Earthquakes’ season ends with a thud in 3-1 loss to the Timbers

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By Ana Kieu

There wasn’t an actual Decision Day as the San Jose Earthquakes’ season ended with a thud in a 3-1 loss to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon.

Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski scored the equalizer in the 39th minute to tie the score 1-1 just 10 minutes after Timbers defender Larrys Mabialia opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Wondo found the back of the net and scored from an acute angle for the game-tying goal. Wondo’s goal scoring streak now stands at 159.

Only Chris Wondolowski knows how he found the back of the net here. 👏👏

He scores from an acute angle to give the @SJEarthquakes life heading into the second half!

(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/QsLkJ4LnXk

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 6, 2019

The two teams headed to the locker room tied at one goal apiece at the halftime break.

Daniel Vega.

That's it. That's the tweet.#VamosSJ | #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/QUPYmKMhSY

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) October 6, 2019

The Timbers started off the right foot to start the second half. Portland went ahead 2-1 in the 59th minute, thanks to defender Dairon Asprilla, who scored the go-ahead goal. With the goal, Asprilla scored his second in two matches.

The Quakes made their first substitutions in the 61st minute. Shea Salinas came in for Vako, while Andy Rios came in for Florian Jungwirth.

The Quakes made their final substitution in the 66th minute. Danny Hoesen came in for Mario Lopez.

Timbers midfielder Sebastian Blanco extended the Timbers’ lead to 3-1 with a noteworthy free kick in the 75th minute. Like Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda, Blanco’s also an Argentine native.

The Timbers made two substitutions in the 81st minute. Marvin Loria and Zarek Valentin came in for Jeremy Ebobisse and Jorge Moreira, respectively.

The Quakes dropped their season finale with a 3-1 loss to the Timbers, but the Quakes displayed good sportsmanship to the Timbers and thanked their fans for being there through the thick and thin. The Quakes will watch tape, make changes and work hard to prepare for the 2020 season.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Trump says Rapinoe’s protest is inappropriate; War of words starting to brew between Trump and Rapinoe over protests; plus more

photo from time.com: Megan Rapinoe #15 of USA (center) and her teammates are standing for the national anthem during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Group F match between USA and Chile at Parc des Princes on June 16, 2019 in Paris, France.

On the Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 The war of tweets and words has initially begun at the US World Women’s soccer matches between President Trump and US Women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe originally took a knee during national anthems during the 2016 games. Now she stands without putting her hand over her heart unlike the rest of the teammates. Rapinoe said she will not visit the White House if the US team wins the championship. Trump says by her not doing it, Rapinoe is inappropriate and said she should win first before she talks.

#2 Rapinoe said that the reason she is protesting is because of unjustified treatment by police and law enforcement officials towards minorities and people of color. Rapinoe told American Soccer Now, “Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties.” With the World Cup going on, this will most likely not be the last of the stand off between Trump and Rapinoe.

#3 We asked London about the World Cup putting up signs on the scoreboard indicating that there will game delays for replay reviews. This lends to fans following the games and thinking that their team has the game in hand, but they’ll wait until a replay review has been called for.

#4 After going five straight games without a loss the San Jose Earthquakes lost to LAFC who took it to the Quakes with a 3-1 win in Los Angeles last week on Thursday. For LA, Adama Diomande scored twice, which led LAFC to the two-goal win.

#5 The Quakes continue their road trip tonight against Houston at Avaya Stadium in San Jose as they face the Dynamo. The Dynamo are in fifth place in the MLS West at 7-3-4. The Dynamo are 2-1-3 in their last six games and have lost their last two games to Minnesota and Portland.

London Marq covers the San Jose Earthquakes and does Headline Sports podcasting each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Virginia Tech Cavaliers shock the country; Will ankle problems plague Curry in postseason?; Sharks on ice for game one tonight; plus more

photo from yahoosports.com: Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) trips as New Orleans Pelicans guard Elfrid Payton (4) looks on during the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

On the Headline Sports podcast with London Marq:

#1 The Virginia Cavaliers are the college basketball champs of the NCAA. How surprising, what expectations, were as surprised and a game which the Cavs won it in overtime?

#2 It’s the ankle again. The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry, who hurt his ankle before turned his ankle on Tuesday night in New Orleans in the Warriors’ 112-103 win over the Pelicans. Head coach Steve Kerr says Curry should be alright for game one of the playoffs.

#3 The San Jose Sharks are coming off three wins of their last five games. The Sharks’ Erik Karlsson returned from his injury and Evander Kane looks like he’s got that old spark again. How do the Sharks look going into game one of the playoffs on Wednesday night?

#4 StubHub has announced that tickets could be had for as low as $6 in the lower stands at Oracle Park. The Giants are assured that their attendance would not drop no lower than 26,000 because they have sold season tickets to guarantee that crowd number. The Giants drew 28,000 their smallest crowd in recent memory against the Padres on Monday night. Lastly, it should be noted the Giants didn’t lay an egg on Tuesday night, getting six runs in the bottom of the second and a large lead to get past the Padres to pull within four games of .500. The Giants dropped Wednesday’s game 3-1 and fell five games below .500 at 4-9.

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes were able to pull off a huge win in a 3-0 shutout over the Portland Timbers on Saturday at Avaya Stadium. It was the Quakes first win of 2019 and our very own London Marq was there.

London does the Headline Sports podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Earthquakes shutout Timbers 3-0 for first win of season

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.

Paparatto helps Quakes

By Pearl Allison Lo

Two Portland Timbers went down in front of the net, and for Norberto Paparatto, it was from disbelief, as he headed the ball to give the San Jose Earthquakes a 1-0 win Sunday in both teams’ first Rose City Invitational game,

San Jose, while luckily and skillfully defending the multitude of chances in front of their net, were sporting their new red and white kit. It was their first win of the preseason.

Off a corner kick from Shea Salinas, Clarence Goodson took the pass from Sam Cronin, and headed the ball to Steven Lenhart in front of the net. Paparatto was trying to get the ball out in the 26th minute, as he collied with his goalie Donovan Ricketts. It would be the closest Ricketts would come to defending the ball during the game.

In the 7th minute, Portland’s Gaston Fernandez had a dangerous free kick. His teammates followed it by two more chances, the latter leading to a corner kick.

Though the Timbers controlled ball possession, once the ball got close enough to the box, it was stopped by Quakes players. Portland outshot San Jose 17-6 and Jon Busch made seven saves.

Both teams went from end to end at one point. Salinas nearly netted the ball, earning himself a corner kick. Victor Bernardez received a deflected ball, but Diego Chara blocked him. Maxilimiano Urruti got the ball up front and beat Busch who slid forward to defend, but a teammate got back and kicked the ball away before Urruti could get another chance.

Timbers’ Paul Kah nearly made it 2-0.

Busch, the other half of defensive equation, made crucial saves as well, in the final 15 minutes, including stoppage time. The quickness of Portland’s attack at one point, even stupefied Fernandez, who received the ball unknowingly, three times, spaced just a second apart.

After the 90th minute, the Timbers got the ball to a player right in front of the net twice, but they were unable to convert.

Game notes: The Quakes were without Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi and Portland without Will Johnson. It was the first time this preseason Busch played all game. It was a physical match, 27 fouls in all, with San Jose awarded four yellows. Last Thursday, the Quakes and San Jose Sharks played their own friendly of Olympic curling. The hockey team won 4-2. Wednesday at 5p, San Jose will next face Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Game 2 of the invitational.