A game-winning goal from midfielder Will Johnson in the second half capped a dominating performance by the Portland Timbers in a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes before a sell-out crowd of 20,674 at JELD-WEN Field on Sunday night. Johnson delivered the game's lone goal in the 78th minute, scoring directly off a free kick. His third goal in three games highlighted Portland's overall performance, in which it maintained a season-high 64.3 percent of the possession and scored a league-leading ninth second-half goal. The Timbers extend their unbeaten run to four matches with their second straight victory. Portland (2-1-3, 9pts) held San Jose (2-3-2, 8pts) to just six shot attempts in the match - a new season-low by an opponent - and recorded a second straight shutout. The Timbers have kept opponents scoreless for 222 consecutive minutes. Johnson matched a career-best with his third goal of the season, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts logged three saves to earn his second clean sheet and midfielder Darlington Nagbe attempted a team-high three shots to help the Timbers climb into third place in the Western Conference standings. A free kick from just beyond the arch set up the Timbers' winning strike. Johnson hit a shot that curled just over the Earthquakes wall and tucked inside the left post, just beyond the reach of San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch. With Johnson's winner, the Timbers remain one of just five clubs in MLS that have yet to be shutout this season. Forward Chris Wondolowski and midfielder Ramiro Corrales each recorded a team-best two shots for San Jose. Forward Alan Gordon was sent off in the 69th minute after receiving his second caution of the match for an elbow to the face of Timbers defender Mikael Silvestre while going for a ball in the air; the Earthquakes finished with 10 players. The capacity crowd marked the 38th consecutive sellout at JELD-WEN Field since the Timbers joined MLS in 2011. The Timbers and Earthquakes cap a two-match, home-and-home set Sunday, April 21, at Buck Shaw Stadium at 8 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS and nationally on UniMás (Spanish), with live radio broadcasts available on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM. Notes: * With the win over the Earthquakes, the Timbers moved past five other clubs and into third place in the Western Conference standings. * Sunday's match marked the first of three regular-season matches between Portland and San Jose in 2013. The Timbers are unbeaten in the all-time MLS series against the Earthquakes, posting a 2-0-4 record since joining MLS in 2011. * Will Johnson matched a career-high with his third goal of the season; it was his third goal scored in the last three matches. * Johnson's strike was the first goal scored by the Timbers this season directly off a free kick and was also the club's first goal scored from outside the penalty area. * Portland has scored nine second-half goals this season, which is tied for the most in MLS with Chivas USA. The Timbers' 10 overall goals scored this season is tied for second-most in the league. * The Timbers are one of just five teams in MLS that have yet to be shutout this season. * With the win, the Timbers are unbeaten in their last four matches. The club's four-match unbeaten run is tied for the second-longest unbeaten streak in the league this season. FC Dallas is currently on a league-best, five-match unbeaten streak. * Portland's four-game unbeaten streak is one result shy of tying its longest unbeaten run as an MLS side of five matches (Aug. 20-Sept. 21, 2011). During the team's record five-game stretch, Portland earned a 3-0-2 record. The Timbers are 2-0-2 on the current run. * The Timbers held a season-high 64.3 percent of the possession against San Jose, besting their previous season-high of 62.8 percent in the season opener March 3 against New York. * The Timbers defense recorded its second straight shutout in the win over the Earthquakes, and has held opponents scoreless for 222 consecutive minutes. * On Sunday, the Timbers earned consecutive shutouts for the first time since May 5-12, 2012, when the club recorded back-to-back scoreless draws against Columbus and Houston, respectively. * The Earthquakes attempted six shots in the match, a new season-low by a Timbers opponent. * The Timbers have not allowed more than three shots on goal by an opponent in four straight matches. * Portland has recorded 10 or more shots in 35 consecutive home games. * Defender Futty Danso made his first start of the season for the Timbers against the Earthquakes; it was his 33rd career MLS start. * Midfielder Rodney Wallace made his second consecutive start of the season Sunday against San Jose; it was his 50th career appearance as a member of the Timbers. * Johnson and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts are the only two Portland players who have played every minute of the first six matches of the regular season. * Ricketts recorded his 49th career win on Sunday night, moving to within one of his milestone 50th career MLS regular-season victory. The win also marked his 34th career MLS shutout.
Apparently Gordon was caught on camera calling Johnson a gay slur, so even if his elbow wasn't intentional, he more than deserved getting sent off.
