The Portland Timbers drew 1-1 with the San Jose Earthquakes in an ugly match at Providence Park on Wednesday. Javier “Chofis” Lopez had the lone goal for the Earthquakes while Felipe Mora had the leveling goal for the Timbers.
San Jose would get the first good chance in the 13th minute when Cade Cowell got through down the right side, but his tight-angle shot was kept out by a good save by Steve Clark. But in the 24th minute, a similar tight-angle shot from Cristian Espinoza was fumbled by Clark, and then easily finished into an open net by Javier “Chofis” Lopez for the 1-0 San Jose lead.
The Timbers nearly responded a minute later when Felipe Mora played through Yimmi Chara, who cut back at the top of the box and had an open shot, but slipped his shot just wide left. On the ensuing corner kick, Bill Tuiloma would have a good chance on an open header, but it was stopped by a great reaction save by San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.
In the 42nd minute, San Jose had a great chance to widen their lead when Espinoza slipped in behind the Timbers defense, but was kept out by a kick save by Timbers goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič, who had come on to replace an injured Clark.
Then at the very end of first half stopped, a Timbers corner kick by Yimmi Chara was flicked towards the far post by Tuiloma, and then one-timed into the net by Mora, and the Timbers and San Jose went into the half tied at 1-1.
In the 64th minute, Sebastían Blanco played Yimmi Chara through on a run down the right side, but his one timer was just over the bar. Three minutes later the visitors had a great chance when Espinoza has an open look from 12 yards out, but Ivačič made a nice reaction save.
In what had been an increasingly ugly second half, things got very ugly when Diego Chara received a second yellow card in just a few minutes on a foul just outside the Timbers box, and the rest of the match had lots of yelling and push and shoving, and though Ivačič had to come through with a few late saves, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
I apologize for the poor quality of tonight’s photos as I had camera problems this evening.
MATCH RECAP | Portland Timbers 1, San Jose Earthquakes 1 | Timbers Website
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | Portland Timbers 1, San Jose Earthquakes 1 | Aug. 4, 2021 | Timbers Website
