Late-first-half goal carries Timbers to win over LAFC

Cristhian Paredes' 45th-minute goal was all the visiting Portland Timbers needed to capture a 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC on Friday.

Portland (10-7-7, 37 points) jumped over LAFC into a tie for fourth in the Western Conference table with the Seattle Sounders, who play Saturday night at Atlanta United. It was just the second victory in the past six fixtures (2-3-1) for the Timbers.

LAFC (10-6-6, 36 points) fell into sixth with the loss, which was their first in five matches (3-1-1). They were shut out for the fourth time this year.

Portland got the only goal off a perfectly executed set piece. Ian Smith's corner kick from right to left was a well-struck in-swinger that Paredes jumped for and headed off the inside of the left post and into the net, past helpless Los Angeles goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

It was Paredes' first goal since the 2023 season and it capped an opening half that saw the Timbers keep LAFC and its potent attack from putting a shot on frame. Portland got three shots on net, although Lloris wasn't tested on the other two.

LAFC did mount more attacks in the second half as it chased three points, but none of them paid off. The hosts outshot Portland 12-8 for the match, but goalie Maxime Crepeau only had to stop two shots to the team's sixth clean sheet of the year and its first since May 14.

The first save came in the 56th minute when Crepeau denied Nathan Ordaz in the center of the box on an attempt estimated to have a goal expectancy of 68 percent.

Later, the Timbers and Crepeau did have some luck on their side in the 78th minute.

Kenneth Wilson Nielsen drilled the crossbar with a shot from the center of the penalty area.

Dutch winger Javairo Dilrosun's loan from Mexican side Club America to LAFC was extended one day to allow him to play. Dilrosun, who tried two shots on Friday, has two goals in six matches of Los Angeles FC.

--Field Level Media