Florian Jungwirth celebrates one of his two assists with goal-scorer Chris Wondolowski and Victor Bernardez in the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 victory over the Portland Timbers (photo credit: Lyndsay Radnedge)
The San Jose Earthquakes returned home after a three game road trip and gave their home crowd a treat as they knocked off the Portland Timbers 3-0. Portland faced an uphill battle without their star goal scorers Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe and was never able to find an offensive groove. The Quakes on the other hand were in control early thanks to an eighth minute goal from Jahmir Hyka and we bolstered by a Chris Wondolowski brace, his ninth and tenth goals in ten games against Portland.
The Timbers tried to press the San Jose midfield early but their pressure pulled them too far forward and allowed Danny Hoesen to get to the goal line and play the ball into the six-yard box. Portland’s Lawerence Olum tried to clear the cross but it was blocked by Marco Ureña and fell for Hyka who’s shot was saved point blank by Jeff Attinella. The ball rebounded out to Darwin Cerén who took a low shot drifting wide of the net but Wondolowski stuck his foot out and deflected it right to Hyka who put the ball into the top of the net.
The Quakes would then continue to get in dangerous areas just outside the 18-yard box and take shots towards Attinella, who spilled a soft, bouncing shot nearly to a San Jose forward before being cleared.
In the 31st minute, San Jose would finally get another past Attinella as Florian Jungwirth found Wondolowski in a pocket of space between three Timber defenders. With his back to goal, Wondolowski took the pass, turned with one touch, and curled a ball far post as the defense crashed on him. Attinella stretched for the shot but couldn’t get to it as it curled right inside the post to put the Quakes up 2-0.
San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham would make four saves on the evening and helped preserve the 3-0 advantage over the Portland Timbers (photo credit: Lyndsay Radnedge)
Lacking the attacking presence of Valeri and Nagbe, Portland couldn’t seem to find space to operate in the final third, managing only one shot on target to San Jose’s seven in the first half.
Coming out of halftime Portland looked to have more energy and began to find possession in dangerous areas but the Quakes defense continued to close down shooting lanes and clog up the box.
The Timbers would continue to get forward and create chances but it would be Wondolowski scoring a second goal in the 55th minute that would put the game away for San Jose. Jungwirth would assist on this goal as well as he fed a 20 yard ball to Wondolowski behind the defense leaving the captain all alone to chip a shot past an out coming Attinella to the far post, putting the Quakes comfortably up 3-0 and giving Wondolowski 125 goals in his MLS career.
“Yeah [he had]two assists tonight.” said coach Dominic Kinnear when asked about Jungwirth after the match, “The second one was a real nice pass. The thing we want from Florian is, if he does have time with the ball, to continue drifting into the space because we think he’s a good soccer player.”
Portland would continue to press down three goals and short on time, forcing Quakes’ keeper David Bingham to make three saves in the second half, the last two coming less than three minutes apart as he first deflected Victor Arboleda’s near post shot wide and then made a kick save on Sebastián Blanco to preserve the clean sheet. To cap off his night, Bingham beat Arboleda to a cross off a corner kick as the ball fell to the feet of Kofi Sarkodie for the clearance instead of reaching the head of Arboleda for an attempt on goal from three yards out.
Up three goals, San Jose was comfortable to sit back in defense and restrain their attack to the counter, finding some success at getting dangerous balls behind the defense but failing to connect any crosses in front of goal or take any shots on target. Defending deeper in their end allowed them to close out the match with a clean sheet though giving them their third in four matches.
San Jose now travels to Colorado to take on the Rapids next Saturday while Portland returns home to the friendly confines of Providence Park as they host Atlanta United on Sunday.
Summary
San Jose: Bingham; Cato, Jungwirth, Bernárdez, Sarkodie; Hyka (Dawkins 80’), Cerén, Godoy, Hoesen; Wondolowski, Ureña (Thompson 88”)
Portland: Attinella; Powell, Olum, Ridgewell, Vytas; Chara, Guzmán, Asprilla (Barmby 57’), Blanco, Mattocks (Arboleda 63’); Adi (Ebobisse 83’)
Scoring
San Jose: Hyka 8’ (Wondolowski, Ceren), Wondolowski 31’ (Jungwirth), Wondolowski 55’ (Jungwirth)
Portland: none
Discipline:
San Jose: none
Portland: Mattocks (caution 45”), Blanco (caution 66’), Vytas (caution 90+1’)
San Jose Earthquakes
Portland
