, scored in the 39th and 89th minutes, defender Kevin Goldthwaite headed in a 48th-minute corner kick for his first goal and midfielder Rodrigo Lopez tallied two assists as the Timbers Reserves (1-0-0, 3pts) opened their first Reserve League season with a victory.
Former USL Timbers midfielder Bryan Jordan scored the Galaxy Reserves’ (0-1-0, 0pts) only goal, converting a 79th-minute penalty kick.
The Timbers gained an 11-on-10 advantage in the 29th minute when Galaxy Reserves midfielder Michael Stephens took down Portland’s Ryan Pore at the top of the box; Stephens was issued an immediate red card by referee Alejandro Mariscal, reducing LA to 10 men just a half-hour into the match.
With the man advantage, Portland opened the scoring in the 39th minute as Thompson found the back of the net, beating Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders, another former member of the USL Timbers. Lopez and Adam Moffat assisted on the goal.
In the second half, the Timbers struck first as Goldthwaite nodded home a corner kick from Lopez to push the Timbers’ advantage to 2-0.
In the 79th minute, Portland defender Freddie Braun took down Justin Dhillon inside the goal box, giving the Galaxy a chance to spoil the shutout. Jordan converted the ensuing penalty kick to pull the Galaxy Reserves within a goal at 2-1.
Five minutes later, Braun picked up his second of two yellow cards and was ejected, bringing the sides to 10-on-10.
With time running out, Thompson added his second goal of the game in the 89th minute, slotting home a beautiful pass from Pore to seal the 3-1 win.
The Timbers’ next MLS Reserve League match is Sunday, May 15, when they visit the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash., to take on the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves at 11 a.m.
Scoring Summary:
POR – Thompson (Lopez, Moffat) 39
POR – Goldthwaite (Lopez) 48
LA – Jordan (penalty kick) 79
POR – Thompson (Pore) 89
LA Galaxy Lineup: GK Saunders; D Hejduk (Dhillon 66), D Alvarado, D Kirovski, D Thomas; M Jimenez, M Stephens, M Cardozo (McCarty 74), M Birchall; F Angel (Keat 45), F Jordan (Tilley 84).
Substitutes Not Used: GK Perk.
Portland Timbers Lineup: GK Gleeson; D Taylor, D Goldthwaite, D Smith, D Braun; M Nagbe (Morris 45), M Moffat, M Lopez, M Zizzo (Spicer 70); F Pore, F Thompson.
Substitutes Not Used: None.
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Stephens (red card) 29
POR – Braun (caution) 45
POR – Braun (second caution/red card) 84
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Referee's Assistants: Marlene Duffy, Jonathan Hughes
Fourth Official: Hector Perez
Weather: Cloudy, 65 degrees
