Galaxy forced to settled for a draw against Portland

CARSON — The Galaxy continues to walk the dangerous line.

For a team that’s fighting for its playoff lives and hanging on in contention, the Galaxy has struggled keeping the opponent off of the scoreboard.

Entering the game against the Portland Timbers, the Galaxy had allowed 10 goals in the last three games, but only had one loss (winning one and tying the other).

Saturday, the Galaxy again fell behind by a goal, rallied to take the lead into halftime, but allowed the game-tying goal in the 76th minute and had to settle for a 3-3 draw in front of 23,101 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

All draws are not like the others and this one, especially at home is as disappointing for the Galaxy.

For 75 minutes, the Galaxy held a 3-2 lead and appeared destined to finally move out of 13th place in the Western Conference and within four points of the ninth and final playoff spot.

However, Portland’s Felipe Mora evened things on the scoreboard, leaving the Galaxy wishing what might have been.

In the later stages, Portland had at least two chances to sneak out with the win, but were unable to finish the deal.

The draw moves the Galaxy (8-11-11) to 35 points, still in 13th place and now six points off the final playoff spot with four games remaining.

The night was made complicated for the Galaxy as midfielder and captain Riqui Puig was held out due to an ankle injury that he suffered in last Sunday’s 3-3 draw against Austin FC.

The night had its ups and downs for the Galaxy, especially defender Eriq Zavaleta. Zaveleta scored in the 10th and the first minute of stoppage time and in the 38th minute, he was credited with an own goal as the Timbers tied the game at 2-2.

The Galaxy’s other goal came in the 43rd minute by Douglas Costa, who was making his return after missing three games with a hamstring injury. The goal was the first this season for Costa, sending the Galaxy into halftime with a 3-2 lead.

Despite the current shaky defending, the Galaxy has now just one loss in the last four games, but time is slowly slipping away.

Portland has caught fire since firing long-time coach Giovanni Savarese in late August, reeling off a 5-0-2 record in the last six games to climb to seventh place in the Western Conference entering the weekend.

The Galaxy how has four games remaining in the regular season, with two on the road (Oct. 4 at Seattle and Oct. 7 at Minnesota United) and two at home (Oct. 14 against Real Salt Lake and Oct. 21 against FC Dallas).