Quotes: Portland Timbers at LA Galaxy
Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
On tonight’s result:
“It’s a good result. We came here to get three points, but we’ll take a draw and we’ll take a point. [LA’s] a very good team, they’re well coached, well organized, it’s the reason why they’ve won the MLS Cup trophy the last two years. I think for us to come on the road and play this team toe-to-toe, and outside of the first 15 minutes I thought we had large periods of the game, I’m pleased with it. Not as pleased as if we had got three points but keeping it all in perspective, it’s a good result.”
On tonight’s strong performance from center backs Pa Modou Kah and Andrew Jean-Baptiste:
“They were outstanding, and they needed to be. We knew that going into this game that for us to get a good result we needed ‘Drew and Kah and Ryan Miller and Michael Harrington as well because they’re a part of our back four and I thought the entire back four played outstanding.”
On Kah slowing down Landon Donovan’s play:
“He had a couple of plays that he made, coming from behind, slide tackles. Again, he showed his quality and I think you saw why he played seven years in the Dutch league.”
On how well the defense has been playing as of late:
“I think what’s great is that we lead the league in goals and everybody talks about our attacking side but we’re becoming a very good defensive team. I was most pleased with how we looked, how seasoned, how experienced we looked tonight. We look like a team that’s been together for years but the reality is we’ve only been together for six months. This is something we’ll certainly draw on, when we get in difficult situations like tonight we know we can get a result, we know we can buckle down.”
Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts
On how Portland kept LA off the score sheet:
“We were solid as a back four and the midfielders helped out because we knew that Landon and Robbie try to play deep then they come late. So we chased the runners with Diego Chara and we kept [Robbie and Landon] in front of Andrew Jean-Baptiste and [Pa Modou] Kah and the outside backs. “
On the defense’s overall aggressive play against Keane and Donovan:
“You have to be aggressive against good players because if you give them time and space they’ll hurt you. So the plan was be aggressive but clean and that’s what we did.”
Timbers defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste
On the defensive unit shutting down Donovan and Keane:
“It was a lot of communication. We talked about that before the game, we had to communicate a lot. With the way they play and the reason they’re the two best attackers in the league is they’re very unique compared to everybody else. So, we made sure to communicate and step when we need to and close up the gaps.”
On the defense’s aggressive play to slow down the Galaxy attack:
“What we did was something that a lot of center backs in this league haven’t done. This whole backline is progressively getting better and better every game and we just showed today against the two best attackers in the league that we can handle them.”
On handling LA’s early offensive attack:
“They came to the game tonight. This is a different team from last year and we’re a lot better. So they came with a game plan (of) ‘let’s put them on their toes the first ten minutes’ and we handled it pretty well. After that first 10 minutes when we got back into our vibe and started moving the ball, they stopped the pressure because we had possession and they couldn’t keep up with it.”
Timbers forward Ryan Johnson
On his feelings of how well the season is going thus far:
“It’s been great. I don’t think we’re overachieving or anything like that at all, I think we’re where we’re supposed to be from the kind of guys that [Caleb Porter] brought together. We’re all very mature; we all have a lot of experience in the league, so we know how to get results and points away from home. I definitely think we’re where we’re supposed to be and we’re going to keep moving forward and keep getting points when we need to because ultimately we want to be in the playoffs, we want to be the first Timbers team to make it to the playoffs.”
LA Galaxy Quotes
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena
On the result:
“There are some things we can certainly do better, but I am not sure Portland had a whole lot of chances tonight. At the other end of the field, I thought their center backs played well. Obviously, Ricketts is not easy to beat; this was going to be a game where we had to jump on any kind of opportunity we got. We were half a step off most of the night and you know Portland’s posture is pretty obvious when they go on the road they try to get a point. They were certainly pleased getting a point.”
On Robbie Rogers:
“He’s making progress. He has a long way to go. But, that’s the only way he can get good is getting him in the games. I thought his first 15 or 20 minutes were very tentative, he got better and got into a rhythm the last part of the first half and the little bit better in the second half. It’s going to take some time.”
On their offense:
“In terms of their offense performance, I didn’t highlight that. There’s nothing to elaborate on, I didn’t say anything to them.”
Galaxy forward Landon Donovan
On the shutout:
“Given the last few weeks, most certainly happy to get a shutout, but we weren’t all that sharp going forward. That being said, we had a couple really good chances, a little unlucky and then some good saves from Donovan, but all-in-all pretty good performance and we have to turn it around and win on Sunday.”
On Portland’s central defenders:
“They played well. Those two are big and physical and athletic. They did a good job of containing us. I think and on a different night when, we are a little sharper, we score a goal or two.”
On the game:
“It was a good game, it was a fast game, a good game; between two good teams. It’s not a fluke what they are doing, they are a good team. They weren’t all that dangerous but you can tell they have the makings of making a very good team.”
Galaxy forward Robbie Keane:
On tonight’s defense:
“I think it was a defensive game in that both teams defended very well. Neither team had many chances, really. I think all in all a draw was a fair result.”
On the other team’s center backs making it difficult:
“I don't think we played as well as we could have. Possession wise I think they were the better team. They handled the ball better than we did and we didn't create any chances for each other. It’s just one of those games, I guess. Two good teams defended very well; two teams didn't have any chances; so it’s just one of those games.”
On the team’s consistency:
“We definitely need consistency because we aren’t getting any results. Getting results brings consistency, and coming off a game like this is when you start to see results. These are the games that you could quite easily lose. We’ve got another quick game on Sunday and hopefully we can get the three points there.”
Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant
On tonight’s defensive performance:
“We needed that. That was our number one priority tonight, to get a shutout, and to have a good defensive performance. We were happy that we accomplished that but disappointed not to get the win, not to get a goal, but we’ll take the shutout.”
On the result of tonight’s game:
“We’re continuing to get all of our pieces back together and to keep moving forward. Tonight’s frustrating not to get the win, but it’s not a bad result either. I think from that standpoint everyone’s kind of excited to get the shutout and get back on track defensively. But also I think we limited their chances very well. They didn't really have any sniffs and that's a testament to everyone.”
On Rebounding Sunday:
“Chivas USA is going to be a tough game, they always are. They’re at home and they always try and make it as difficult as possible on us. The games are always heated and they've got a new coach they are trying to impress. It’s definitely going to be a tough game.”
Notes:
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Portland is unbeaten in its last 10 road matches, dating back to Oct. 21, 2012, and becomes just the second club in MLS history to record a road unbeaten streak of 10 or more games. FC Dallas holds the league’s mark for longest road unbeaten streak at 12 matches during the 2010 campaign.
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At 14 matches, Timbers head coach Caleb Porter owns the longest unbeaten streak by a first-year MLS head coach in the history of the league, surpassing previous record-holder Tom Soehn’s 13-match unbeaten streak in his first season as head coach of D.C. United in 2007.
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With a record of 6-1-9 (27pts), the Timbers are tied with Real Salt Lake for second place in the Western Conference and trail conference-leader FC Dallas by a single point. Portland and Real Salt Lake are tied for the third-highest points total in MLS.
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The Timbers are the only club in MLS that is unbeaten away from home this season and have the league’s best road winning percentage (0.611).
- Of the four MLS matches Wednesday night, the Timbers were the only visiting team to come away with a point. All three other visiting clubs suffered losses.
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The Timbers are in the middle of a stretch of six games in 19 days across all competitions.
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With the scoreless draw, the Timbers captured their first road point against the Galaxy at the StubHub Center in the all-time MLS series between the two clubs. It was also the Timbers first points against the Galaxy since a 3-0 win on Aug. 3, 2011, at JELD-WEN Field.
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The Galaxy’s 10 corner kicks marked a season-high by an opponent in 2013.
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The Timbers captured their second shutout on the road this season in the draw against LA. Portland has recorded shutouts in two of its last three away matches.
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Since May 2, the Timbers have shut out five of their last eight league opponents.
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Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts recorded his seventh shutout of the season and is tied with New England’s Bobby Shuttleworth and Sporting Kansas City’s Jimmy Nielsen for the league lead in clean sheets.
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Ricketts extended his individual shutout streak to 306 minutes (May 18-25; June 15-19), which is his third different individual shutout streak of 200 or more minutes this season. He missed the June 8 match at Chicago while on international duty with Jamaica.
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Ricketts played three seasons with the LA Galaxy from 2009-11. Wednesday’s match marked his first return to the StubHub Center against his former club since he helped the Galaxy win MLS Cup in 2011.
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Defender Ryan Miller made his third MLS start for the Timbers in the match against the Galaxy; it was his first league start since March 9 and his first league appearance since April 14.
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Defender Pa Modou Kah was issued his second caution of the season in the seventh minute, the earliest caution given to a Timbers player in 2013.
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The Timbers wore their retro-inspired third kits for the third time this season – all on the road. Portland is unbeaten at 1-0-2 this season when wearing its third kit.
- The Timbers’ next league goal will be their 100th MLS goal since joining the league in 2011.
