One game in 100 words: From an attacking standpoint, the Portland Timbers outplayed their opponent, the San Jose Earthquakes. Caleb Porter’s side held 61 percent of possession and struck 23 shots all together. But their main problem revolved around getting those chances on net and staying onside. When the Earthquakes had their few bright spots, misfortune struck, mainly noticed with the missed handball in the first half that could’ve ended this game much differently. The absence of Chris Wondolowski up front was apparent in San Jose’s offensive intentions, as Dominic Kinnear and Co. find themselves fighting for a playoff spot past the season’s halfway mark. Portland is situated at third place in the Western Conference.
Goals
Portland: Jack Jewsbury 90'+1'
San Jose: None
Three moments that mattered
24’ — Missed handball — Shea Salinas curved in corner kick to the back post in casual fashion, and forward Mark Sherrod located the ball at the right point and headed it down toward goal. The attempt skipped past goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey and fell right onto the upper arm of Alvas Powell, who cleared the danger but managed to escape being called for a certain handball. If that occurred, a penalty kick might have changed the course of this game.
83’ — Thompson goes for PK — ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman went on to praise the quick turn toward goal executed by forward Tommy Thompson, and it was a well-timed exertion giving the youngster an opportunity to draw a foul with a defender breathing down his neck. Thompson did his best to try and sell the little contact he felt on his back. While there will be times when referees call a penalty in a similar situation, the Earthquakes didn’t have that luck here.
90’ +1’ — Timbers capitalize in stoppage time — It was a set-piece in a decent position that ultimately allowed Portland to utilize its opportunistic tendencies. Diego Valeri took a shot but fired it too low to score on the first crack. The ball deflected off of the post, and Jack Jewsbury hustled to tap it in from a tough angle. The endeavor squeezed into the back of the net, and the tired Earthquakes’ inactive defending costed them.
Lineups
Portland: Fanendo Adi (Maximiliano Urruti 79'); Adam Larsen Kwarasey; Alvas Powell, Norberto Paparatto, Liam Ridgewell, Jorge Villafana, Will Johnson, Jack Jewsbury, Dairon Asprilla (Rodney Wallace 73'), Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe (Gastón Fernández 84')
San Jose: Mark Sherrod (Adam Jahn 76'); David Bingham, Marvell Wynne, Victor Bernardez, Clarence Goodson, Jordan Stewart; Fatai Alashe, Shea Salinas, Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi, Tommy Thompson (J.J. Koval 90'+1'), Leandro Barrera (Shaun Francis 72')