The Portland Timbers have now earned 13 points out of the last 15 possible, and scored exactly two goals for the sixth straight game, in a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. Evander and Cristhian Paredes would have the Timbers goals, while Matthew Hoppe would net the lone goal for the Earthquakes.
The Timbers would control much of early play, in fact they’d control play much of the night, outshooting San Jose by a 19-6 total. Evander had a few good early chances from the Timbers, with his best coming in the 25th minute when his curling free kick from just outside the Earthquakes box was stopped by a nice save by San Jose goalkeeper Daniel.
Despite having several good chances throughout the first half, it took until first half stoppage time for the Timbers to get on the board, when on a counterattck, Franck Boli played, the ball to Brian Acosta, who one-timed a pass in front of goal to Cristhian Paredes, who redirected the pass past Daniel and into the net, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead, which would be the score at the halftime break.
Claudio Bravo would have a few good chances early in the half, but his first shot was high, and his second was easily saved. But in the 58th minute the Timbers would make their pressure pay off again, when a shot by Sebastián Blanco was blocked by a defender, but Evander was there to jump on the rebound, chipping it softly over the San Jose keeper, and the Timbers lead was now 2-0.
But that two-goal lead wouldn’t last long. when just two minutes later, a shot from Cristian Espinoza was saved by Timbers goalkeeper David Bingham, but the rebound fell to the feet of Matthew Hoppe, who tapped in from close range, and the Timbers lead was now 2-1.
Both teams would have reasonable scoring chances through the remainder of the match, but neither team seriously threatened to score, and the Timbers would take the 2-1 win.
