Denis Bouanga's stoppage-time goal helps LAFC beat Timbers 3-2
Portland Timbers midfielder Santiago Moreno (30) dribbles the ball past Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez
LOS ANGELES — Denis Bouanga scored in the second minute of stoppage time, Timothy Tillman added a goal and Los Angeles FC beat the Portland Timbers 3-2 Saturday night.
Kei Kamara's header off a corner kick was swatted away by goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau but skipped out to the left side of the area where a charging Bouanga scored on a one-touch shot that ricocheted off the back post into the net to cap the scoring.
Diego Chara made his 377th regular season appearance for the Timbers, the MLS record with a single club but was shown yellow cards in the 72nd and 76th minutes, with Portland playing a man down after the latter. The 38-year-old defensive midfielder surpassed Chris Wondolowski, who played in 376 regular-season matches for the San Jose Earthquakes.
The teams tied 2-2 in Portland on April 13. The Timbers played a man down after Crépeau — who signed with the club in January following two seasons with LAFC — was shown a red card in the 48th minute.
LAFC (4-3-3) took a 1-0 lead on a own goal by Portland defender Kamal Miller in the 44th minute. Miller slid knocked the ball into the net while trying to intercept a cross played by Bouanga to Cristian Olivera at the back post. Tillman scored just before halftime to make it 2-0. Olivera, on the right side, dropped a pass to a charging Tillman, just outside the area, who ripped a one-touch shot that bounced off the back post into the net in stoppage time to give Los Angeles a 2-0 halftime lead. The 25-year-old Tillman has four goals this season, matching his rookie-season total in 2023.
LAFC had 55% possession and outshot the Timbers 20-10, 10-5 on target.
Jonathan Rodríguez scored for Portland (2-4-4) in the 65th minute. Santiago Moreno played an entry pass that was deflected high in the air by a defender and Rodríguez — while LAFC's nearest player, Eduard Atuesta, appeared unaware of the its location — won the free ball a ripped a low shot from the top of the area inside the post to make it 2-1.
Los Angeles FC forward Cristian Olivera, left, leaps for the ball next to Portland Timbers midfielder Eryk Williamson during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Claudio Bravo played a cross that was redirected by LAFC's Maxime Chanot in the center of the area to Moreno, who took a dribble before he rolled a shot from 25 yards out off the post and into the net to tie it at 2-2 in the 73rd.
Crépeau finished eight saves for Portland.
Hugo Lloris had three saves for LAFC.
