da poker： David Beckham was suspended but the Los Angeles Galaxy scored a valuable 2-1 away win at the Chicago Fire in Sunday’s MLS action.Bruce Arena’s side were also without Landon Donovan, while Juan Pablo Angel was left on the bench, leaving LA short of their usual star firepower.
But the Galaxy dealt with the absence of their key men well, with Chad Barrett opening the scoring after 42 minutes.
LA looked to have sealed the points 18 minutes from time when Omar Gonzalez added his name to the scoresheet but they did receive a late scare, when substitute Dominic Oduro scored for the hosts with just a minute remaining.
But it was just a false alarm as the Galaxy held on for a win that puts them second on goal difference in the Western Conference behind Real Salt Lake, while Chicago remain at the foot of the Eastern Conference.
The Portland Timbers held off a fast-finishing FC Dallas for a 3-2 victory at PGE Park.
The Timbers, who won 4-2 at home against the Chicago Fire on Thursday, again started the match full of goals, with Jack Jewsbury’s 13th minute opener delighting another passionate crowd in Portland.
Kenny Cooper added a second with 10 minutes in the first half remaining and Rodney Wallace looked to have put the result beyond doubt with his 56th minute goal.
But Dallas refused to lie down, and an 83rd minute goal from David Ferreira was followed by Brek Shea’s strike four minutes from time to give the visitors the late momentum.
Portland did hold on for the win, however, which saw them rise to fourth in the Western Conference.
The other match of the day saw Houston Dynamo snatch a late 1-0 win against New England, thanks to Hunter Freeman’s goal with just four minutes remaining.