RECAP | Portland Timbers fight to 1-1 draw on the road with Los Angeles FC

David Da Costa scores for second straight match, James Pantemis makes 10 saves

LOS ANGELES – David Da Costa scored off a pass from Kristoffer Velde early and the Portland Timbers fought to a 1-1 draw on the road with Los Angeles FC Saturday evening at BMO Stadium.

The Timbers defense faced 34 shots, blocking 11 with goalkeeper James Pantemis making 10 saves.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR – David Da Costa (Kristoffer Velde), 4th minute: Following an interception in his own half, Kristoffer Velde dribbled up the left wing and cut inside towards the top of the box, laying off a pass to an on-running David Da Costa. Da Costa took a first-time left-footed shot from outside the six-yard box to beat the goalkeeper at the lower near post.

LAFC – Denis Bouanga (Jude Terry, Aaron Long), 79th minute: Denis Bouanga dribbled up the edge of the box on the left side and netted a right-footed shot through traffic to the far side.

Tonight’s Performers

Kristoffer Velde assisted David Da Costa in Portland’s opening goal, both earning goal contributions in a second straight match. With his strike, Da Costa reached three goals and 10 total goal contributions on the season. It marks Da Costa’s third back-to-back goal contribution performance of 2026. With the buildup play, Velde became the outright club leader in assists (nine) and goal contributions (14) this year. Notably, Velde’s performance tonight marked a goal involvement in five of his last six MLS appearances (1G, 6A) and has been directly involved in Portland’s last four goals scored (1G, 3A). The 26-year-old is currently tied for fourth-most assists in all of MLS. James Pantemis recorded his second-most saves in a match for Portland this season, ending the night with 10 stops after recording five saves in each half.

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Notes

• The Timbers (8-9-4, 28pts) remain in ninth place in the Western Conference following tonight’s draw.
• The Timbers earned four of six possible points in the 2026 series against LAFC (1-0-1).
• Portland played its seventh competitive match in a 22-day span.
• In that seven-game stretch, the Timbers earned points in five games (4-2-1).
• In 10 games across all competitions since returning from the summer international window, Portland has gone unbeaten in eight (6-2-2).
• The Timbers have scored in 11 straight matches across all competitions.
• David Da Costa opened the scoring, netting a goal in consecutive matches.
• It comes as Da Costa’s third goal and 10th goal contribution of the 2026 season.
• It marks Da Costa’s third back-to-back goal contribution performance of the campaign.
• Kristoffer Velde provided an assist in Portland’s opening goal, doing so in back-to-back matches.
• Velde has now reached club-highs in assists (nine) and goal contributions (14) on the season.
• Notably, the Norwegian has been directly involved in Portland’s last four goals scored (1G, 3A).
• Additionally, Velde has recorded a goal contribution in five of his last six MLS appearances (1G, 6A).
• In two starts against LAFC this season, Velde has registered a goal and two assists.
• Velde is currently tied for fourth-most assists in MLS.
• James Pantemis ended the night with 10 saves, recording five in each half.
• Ten saves in a match are Pantemis’ second highest of 2026, behind only his career-record 13 saves at Salt Lake on May 2.
• Eric Miller made his first start of the campaign.

Next Game

Next up, the Timbers return to Portland for a three-match homestand starting against Austin FC on Saturday, Aug. 29. Kickoff from Providence Park is set for 7:30pm PT on Apple TV in English and Spanish with local radio broadcasts on 105.1 FM/1080 AM The Fan (English) and La GranD 93.5 FM/1150AM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (8-9-4, 28pts) at LAFC (10-7-5, 35pts)

August 22, 2026 – BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Da Costa (Velde), 4
LAFC: Bouanga (Terry, Long), 79

Misconduct Summary:
LAFC: Choinière (caution), 15
POR: Kelsy (caution), 31
LAFC: Bouanga (caution), 87
POR: Janssen (caution), 89
POR: Janssen (ejection), 90+3

Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis, D E. Miller, D Surman ©, D K. Miller, D Fory (Smith, 56), M Bassett (Ortiz, 54), M Caicedo, M Da Costa, F Lassiter (Antony, 54), F Kelsy (Janssen, 69), F Velde (Fernandez, 70)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Muse, D McGraw, D Jura, F Guerra

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Da Costa, Caicedo, 1); FOULS: 15 (three players tied, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 10

LAFC: GK Lloris, D Hollingshead, D Porteus, D Long ©, D Cheberko (Raposo, 76), M Choinière (Terry, 76), M Segura, M Delgado, F Tillman (Shaffelburg, 20), F Son, F Bouanga

Substitutes Not Used: GK Carter, D Nielson, D Tafari, M Guerra, F Ebobisse, F Boyd

TOTAL SHOTS: 34 (Bouanga, 12); SHOTS ON GOAL: 11 (Bouanga, 6); FOULS: 8 (Bouanga, Shaffelburg, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 12; SAVES: 1

Referee: Jon Freemon
Assistant Referees: Kathryn Nesbitt, Felicia Mariscal
Fourth Official: Ricardo Fierro
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.