Valeri misses penalty as Quakes and Timbers draw

Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) lies on the ground after colliding with a player. Photo credit John Hefti

After a pointless month in July, the San Jose Earthquakes look to bounce back at home against the visiting Portland Timbers. Portland currently sits in the 6th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, seven points ahead of San Jose who can’t afford to give up many more points to conference foes.

San Jose started quickly, getting the first chance in the second minute when a corner kick came to Qunicy Amarikwa at the top of the box, but his half volley was blocked by the Timber’s defense.

Portland would counter minutes later only to have Rodney Wallace’s shot go wide of the keeper.

The first save of the game came in the seventh minute when Shea Salinas put a perfect cross to a wide open Chris Wondolowski only to have Adam Kwarasey step up and make a save when Wondo’s first touch failed him and forced him into a poor shot.

Chances would continue to come for the Quakes as they controlled the match for the majority of the first 15 minutes. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the control didn’t translate into a goal as most chances fizzled out in front of goal.

As the half wore on San Jose continued to have the better chances and kept the Timbers on their heels but as the 30th minute came and went, Portland began to find their rhythm in the match.

Nat Borchers would get the first quality shot on goal for Portland in the 39th minute from a corner as he created space between himself and Fatai Alashe to win the header, only to have his shot go straight to the hands of keeper David Bingham.

The first half would end with nothing between the two sides.

The second half started with Fanendo Adi beating the Quakes defense and ripping a low shot past Bingham only to have it slam off the post and out, leaving the game still tied.

Portland would get another chance in the 52nd minute when Valeri managed to work a 3 on 2 but his shot turned out to be an easy save for Bingham.

San Jose began to regain their momentum and settle in offensively, getting a couple of chances after the first 15 minutes. The first was an Alashe header over the bar in the 61st minute and then shortly aftera Shaun Francis shot from the left side of the box in the 63rd minute that just went over the crossbar, drawing a short roar as it landed on top of the net.

San Jose Earthquakes defender Shaun Francis (20) takes a shot on goal. Photo credit John Hefti.

“I saw the defender backpedaling,” said Francis, “so I thought ‘I’m gonna take my first touch past him and try to find the far post.’ Watching it I thought maybe it was gonna hit the cross bar or maybe go in. Its Just one of those [plays].”

Again the Quakes would have more chances to score but couldn’t put the ball on net as Amarikwa managed to split two defenders at the top of the box in the 72nd minute but his shot went wide.

Portland immediately countered as Rodney Wallace played a quick ball from the wing towards the front post to Lucas Milano who had come on minutes earlier. His quick touch forced a Bingham save but San Jose failed to clear the ball and eventually conceded a corner.

Seconds later it looked like the Quakes season was in trouble as on the resulting corner, Shaun Francis needlessly kicked out at Diego Valeri in the box and brought him down as the referee awarded a penalty kick in the 74th minute. Valeri stepped up to the spot but was forced to wait as Bingham took his time getting to the line. The mind games seemed to work as Valeri’s kick came off the front of the cross bar hard and was easily cleared.

As time wound down, San Jose tried desperately to find a winner, throwing everyone up field and earning corner after corner but never finding a target.

Portland couldn’t seem to get anything going from the counter attack though as San Jose’s defense managed to recover on each chance and the game would fail to find a goal as both sides left disappointed.

With the tie Portland leaps Seattle in the standings and San Jose gets a point closer to 6th but both Wondo and Kinnear said they know they need more than just a tie if they want to make the playoffs.

“We got to stop tying games. We still have the belief that we can make the playoffs and you have to win games and you have to win home games and you have to put your chances away and that changes the whole dynamic of the game,” said Wondolowski as he was quick to admit he needed to do better on his early chance.

San Jose travels to Houston next week as they take on the Dynamo on Saturday night while Portland has a short week ahead of them as they return home to take on Chicago on Friday.