(9) Portland Timbers (3,3,6, 15 points) vs (12) San Jose Earthquakes (2,5,4, 10 points)
Wednesday May 18, 2022, KO 7:30 PM PST/ 10:30 PM EST
Pay Pal Park, San Jose, California
Portland Timbers Briefly
Who could imagine having a dream debut not scoring a goal, but delivering with a brace? That’s the case for newcomer Nathan Fogaça alongside Sebastian Blanco with both having an amazing match against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.
Certainly, looks like Giovanni Savarese has ended up his troubles with Fogaça leading the attack, but can he repeat with another brace and face a surging Quakes that suddenly are starting to make a turnaround?
As in the past, this team has the number of the Silicon Valley side, but can they deliver an upset on the road and against a team that last week staged an epic comeback at BC Place in what became a goal-fest.
The Portland Timbers had against an unfortunate SKC side seeing some troubles of its own a record rout with seven goals against and seeing the Rose City Boys coming big in what was a one-of-a-kind win.
My question is if the Portland Boys can continue its winning ways and consistently play a good game of football in the Bay Area and deliver back-to-back wins and see a continuance of its winning ways over the Quakes.
Despite the dominance in the stats of SKC, the Timbers managed to get the game their way and the defense and offensive game rose to the occasion and the results were overwhelming.
Still, they have someone to worry about in the Quakes attack and it’s Jeremy Ebobisse with seven goals scored in the season. In three matches the man has delivered with a brace, somehow for Jebo, he will become a living nightmare for the Portland backfield.
A win on the road will be immense for the Timbers.
Probable Lineup:
GK Aljaz Ivacic, Pablo Bonilla, Larrys Mabiala, Bill Tuiloma, Justin Rasmusen; Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson; Cristhian Paredes, Yimmi Chara, Sebastian Blanco; Nathan Fogaça
Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe
San Jose Earthquakes Briefly
There is life after Almeyda and an interim manager. Alex Covelo sees a surge in his team, and somehow is seeing the fruits of his labor rewarded. The team has drawn lately and shown intensity in its game.
As the league continues, the need to win is imperative for this squad to see itself in the postseason spots and looking forward to improving its game as its manager has envisioned for his team outlook.
A sort of reunion will happen with a red-hot Jeremy Ebobisse lately scoring like a madman and netting three braces in the same number of matches. I can see Jebo being a bad dream for the Timbers defensive core all evening.
Last week at BC Place, the Quakes delivered and entertaining show and despite the draw at three goals each, this team is suddenly transforming into an all-around fighter and not conceding too easily.
The idea for manager Covelo will be of making his Quakes a force not to mess with at home, can they pull and shake off the Timber’s dominance at home with a win, as well as see their defensive game step up.
Probable Lineup:
GK JT Marcincowski, Paul Marie, Nathan, Francisco Calvo, Marcos Lopez; Jackson Yueill, Eric Remedi, Jamiro Monteiro; Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse, Cade Cowell
Meetings
10/27/2021 Portland Timbers 2-0 San Jose Earthquakes
08/04/2021 Portland Timbers 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes
05/15/2021 San Jose Earthquakes 0-2 Portland Timbers
Forecast
The Timbers can see a continuance of its winning ways on the road
