Chris Wondolowski and Quincy Amarikwa (25) combined to score twice against the Timbers.
By John Marshall
The San Jose Earthquakes hosted the Portland Timbers at Avaya Stadium in wet, overcast conditions on Sunday, March 13th that looked more customary to Portland than San Jose. The Quakes were unphased by the slick surface though as they upset the defending MLS champions. Although they were outshot 16-8, San Jose held on to their 2-0 lead enroute to a 2-1 win.
Lucas Melano took a shot six minutes into the match that looked to have given the visitors the early lead, but the ball clanked off the crossbar and rolled out of play.
Portland continued the pressure in the 12th minute when Valeri made a cutting run through the box. His shot would run just wide of the post, letting the Quakes off the hook.
The wet conditions continued to make the game a difficult affair, with bodies slipping left and right, sliding around 10 feet when they hit the ground.
Chris Wondolowski finally got a chance for the Quakes in the 24th minute, getting a ball in the center of the box for a one time shot. Nat Borchers slid in to block the shot and clear it away from the box drawing claims of a handball from Wondolowski. A closer look would show the claims unfounded.
Chris Wondolowski slides in celebration of his second goal of the year.
The breakthrough would come in the 30th minute for San Jose when Wondolowski received a perfect pass from Anibal Godoy right in front of the box for an easy tap in. The goal came minutes after the Portland attack was derailed thanks to the field conditions taking down Diego Chara in the open field.
In the 39th minute Lucas Melano got a chance to show off his speed, cutting through the midfield and beating two defenders before leaving the ball off to Fanendo Adi in space. The pass was just wide enough though to let Clarence Goodson get back in time to slide in and stop the Timbers’ attack.
With one minute of stoppage time, it looked like the game would go to the half 1-0 but Quincy Amarikwa had other ideas, running past three Portland defenders before chipping a ball from 30 yards out into the far corner of the goal, just out of reach of Adam Kwarasey. The goal came right at the end of stoppage time and put the Quakes into the locker room with a 2-0 lead over the defending MLS champs and the Quakes received a standing ovation from the home crowd as they left the field.
Quincy Amarikwa celebrates after scoring an incredible goal from distance to put San Jose up 2-0 on Portland just before halftime.
Portland came out of the locker room at half and immediately put pressure on the Quakes back line. The pressure almost payed off when Diego Chara got behind Kip Colvey on the wing and ripped a shot off the post.
Sixty-six minutes in, the Quakes would get another chance to add to their lead as Amarikwa chased down a long ball from Wondolowski and attacked the Portland box. Amarikwa passed the ball back to Quintero who left it off for a trailing Wondolowski who struck for goal and forced Kwarasey to make a fantastic save to stop the shot.
Portland would get another great chance to score as Diego Valeri lofted a perfect ball over the defense to Adi right in front of goal but he slipped as Bernardez took him shoulder to shoulder and his shot went over the net.
In the 89th minute the Timbers would pull back a goal as substitute Jack McInerney capitalized on a missed cover by Colvey and slipped in front of David Bingham to knock home a cross from Nat Borchers for Portland’s first and only goal.
Jack McInerney pulls the ball out of the goal after scoring for Portland.
As stoppage time wound down the Timbers continued to put balls into the box, searching for the tying goal. They almost found an open man in the box but the play was stopped because of Adi fouling Victor Bernardez in the air as he challenged the cross, killing the last chance for the Timbers.
San Jose has now taken maximum points in their first two matches, putting them in a tie for first with Sporting Kansas City.
The Quakes travel next to Los Angeles to take on the LA Galaxy on Saturday night while Portland returns home to face Real Salt Lake.
Lineups:
San Jose: Bingham; Wynne, Bernardez, Goodson, Colvey; Quintero (Silva 87’), Alashe (Thompson 71’), Godoy, Dawkins (Salinas 87’); Amarikwa, Wondolowski ©
Portland: Kwarasey; Valentin (Grabavoy 81’), Taylor, Borchers, Powell; Valeri, Chara, Nagbe; Asprilla (McInerney 64’), Adi, Melano
Goals:
San Jose: Wondolowski 30’ (Godoy, Colvey), Amarikwa 45+1’ (Unassisted)
Portland: McInerney 89’ (Borchers)
Discipline:
San Jose: Bernardez (Yellow 64’), Bingham (Yellow 90+1’)
Portland: None
Referee: Jair Marufo
San Jose Earthquakes
Portland Timbers
