Full time: LAFC 2, Timbers 2. LAFC can’t hold on for the win and so they finish second in the group. Thanks for following along, here’s the full recap from the game.

81st minute: Goal Timbers. Jeremy Ebobisse is off the bench and scores the equalizer on a corner kick. If this holds, Portland will win the group.

Halftime: LAFC lead 2-1, but there’a 45 minutes to go. Can they wrap up the win and win the group? We’ll find out soon.

40th minute: GOOOOOOOOL LAFC! Mark-Anthony Kaye with a header on the doorstep off Brian Rodriguez’s corner kick. The boys are back on top for now.

36th minute: GOOOOOOOL LAFC! Bradley Wright-Phillips does it again, scoring a long bomb to make it 1-1. What a signing, what a goal from the Englishman.

7th minute: Goal Timbers. Jaroslaw Niezgoda opens his MLS account with a slice and dice through LAFC’s defense. Yet another early deficit for the black-and-gold here.

Lineups:

Latif Blessing shifts back to right back, Tristan Blackmon moves over to take over for Dejan Jakovic, and Francisco Ginella comes into the midfield for LAFC:

Portland is not starting Diego Valeri in this one, he’ll likely come off the bench, though.

The end of the group stage is here, and while Los Angeles Football Club have already clinched their berth in the knockout stage of the MLS is Back Tournament, they have a chance to win their group when they play the Portland Timbers Thursday evening in Orlando.

LAFC are coming off a huge victory, in all senses of the word, after beating the LA Galaxy 6-2 Saturday. The win will have done the black-and-gold all kinds of good in terms of confidence, but the last time LAFC beat the Galaxy they suffered a big letdown in the next game. The stakes this time aren’t nearly as high, since the outcome won’t prevent LAFC from going to the knockouts, but winning the group should improve their draw and so the motivation will be there to win (which we know is always there anyway).

Adama Diomande is officially ruled out, as he’s returned to LA after his foot injury in the first game, so expect more playing time for Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has scored in each of the first two games.

The Timbers are playing well, for what it’s worth, posting two wins so far and getting the job done rather efficiently. Given how tight games between these teams tend to be, I expect another tense battle, likely to be decided, if it is, by a goal.

Odds:

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, as of Wednesday evening, LAFC are (-157) while the Timbers are (+380). The odds of a draw are (+310), so the bookmakers continue to think LAFC are huge favorites in this game, even with the Timbers with a better record so far in the group stage and the teams historically playing tight games.

How to Watch:

Monday’s match between LAFC and the Timbers will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes in the United States. The broadcast is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm PT with kickoff to follow.

Come chat about the game with us in the comment section below!