BEAVERTON, Ore. – If you needed evidence, it came two weeks ago. Liam Ridgewell had left early in the first half, a quad injury depriving the Portland Timbers’ defense of its vocal, guiding force. Up one on Los Angeles FC and looking to preserve its lead, the team needed a leader who, in the face of talents like Carlos Vela, Lee Nguyen and Diego Rossi, could help see the match out. They needed somebody to step up.
It wasn’t the first time this year Zarek Valentin has done so. It was just the most obvious.