Die Macht » Portlands early struggles on defen

West Coast coach Adam Simpson admits Jack Redden and Lewis Jetta have a point to prove following their underwhelming debut season at the AFL club.Jetta and Redden were slated for important roles after being picked up by the Eagles during last years trade period.But both players failed to fire at their new club.Former Swan Jetta was dropped three times last season, while ex-Lion Redden struggled for form in his 15 appearances before finishing the year in the reserves.Redden turns 26 later this month, while Jetta is 27 and with a premiership already under his belt.Simpson expects the pair to have a bigger impact in 2017.I would have thought both of those players would be disappointed with last season, Simpson said.They both turned up (to this pre-season) in really good nick - personal bests in time trials.They both came back early. Theres a bit of drive there.You can see the look in their eyes already, so theres a point to prove.Simpson has high hopes for what new recruit Sam Mitchell will bring to the club next season, while ex-Roo Drew Petrie is also set to become an important cog.With Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett sidelined with knee injuries, Petrie will battle it out with ex-Cat Nathan Vardy to become Jonathan Giles ruck back-up.Naitanui is on track to play in round 15 or 16, while Simpson says Lycett will return in the early-to-mid part of the season.West Coast reached the grand final in 2015, but they were knocked out of the finals race at the first hurdle last season by a rampant Bulldogs outfit.Simpson said he had taken a good look at that home defeat to the Bulldogs, who went on to win the flag.It was a really disappointing game - just as disappointing as the grand final the year before, Simpson said.We reviewed it straight away.Looking at the rest of the finals series, it probably proved how good the Bulldogs are, and how much work we need to do to get up to that standard. 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PORTLAND, Ore. -- With two goals in the first 11 minutes, the Galaxy stole a 2-1 victory in Portland.Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes each scored for Los Angeles to put an end to the Timbers nine-game undefeated streak before a national TV audience.Zarek Valentin scored for the Timbers, who were stung when they lost veteran defender Nat Borchers to what appeared to be a left ankle injury late in the first half. Borchers was a key piece to the Timbers team that won the MLS Cup last season.It was the Galaxys fourth straight victory in Major League Soccer play, and fifth overall. Los Angeles (9-3-8) is third in the Western Conference, while Portland (7-7-8) is in sixth.Neither team added to the score in the second half.We definitely wanted to come out aggressive and I thought we did that. We didnt know what the second half had in hand, but the sun came out, turf got hotter. But I thought the substitutions were phenomenal. The guys that came on were just great and amazing and it worked well for us, Zardes said.The Timbers were already without defender Liam Ridgewell, who has a strained right calf and will also miss the MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal next week in San Jose.The Galaxy were without defender Ashley Cole because of a sore hamstring, and midfielder Steven Gerrard, who has a leg injury.The Galaxy went ahead early with Keanes easy tap in off Giovani dos Santos cross in the seventh minute. It was Keanes seventh goal in 10 overall matches this season.Los Angeles extended the lead to 2-0 in the 11th minute on Zardes bouncing header.It took us a while to get going, and we didnt make the plays we needed, Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson said.The slow start was a letdown for the Timbers, who were coming off a big 3-1 victory over rival Seattle last Sunday. But Portland narrowed it to 2-1 before the end of the half with Zarek Valentins a hard shot from atop the box in the 41st minute. It was his firstt goal of the season.ddddddddddddive them credit, they pushed for the goal. I think our biggest mistake in the game was conceding a goal at the end of the first half. We could have been in position to, I wouldnt say sail through that game, but deal with it a little bit better in the second half, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said.A few moments later Portland suffered a major blow when Borchers was injured. It did not appear that the veteran defender was hurt by contact.Borchers could not stand after he was treated on the field and had to be stretchered off. Arena appeared to wish him well as he was carried to the locker room.Portland coach Caleb Porter said after the game he had no update on Borchers condition.Portlands early struggles on defense and the loss of Borchers came as rumors swirled concerning the Timbers interest in former Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor, who was at the match.Portlands Darlington Nagbe got a good chance with a clear shot in the 86th minute but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. The Timbers also got a free kick late but was unable to score.The last time the two teams met the Galaxy knocked the Timbers out of the U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 victory at Providence Park in late June. Los Angeles has advanced to the semifinals of the competition, hosting FC Dallas at StubHub Center on Aug. 10.There was bad blood between the two teams stemming from a match earlier this year, during which Nigel de Jong tackled Nagbe.Nagbe, who has also been playing with the U.S. national team, sprained his ankle. De Jong was later given a three-game suspension by the league for the hit.The sellout crowd at Providence Park loudly booed de Jong when the lineups were announced before Saturdays match.It was the first soccer match for ESPNs SportsCenter On The Road. ' ' '