The Portland Timbers moved into playoff position in the Western Conference with a controlling 4-0 victory over the LA Galaxy that was headlined by Cristhian Paredes’ brace.
Paredes bagged one goal in each half at Providence Park, while Diego Valeri scored off an individual effort and Jeremy Ebobisse tacked on a late goal to boost the Timbers above Real Salt Lake and Houston for seventh in the standings.
Paredes started the scoring in the 37th minute by latching onto a Jorge Moreira cross from the right wing. Moreira’s cross missed the head of the leaping Brian Fernandez and instead connected with the noggin of Paredes, who scored his third goal of the season.
Valeri padded Portland’s lead before the halftime break by diving into the box, nutmegging a defender and sliding a shot past Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham.
Paredes finished again through traffic at the top of the box to complete the first brace of his Timbers career in the 81st minute. Ebobisse scored the final goal in the 88th minute.
In addition to losing by four goals, the Galaxy lost Efrain Alvarez to a red card for kicking the ball into the head of Marvin Loria while the Timbers player was down on the ground.
Alvarez will miss next Saturday’s clash with Atlanta United, as will Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose yellow card for dissent put him over the limit and triggered a suspension for yellow-card accumulation.
Just as the match came to an end and the final whistle blew, Portland’s Dairon Asprilla and LA’s Diego Polenta got into a fight and both received red cards for violent conduct. They now will have to serve a one-game suspension as well.