Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: London Marq

SAN JOSE, Calif. — After being trounced five goals to none in their last match by the table-topping Los Angeles Football Club, the San Jose Earthquakes found themselves four games into the regular season without a win. Without doubt it has been a disappointing start to this season and the Quakes hope to make some winning adjustments as they hosted the Portland Timbers at Avaya Stadium Saturday. Both Portland and San Jose entered play without win, providing both teams with an opportunity to get their first three points.

Right out of the gate, San Jose looked like a different team as they found each other for offensive chances early and demonstrated better communication than we’ve seen from them so far this year. The improvement in play had Portland on the back foot early. San Jose was having success moving the ball deep in the wide areas and in the 15th minute Cristian Espinoza put dribbled the ball down the goal line and passed the ball into the goal box where Shea Salinas was waiting for the easy score to put the Quakes up 1-0 early.

Portland responded by being more physical on the ball and San Jose matched their intensity. Between the 26th and 28th minutes, a yellow card was handed out to both teams. The game would remain throughout as 29 total fouls and four total yellow cards were dealt by the referees.

San Jose would continue to be effective in the wide offensive areas. In the 33rd minute, Quakes striker Danny Hoesen slammed the ball into the net after Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella had the ball bounce off his feet.  It was Hoesen’s first start of season and with it came his first goal of the campaign as well. The Quakes weren’t done scoring either. Just a minute later, midfielder Cristian Espinoza made a run after intercepting a pass and slotted the ball low into the near corner right past Attinella.

Portland would have their chances to bulge the net as well. In the 55th minute, Portland was awarded a penalty after a handball in the box. Portland striker Diego Valeri would step up to take it, but Quakes goalie Daniel Vega would be equal to it and keep the Timbers scoreless. San Jose was a few inches away from scoring a fourth goal by hometown favorite Nick Lima, but the goal was called back after a replay review ruled that Espinoza was offsides.

No goals would be scored in the second half and the Quakes would win their first match of the season. Quakes coach Matias Almeyda and the team were all smiles during the postgame activities. Hoesen expressed that it felt great to get the win, but there was still much work to do. Almeyda made some excellent adjustments starting three players–Hoesen, winger Shea Salinas, and defender Florian Jungwirth–for the first time this season. With any luck, the adjustments and success will translate when they are on the road next week, taking on the Houston Dynamo.

Final: San Jose defeated Portland 3-0.

Up Next: San Jose takes on Houston next Saturday at 12 pm PT.