Portland Timbers picked up a big 1–0 win on the road over LAFC, ending a five-game stretch without a road victory and jumping back into fifth place in the Western Conference. The deciding goal came just before halftime, when Cristhian Paredes connected with a corner from Ian Smith and headed the ball into the net.
The result puts the Timbers back in the fight for playoff positioning and marks their strongest performance away from home since 2021. They now have four wins on the road in 2025. Until this match, their only road success had come back in March against Colorado. Portland now stands at 10 wins for the season, with a 10-7-7 record and 37 points, moving just ahead of LAFC, who remain on 36 points with a 10-6-6 record.
Paredes' first goal of the season
Cristhian Paredes hadn’t found the net since September 2023. Against LAFC, he showed up again in a matchup where he’s been consistently effective. It was his fourth goal in 15 appearances against the Los Angeles team, drawing level with Felipe Mora as the top scorer among active Timbers players in this rivalry.
His goal carried extra meaning. It didn’t just put Portland ahead; it arrived at a moment when the team had been struggling to get results on the road. It also marked their first win at BMO Stadium since September 2021, breaking a streak of losses and missed chances there.
LAFC’s unbeaten run ends
Portland’s win snapped LAFC’s four-game unbeaten streak. It was also LAFC’s third home loss of the season, all of them finishing 1–0 and all against other teams from the Western Conference.
LAFC came close to tying the match in the second half. Around the 60-minute mark, Nathan Ordaz had a chance from inside the box that forced Maxime Crépeau into a sharp save. Ryan Hollingshead followed up, but his shot was blocked by a Portland defender, keeping the visitors in front and securing the win.