In a tense matchup on August 23, LAFC faced off against the Portland Timbers at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles for the 22nd round of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. The first half concluded with LAFC trailing 0-1, after conceding an early goal.

LAFC, under the guidance of head coach Mark Dos Santos, deployed a strong lineup in a 4-3-3 formation. The attacking trio consisted of Denis Bouanga, Son Heung-min, and Timothy Tillman, supported by a midfield featuring Mark Delgado, Eddie Segura, and Mathieu Choinière. The defense was anchored by Yevhen Cheberko, Aaron Long, Ryan Fortes, and Ryan Hollingshead, with Hugo Lloris in goal.

Portland Timbers countered with a 4-2-3-1 formation, led by forward Kevin Kelsey and a supporting cast that included Christopher Velde, David Da Costa, and Ariel Lassiter. The midfield was composed of José Caicedo and Cole Bassett, while the defense featured Zimmer Pory, Kamal Miller, Finn Sermon, and Eric Miller, with James Pantemis guarding the net.

The match took a turn early on, as LAFC conceded a goal just four minutes in. A rapid counterattack caught the LAFC defense off guard, allowing Da Costa to slip through and score with a precise shot into the lower corner of the net.

Following the setback, LAFC intensified their offensive efforts. In the seventh minute, Bouanga had a chance from a free kick, but Pantemis made a crucial save. Just a minute later, Choinière's attempt struck the crossbar, and Son Heung-min's efforts were thwarted by the opposing goalkeeper throughout the half.

Despite relentless pressure from LAFC, including a series of attempts by Son Heung-min, the team struggled to convert their chances into goals. Notably, in the 21st minute, Son's free kick hit the wall, and a late opportunity in first-half stoppage time also went begging.

As the first half drew to a close, LAFC found themselves in a challenging position, needing to regroup and strategize for the second half to overcome the deficit against Portland.