Cristhian Paredes scored just before half while Maxime Crépeau and Timbers defense held strong in shutout victory
LOS ANGELES – Cristhian Paredes scored a thumping header off an Ian Smith corner kick moments before half and the Portland Timbers put on a masterful defensive performance to grab a 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC on the road Saturday night at BMO Stadium.
The goal was Paredes' first since 2023 and his fourth all-time against LAFC. Portland goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau made two spectacular saves as he picked up his third clean sheet of the 2025 campaign.
With the win, the Timbers (10-7-7, 37 pts) move above LAFC to sit in fifth place in the Western Conference.
Road Warriors
Portland recorded a sixth road result on the season and fourth win away from home with tonight’s 1-0 win at LAFC to improve their visiting record to 4-5-2 in 2025. It marks Portland’s first shutout road win since March 22 (at Colorado 3-0) and sixth shutout overall in 2025. Notably, four wins on the road are the most by the club since the 2021 season and tonight’s victory is the first at LAFC since September 29, 2021.
Paredes vs LAFC
With tonight’s 45th minute strike, Cristhian Paredes registered his first goal of 2025, and first since September 20, 2023. Notably, the Paraguayan has registered four goals in 15 appearances against LAFC, tying him with Felipe Mora for most goals against the Black and Gold among current Timbers. Paredes’ first goal of the season helped Portland snap a five-game winless road streak.
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Cristhian Paredes (Ian Smith), 45th minute: Cristhian Paredes rose above the defense on an in-swinging corner kick from Ian Smith and tucked the ball into the far upper corner of the goal with a strong header.
Notes
- The Timbers (10-7-7, 37pts) are back in fifth place in the Western Conference.
- Portland recorded its 10th win of the season in tonight’s road victory.
- The Timbers snapped a five-game winless road streak.
- Portland registered their fourth away win of 2025.
- Additionally, the win is their sixth result away from home (4-5-2).
- The 1-0 win over LAFC marks the first shutout road win since March 22 (at Colorado 3-0).
- Notably, four wins on the road are the most by the club since the 2021 season.
- Additionally, the victory is the first at LAFC since September 29, 2021.
- Cristhian Paredes scored his first goal of the season.
- Paredes’ 45th minute strike was his first goal since Sept. 20, 2023.
- Notably, it marked Paredes’ fourth goal in 15 appearances against LAFC and ties Felipe Mora for most goals against the Black and Gold among current Timbers.
- Ian Smith registered the first assist of his MLS career.
Next Game
The Timbers return home to host a pair of Leagues Cup 2025 Phase One matches at Providence Park starting against Liga MX’s Atlético de San Luis on Wednesday, July 30. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 7:30pm PT on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Portland Timbers (10-7-7, 37pts) vs. LAFC (10-6-6, 36pts)
July 25, 2025 – BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Scoring Summary:
POR: Paredes (Smith), 45
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Paredes (caution), 65
LAFC: Tafari (caution), 70
Lineups:
POR: GK Crépeau, D Mosquera (E. Miller, 88), D Surman, D K. Miller, D Fory, D Smith, M Paredes (Chara, 74), M Ayala, F Moreno (Lassiter, 74), F Mora © (Kelsy, 74), F Da Costa (Fernandez, 85)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pantemis, D McGraw, M Ortiz, F Guerra
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Paredes and Da Costa, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (four players tied, 1); FOULS: 10 (Paredes, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2
LAFC: GK Lloris ©, D Hollingshead, D Smolyakov (Yeboah, 90), D Nielsen, D Tafari, D Jesus (Martinez, 74), M Delgado, M Tillman (Amaya, 90), M Dilrosun, M Bouanga, F Ordaz (Ebobisse, 74)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ochoa, D Diaz, D Santiago, M Saldana, M Holm,
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (four players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Ordaz and Smolyakov, 1); FOULS: 6 (six players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Abdou Ndiaye
VAR: Michael Radchuk
Attendance: 22,103
