Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes
By Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE–If the San Jose Earthquakes (1-5-2) didn’t have bad luck, they wouldn’t have any luck at all. Diego Valeri scored the game-winning (and only) goal for the Portland Timbers (3-3-2) in the 88th minute to propel Portland to a 1-0 victory on Saturday evening at Avaya Stadium. It was the third loss in a row for San Jose, whose winless streak extended to seven games.
Valeri, the Argentinian forward, received a free kick was he was fouled by a Quakes defender on a controversial platy during an on-coming rush. He didn’t waste his chance as he buried the ball into the upper right corner of the goal for the game-winner.
Both teams traded chances early in the game with Timbers forward Fanendo Adi sent in a shot from the top of the D that hit off the right corner of the post in the eighth minute. Quakes forward Danny Hoesen, who received a nice feed from Vako from just outside the D, had his shot on goal stopped by Timbers goalie Jeff Attinella just a minute later.
“It’s definitely frustrating to not get a victory after so long”, said defenseman Shea Salinas on his team’s seven-game winless streak. “So we gotta look at the things we’re doing well and be more consistent with it.”
The Timbers controlled play between the 18th minute and 23rd minutes with Sebastian Blanco shot from 30 yards away was easily handled by Quakes goalie Andrew Tarbell in the 18th minute. Larrys Mabiala header attempt sailed high over the goal from a set piece in the 22nd minute. Adi sent a shot wide a minute later as Portland created sustained pressure in the Quakes defensive zone.
The Quakes would then tilt the pitch in their favor the next five minutes when Magnus Eriksson led a rush that ended in Nick Lima blasting a shot from the right corner that sailed off the top of the crossbar in the 25th minute.
The best chance for San Jose came when Mabiala tripped up Vako just outside the D box in the 29th minute. His free kick just trickled wide of the goal that beat Attinella to the right side.
The Quakes would keep the pressure on three minutes later when a shot from Hoesen ricochet off a Timbers defender on to the foot of Vako. His shot was stopped by a diving Attinella in the 32nd minute.
Portland would respond with two late chances right before halftime. Cristhian Paredes’ shot in the 44th minute from 20 yards out was turned away by Tarbell. Adi then took a centering feed and his chip shot sailed wide in the 45 minute.
San Jose would control the tempo in the second half. Hoesen took a centering pass into the goal box and his header attempt was saved by Attinella. The chance came off a free kick which was a result of a yellow card issued to Diego Chara in the 53rd minute.
Hoesen then sent cross pass into Wondolowski in the 56th minute but Wondolowski’s chip shot went wide.
Christopher Wehan, who made his MLS debut in the 71st minute, sent in a shot pass from 20 yards out that deflected off Quincy Amarikwa’s foot out of play in the 76th minute.
The Quakes made a late push in the final ten minutes of the game with chances before Valeri’s goal, including a couple of chances in stoppage time but could never get the ball into the back of the net.
“I’m super disappointed from the result perspective”, said head coach Mikael Stahre. “The only thing we can do is move forward, analyze, practice harder, and hopefully we can get a victory soon.”
GAME NOTES: Scratches for Quakes- M – Tommy Thompson (illness); D – Yeferson Quintana (ankle), M – Eric Calvillo (knee) For Timber- D – Roy Miller (left Achilles tendon), F – Jeremy Ebobisse (right thigh); D – Vytas (right thigh), D – Bill Tuiloma (right knee), M – David Guzman (right knee)
San Jose Earthquakes legend, and current color commentator, Chris Dangerfield was elected into the Quakes Hall of Fame during a ceremony at halftime.
Hoesen has three goals, including the team leader with three this season, in this last eight appearances for the Earthquakes. He had eight in his first 31 games with the team.
Paredes was issued a yellow card in one minute into stoppage time in the 1st half. Anibal Godoy was issued a yellow card in the 69th minute after a tackle on Chara.
Wehan came in on a substitution for Wondolowski.
The last time the Earthquakes have gone seven consecutive MLS games without a win was Aug. 19-Sept. 28, 2016.
The Timbers won their first MLS road game since a 1-0 victory on Sept. 9, 2017 at New York City FC. Including the postseason, they are now 1-5-3 and have been outscored 16-9 since then.
Portland leads the overall series 9-4-7 against San Jose. The Quakes are 4-2-4 at home against the Timbers.
The announced attendance was 17,850.
UP NEXT: The Quakes are back on the road as they travel to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota United FC on Saturday, May 12 at 11 am PT at TCF Bank Stadium.
