The Portland Timbers extended their unbeaten run to five games and remain unbeaten on the road this season, playing the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-1 draw behind a goal from midfielder Diego Valeri on Sunday night at Buck Shaw Stadium. With the draw, the Timbers matched their MLS club record for their longest unbeaten streak at five games. Portland also matched their longest road unbeaten streak as an MLS side at four games, dating back to the 2012 season. The Timbers struck for the opening goal in the 58th minute, with Valeri finishing from close range after buildup through the Earthquakes' defensive half. Portland's defense held firm against San Jose's attack throughout the match, allowing just five shots on goal and enduring nine corner kicks. But Earthquakes substitute Adam Jahn snuck in the equalizer in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to level the score at 1-1. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made a season-high four saves, Valeri tallied his second goal of the season and recorded three shots on goal for the Timbers (2-1-4, 10pts). Portland currently owns the longest road unbeaten streak in MLS this season (3 games) and is the only club in the league without a road loss in 2013. Jahn notched his second goal of the season and forwards Chris Wondolowski and Steven Lenhart combined for six shots for the Earthquakes (2-3-3, 9pts), who salvaged a point to extend their current home unbeaten run to four games. The Timbers scored their MLS-best 10th second-half goal to stake a 1-0 lead. A buildup led to a penetrating run into the box by forward Ryan Johnson. As Johnson tried to work around a defender, the ball was deflected into the air and fell onto the path of Valeri in the center of the penalty area. Valeri was the first to the free ball and poked it past San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch. In second-half stoppage time, a long ball played over the top was knocked around Portland's penalty area before rolling out to Jahn in space inside the box. The rookie forward hammered home the equalizer. Prior to Jahn's attempt, the Timbers defense had not allowed a shot on goal since the 74th minute. Jahn's strike ended Portland's consecutive shutout run at 312 minutes, the second-longest shutout streak in MLS this season. Ricketts made two big saves in the first half. He knocked an open look by Wondolowski from inside the box in the 22nd minute over the goal. Ricketts also made a kick save on a shot from near the edge of the box by Lenhart in the second minute of the match. The Timbers remain on the road for their next match, visiting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). That match at Sporting KC will be televised on KPDX and in Spanish on estrellaTV, with radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM. Notes: * The Timbers matched their MLS club record for their longest unbeaten streak at five games with the draw against the Earthquakes, the mark was first set Aug. 20-Sept. 21, 2011. * The Timbers' five-game unbeaten run is tied for the second-longest in MLS this season. FC Dallas' current six-game unbeaten streak leads the league. * Portland also matched its MLS club mark for longest road unbeaten streak at four games, dating back to the 2012 season. * The Timbers are unbeaten on the road this season (through 3 matches) and own the league's longest road unbeaten streak in 2013. Portland is also the lone club in the league without a road loss on the campaign. * Through the first seven games of the 2013 season, the Timbers have scored more goals (11) and conceded fewer goals (9) than through the first seven games of either of their first two MLS seasons in 2011 and 2012. * Sunday's matchup was the seventh all-time, regular-season meeting between the Timbers and Earthquakes, and just the third game played in San Jose. Portland is unbeaten in the all-time MLS series against San Jose since joining MLS with a record of 2-0-5, including an 0-0-3 mark at Buck Shaw Stadium. * The Timbers have scored first in all three of their matches against the Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium. * Midfielder Diego Valeri made his return to the Starting XI after sitting out the April 14 match against San Jose due to a head injury sustained against Houston on April 6. He led the club in shots, shots on goal and scored his second goal of the campaign on Sunday. * Valeri's second-half strike was the Timbers' league-leading 10th second-half goal this season. * Coming in the 58th minute, Valeri's goal was the fourth goal scored by the Timbers this season during the first 15 minutes of the second half - which leads MLS for goals scored during that time interval (46-60 minutes). * Portland's 11 goals scored overall in 2013 are tied for second-most in MLS. * With 50.7 percent of the possession against the Earthquakes, the Timbers have had the majority of the possession in each of their first seven games this season. Portland posted a season-high 64.7 percent of the possession against San Jose last weekend (April 14) at JELD-WEN Field. * The Timbers are one of just three clubs in MLS (FC Dallas and Philadelphia are the others) who have yet to be shutout this season. * Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made his 110th career MLS regular-season start on Sunday and posted a season-high four saves against the Earthquakes. * San Jose's goal in second-half stoppage time ended the Timbers' run of consecutive shutout play at 312 minutes, which is the second-longest shutout streak in MLS this season behind Sporting KC's 546 minute shutout run. * The goal by Earthquakes forward Adam Jahn was the latest goal allowed by the Timbers this season. Previously, the Timbers had not allowed a goal beyond the 60-minute mark. * Portland has only allowed three second-half goals this season - tied for second-fewest in the league. Only Sporting KC and Seattle have allowed fewer (1) in the second half. * Portland wore its secondary Rose City Red kits on Sunday, with the red-white-white combination making its season debut. The Timbers wore their Rose City Red kits at Seattle, but wore the red-red-white combination.
I know a draw on the road is good, but an unsatisfying feeling right after given the game. Next day, still wish they got the win. But I'm impressed so far with the early play of the Timbers. They are a totally different team and I am really enjoying this ball possession breaking the defense down with short passes type of offense. Don't watch a lot of soccer, but thinking the Timbers are a playoff team.
