Galaxy hope to be healthy as Timbers visit

The Los Angeles Galaxy are close to returning some scoring punch if Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romain Alessandrini can rebound from injury for Sunday night's clash with the Portland Timbers at Carson, Calif.

The core of the Galaxy offense has played together for just 20 minutes this season. Alessandrini left the season opener in the first half against the Chicago Fire with a right hamstring injury. Ibrahimovic won that March 2 game with a header in the 80th minute, but hasn't played since because of a sore left Achilles.

Both trained with the team this week and are optimistic they could play. Midfielder Juninho (knee) could see his first action of the season Sunday. The Galaxy are still expected to be without midfielder Perry Kitchen (ankle).

Sunday is the one-year anniversary of Ibrahimovic's spectacular MLS debut, when he announced his presence with a 40-yard, right-footed wonder strike on a volley, then scored the winner on a header to cap a rally from 3-0 down to prevail 4-3 versus LAFC. He could be used off the bench Sunday just like he was for 19 minutes in his Galaxy debut.

"This is a question you have to wait and see during the game," Ibrahimovic said, according to mlssoccer.com. ."..It's about how long you can keep it (feeling right), and that I don't know. That you have to find out while you're playing. This is nothing I can say. I can hold out 20, 30, 40 or 90 minutes, so we'll have to see."

The Timbers are on the fourth game of their 12-game road voyage to start the season as their home stadium, Providence Park, gets an upgrade.

The start of the season has been rough for Portland so far, with a 3-3 tie in the snow to open things at Colorado, followed by losses at Los Angeles FC and at expansion FC Cincinnati in the new team's first-ever home game.

The Timbers have been outscored 7-1 in their last two defeats and used last week's international break to hit the reset button.

"That week was very important to us trying to fix (things) on defense," Timbers midfielder Diego Chara said on the team's "Timbers in 30" show. "I think we did really well. ... We need to have (better) chemistry in moments. We have new players in the back, and they have to know each other."

The Timbers are expected to be without goalkeepers Aljaz Ivacic (leg) and Kendall McIntosh (thigh).

--Field Level Media