Match Thoughts Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes

Portland's Eric Alexander and San Jose's Chris Wondolowski. (AP Photo)

The San Jose Earthquakes have looked to be near invincible at times this year.  They've been the best team in MLS at getting the crucial goal or the crucial stop just when they've needed it.  Their last two victims, RSL and the LA Galaxy, could testify to as much.   On the other hand, Portland was coming off of a 3 goal pounding at the hands of Colorado, and they needed this match in a big way.

Coach Jon Spencer had them playing like they needed it pretty much right out of the gate.  Portland moved the ball with a lot of confidence against the San Jose defense and looked poised to carve out some chances.  The first of them came in minute seven, as Franck Songo'o hit a shot on target that forced a save out of David Bingham in the San Jose net.  

That didn't quite wake the Quakes up enough.  In the 15th minute Eric Alexander found his way through the blue clad defense and hit a shot that rattled off the post and away from danger.  Then in the 22nd minute Darlington Nagbe took a little a drop off pass from Kris Boyd in the area, but banged his shot over the bar.  He probably puts that on frame eight out of ten times.

The Timbers kept up the pressure and finally broke through in the 29th minute.  The Rose City men sprung a nice looking counter up their right side and Songo'o picked out newcomer Danny Mwanga with a pass into the box.  The former Union man perfectly timed a right footed strike into the top of the net to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead over San Jose, and that score held into the break.

The Timbers had a great chance to build on their solid first half right off the bat in the second.  In minute 48, both Nagbe and Alexander had good looks blocked, and the second rebound fell to Lovell Palmer, who smacked a shot on target only to have Bingham make the save. 

However in the 59th they did succeed in doubling their lead.  It's important to note that John Busch, the regular San Jose keeper, was out with an eye injury.  Backup David Bingham dropped the ball after saving a shot from Futty Danso and Timbers Captain Jack Jewsbury was there to escort the ball over the line to make it 2-0 to Portland.

It's never over against the Quakes though.  They subbed Steven Lenhart into the match, and the Sideshow commenced.  He made an immediate impact, smacking a shot just over the bar in minute 64.  Ten minutes after that, Marvin Chavez had his shot blocked, but the ever opportunistic Alan Gordon was right there to bang home the rebound and make it 2-1 with 15 minutes left.

The Quakes put a lot pf pressure on the Portland goal throughout those last 15 minutes.  Unfortunately for them, the breaks just didn't fall their way.  They did get an obscene SIX MINUTES of stoppage time, but only fashioned one chance.  In the 93rd minute Gordon got a header shot toward net off of a free kick, but it sailed wide and the Timbers held on for the 2-1 win.