AP Photo: San Jose Earthquakes players celebrate a victory over the Portland Timbers at Avaya Stadium in San Jose on Saturday night
By London Marq
SAN JOSE–It’s usually good when the games throughout the season continually get more important. For the San Jose Earthquakes that has been the case this season. A rocky start to their campaign led to a midseason coaching change. They have since played a higher quality of soccer and climbed themselves into the playoff hunt. After two consecutive losses, in both of which the Quakes allowed four goals, they are on the outside looking in.
Tonight, they play the first of the final three games this season and they need every point they can get in the standings. Darlington Nagbe and the second seeded Portland Timbers come into Avaya Stadium as a formidable opponent. Not only a chance to for San Jose to prove they belong to be mentioned with the best despite their early season shortcomings, but also a chance to be proven wrong and knocked out of the hunt.
The Earthquakes came out of the locker room with fierce energy, striking for the goal immediately after the opening whistle. In the 16th minute, the Quakes opening salvo came from Valeri Qazaishvili. His third goal of the season. The crowd exploded and nearly blew the top off the stadium. Unlike we have seen in the past, San Jose did not ease up after the first goal. Wondolowski, Bernardez, and Hyka continued to push the issue. It paid off in the opening minutes of the second half, when Wondolowski fed a beautiful cross to Danny Hoesen who put a far post shot into the bottom left corner.
After San Jose obtained a two-goal lead, the match became more physical and two yellow cards were dealt out. One to Bernardez of San Jose and one to Andriuskevicius of Portland. The Timbers fought hard to make it a game but never got into a rhythm as the San Jose Defense kept them off balance. They would score in the 87th minute of the foot of Blanco, but it was too little too late. The game would end six minutes later 2-1.
A win tonight not only improves the Earthquakes standing from 8 to 7, but it should also be a confidence boost signaling that they have the talent to compete with anyone in Major League Soccer. The final two games are crucial to the team’s playoff aspirations. The next match is against the West leading Vancouver Whitecaps 16 days from now on October 15.
Sports Radio Service 