Galaxy's season hits new low in chaotic loss to Portland

CARSON, Calif. — What began as another listless performance briefly turned into a wild comeback attempt before ultimately collapsing into familiar frustration, as the LA Galaxy fell 4-2 to the Portland Timbers, extending the defending champions' winless streak to 10 matches Sunday evening.

The Galaxy have now lost their first four matches but, before the final whistle blew, fans audibly yelled out an infamous Mexican goal kick chant, which led to multiple warnings issued over the PA system at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Greg Vanney shared a message for the fanbase, particularly those that are frustrated with current state of the club.

“We're all frustrated because you come off such a high in 2024 last thing you want to be is digging yourself out of a hole in 2025 right off the bat. And so I get it. I mean, ask just supportive patients. We've got to find solutions. Inside of our group, we lost some really important players, especially in these key areas...We're going to find the solutions, and we're going to keep building within the roster as much as we can.”

For over an hour, the Galaxy looked every bit the worst team in MLS. 

David De Costa’s deflected opener in the 23rd minute set the tone, Santiago Moreno capitalized on a Zanka mistake just after halftime to double Portland’s lead.

Then it was Kevin Kelsy's strike off the crossbar that ballooned the Timbers’ lead to 3-0 early in the second half. 

After an hour, Vanney replaced his midfield entirely after Marco Reus Lucas Sanabria and Julian Aude each entered the match.

Then came ten minutes of madness that perfectly captured the start to the Galaxy’s 2025 campaign.

“We shifted the group, which was the intention, as we got in about five to about 10 minutes into the half, we were going to start to shift some pieces around,” Vanney said afterwards. “We got Marco [Reus] in, we sat him a little lower, we put some runners in front of him so that he could release some of our attacks. And I felt like we started to really build speed and momentum into the game and and obviously we started to build ourselves back in the game at three two, and I felt like we had all the momentum.”

Reus got involved early as he found Christian Ramirez, who got LA on the board after he tapped one in. 

Reus scored his first goal of 2025 moments later, finishing a ball sent his way by reus. 

Suddenly, the stadium came alive - only for Emiro Garcés to immediately concede a penalty that Jonathan Rodríguez converted in the 67th minute, extinguishing any flicker of hope for a comeback.  

The sequence laid bare both the talent still present in this squad and the self-destructive tendencies that have defined their season. However, the end of the sequence also captured the control, or lack thereof, that the officials had on the match.

Vanney said he hopes for more accountability from the officials in the future.

“Today it wasn't good enough. It's not good enough for this level and they need to accept it and own it and then we'll all have more respect for the situation. When they can also sit up in front of us, like this and say, ‘We need to get better,’” Vanney said. “We, the LA Galaxy, need to get better. So do they. So do those people that are that are in charge of running, helping the game to flow smoothly, and giving the two teams the best equal chance to win the game, they need to be better too.” 

Brian ‘Cabecita’ Rodriguez stepped up and nailed his penalty kick to make it 4-2.

There were flashes of promise - Reus looked dangerous in his most involved performance yet, and the Ramirez-Reus connection showed potential. 

But when Lucas Sanabria and Portland's David De Costa collided heads in the 69th minute, requiring lengthy treatment, it became an apt metaphor for a Galaxy season that keeps finding new ways to hurt itself.  

“It was a penalty. And we don't have to speak about the penalty. We have to speak about 10 seconds before. So why we are not ready to to receive the ball when the ball is five seconds in the air, so we have enough time to be organized. And these are the details. It makes a difference,” Reus said afterwards.

The Galaxy now face a brutal stretch, an upcoming road trip with stops in Kansas City, New York and Philadelphia to face Sporting KC, New York Redbulls and Philadelphia Union, respectively before coming back to Southern California for El Trafico on May 18.

Next, the Galaxy will head to the Midwest to face former striker Dejan Joveljic and Sporting KC next Sunday, May 4.