Allow me to do my own, cheesy Agent Smith impersonation, ahem. Here it goes.

Welcome back, Mr. Landon Donovan. Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy missed you.

End impersonation. It doesn't look like that right knee seems to be nagging him too much, as he was able to score a brace in the Galaxy's 3-0 victory over John Spencer's Portland Timbers, who lacked the execution and skill that powered them to success last week.

“I felt good," Donovan said after the game. "I didn’t feel as sharp or fit after 60 minutes, but it was good to get 70 minutes, I think. In the beginning of the week, 45 would have been a stretch, so I’m happy to play and it was a good result.”

Oh, how can things change in the course of a week. And I will note this to all of you readers again: the Portland Timbers are not MLS Cup Playoff contenders, at least not yet. They will get their share of wins, but as you can see, they don't have what it takes to contend with the Real Salt Lakes, New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxies of the world.

Interestingly enough, Real Salt Lake is the Timbers' next opponent. Makes you wonder what's going to happen at Jeld-Wen Field. Perhaps the fortress may not be so tough after all. Stay tuned for next week's results.

“We knew that they were a big team and if we gave them chances with set pieces and stuff that they would cause us problems," said midfielder David Beckham. "And they did it, on occasions. But, we knew that if we kept the ball on the ground passing, like we know we can pass, we’d win the game.”

Aside from that, the Galaxy were able to cope with the loss of Leonardo for the season. Having Sean Franklin and A.J. DeLaGarza in the back to go with Omar Gonzalez and Todd Dunivant worked, as they held Jorge Perlaza and Kalif Alhassan at bay.

“That’s what I like with my defense," said Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. "They keep it clean and whatever spills—I just mop up. It’s good team work.”

Chad Barrett broke open the scoring just four minutes into the match with a through ball from Donovan. Onside plus open space equals a sensational blast from distance. Good touch, too.

Barrett needs to continue his production because he is capable of probably being the next Edson Buddle. Now that's a stretch for me to say that, I will let you know, but a breakout year is a breakout year, and if he keeps this up, it will be a breakout year for the Galaxy's No. 11.

“Chad’s a player with a lot of promise," Arena told reporters after the match, according to LAGalaxy.com. "We’ve seen over the last three or four weeks his understanding of how to play with our team. His mobility—he’s a great asset, a strong player. Obviously, he finished off that first goal quite well. I think he’s been very promising over the last two or three games.”

“A lot of people say it just takes that first one to gain confidence in your strike and stuff like that," Barrett said. "I didn’t think twice about taking that shot. That’s what you need to do if you want to constantly score goals.

"I had a lot of opportunities and wish I could have buried a couple more, but I’m very happy to have scored that goal early and get us off to a good start.”

Four minutes after LA took a 1-0 lead, Portland was called for a foul on the Timbers' Rodney Wallace inside the box, and Landon earned his first goal of the season.

Calm as you like, coolly slotted home, enough said. His first goal in 731 minutes made it 2-0 Galaxy.

Credit to Los Angeles's efforts to press in the second half, because they knew that consolidating a lead will be for the best. Juan Pablo Angel's short cross in the 67th minute found Donovan's head to put the game out of reach.

Along with the offensive firepower of Barrett and Donovan, Los Angeles broke up Portland's possessions and established a sound passing game, pressuring Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins.

The former D.C. United keeper was going to face a firing squad on Holy Saturday 2011, and he made a fantastic array of saves, but he simply didn't make enough.

That's not to say that Ricketts didn't have to do his share of work.

Especially during the second half, Ricketts showed the visiting contingent of the Timbers Army why he was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010, making stops in the 31st, 71st, and 80th minutes.

“I just reacted and luckily it hit me," Ricketts said of his performance. "I’m glad I picked it up. You just react. Today was my day to make saves.”

Even though this is against an expansion team, the Galaxy have played their best soccer to date this year. The bar is now raised, and this is a result that Bruce Arena and company can build off of.

“It was certainly a good win for our team," Arena said of the result. "The storyline is the two early goals. To be up by two goals in the first ten minutes of the game is important. I think, at times, tonight we played quite well. We are passing the ball better.

"We are getting a little bit better as a team. However, it’s still a little bit sloppy over 90 minutes. Our concentration could be better at the end of the games. We got sloppy at the end of the game, but overall it’s a good win and it’s nice to get three goals. Hopefully, we continue to move forward as a team.”

Up next for the Galaxy is a match with FC Dallas at the Oven: Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, May 1 at 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Sports West and Galavision.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here