Los Angeles Galaxy Get It Right In Big Win Over Portland Timbers (VIDEO)

Aug 2, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy mascot Cosmo runs onto the field after the game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Portland Timbers at StubHub Center. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Portland Timbers 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Now that’s how you do it. Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy, after a number of unsuccessful results against Caleb Porter’s Portland Timbers, snap their coldstreak in a big way, prevailing 3-1 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. on Saturday. The rise of Gyasi Zardes has given the Galaxy hope, while Robbie Keane pulled off another solid performance. Hear from Bruce Arena on this statement victory.

Let’s take a look at six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for this match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Portland Timbers.

Aug 2, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy defender Dan Gargan (33), midfielder Baggio Husidic (6) and forward Gyasi Zardes (11) congratulateforward Robbie Keane (7) after his second goal of the second half of the game against the Portland Timbers at StubHub Center. Galaxy won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

1. Diego Valeri opens things up

On a set piece, Diego Valeri scored his sixth goal of the season in the 14th minute of play. There was a deflection from Zardes, but it still went in. The set piece was set up by Juninho fouling Gaston Fernandez in Portland’s attacking third.

2. Zardes strikes on the stroke of halftime

Most of the first half after that saw Marcelo Sarvas come up short on some chances, in first half injury time, Zardes scored his eighth goal of the season on an overlap delivery from Robbie Rogers on the left side. Zardes couldn’t miss from close distance and that makes it five goals in his last five games, a consistent pace that will make the Homegrown Game this week in Portland very interesting.

3. Robbie Keane, goal machine, with a cracker

In the 73rd minute, Robbie Keane scored his 11th goal of the season off a delivery from Landon Donovan, also on the left side of Los Angeles’s attacking third. It was vintage Keane at his finest and to be honest, Keane could have scored a few more goals this game, like Zardes.

4. Keane converts from the spot, finally

One weakness of Keane this season has been penalties, but on Saturday, that would not be an issue. Portland midfielder Diego Chara, who is the designated Goat of the Match, fouled Juninho in the 83rd minute and could have been sent off for a second yellow card. Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts didn’t even bother to try to save the attempt. The goal was Keane’s 12th of the season.

5. Stats tell the story: this was one-sided

Aside from the set piece special from Valeri, this was a one-sided match, as the stats will show. The Galaxy dominated a number of categories and could have scored a few more goals if the finishing was a bit crisper.

Team Statistics

Los Angeles Galaxy in yellow, Portland Timbers in green

6. Los Angeles Galaxy could remain third at the worst

The win gives the Los Angeles Galaxy a record of 9-4-6 (33 points) and with a number of other matches this weekend, the Galaxy could remain third place at the worst due to having a number of games in hand over the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. As for the Timbers, they are 6-7-9 and will need to get their act together this month due to being deep into the season in terms of games played.

Los Angeles Galaxy Player Ratings

Jaime Penedo 6, A.J. DeLaGarza 7, Dan Gargan 7, Omar Gonzalez 7, Robbie Rogers 8, Juninho 6, Landon Donovan 8, Marcelo Sarvas 6.5, Stefan Ishizaki 6, Gyasi Zardes 9, Robbie Keane 10, Baggio Husidic 5, Chandler Hoffman NR

Portland Timbers Player Ratings

Donovan Ricketts 4, Danny O’Rourke 3, Jack Jewsbury 3, Liam Ridgewell 3, Michael Harrington 4, Diego Chara 1.5, Diego Valeri 6, Gaston Fernandez 2, Rodney Wallace 4, Will Johnson 3, Maximiliano Urruti 3, Kalif Alhassan 4, Fanendo Adi 2, Jorge Villafana NR