PORTLAND — The Portland Timbers controlled much of the possession in a physical affair against the San Jose Earthquakes Sunday evening at Providence Park.
And in the 91st minute they finally broke through with a Jack Jewsbury goal to beat the Quakes 1-0.
Possession is nine tenths of the law, but none of Portland’s attacks had that final fraction of quality, until stoppage time.
The winner from Jewsbury in the first minute of stoppage time came from good timing as he directed a deflection from a free kick into the back of the net.
Twice before, a Timbers possession ended with the ball in the back of the net and twice it was disallowed for a late-offsides call.
The first five minutes set the tone as Liam Ridgewell left the field with an apparent head injury. Trainers wrapped his head in a bandage that looked like he had just come back from a Civil War infirmary.
Norberto Paparatto would also require a large bandage to keep seal up a cut.
In the 23rd minute, the Timbers received were handed a life line against one of the few dangerous Earthquakes counter attacks of the night.
As the shot approached the line, it was deflected by Alvas Powell. But replays looked as though Powell had gotten a hand on the ball.
Both teams got away with playing with fire on a sweltering night in Portland.
In the 40th minute when Diego Valeri — at the time surprised to find himself apparently onside — got a breakaway.
Valeri took the flick pass from Fanendo Adi down the field before putting away the ball for a goal.
The Timbers Army exploded, but the line judge had his flag up and the goal was disallowed.
The Army got even more vulgar when an elbow to the face of right wing Dairon Asprilla went uncalled for a foul.
The calls could not stop Portland’s momentum, which had taken the Timbers closer and closer towards a scoring opportunity.
The Timbers controlled 62 percent of the possession in the first half, according to Opta statistics — but in terms of quality attacks, the teams were equal.
The Timbers continued to pepper the San Jose’s goal with shots and rarely relinquished possession.
The Earthquakes had found life through counter attacks in the first 45 minutes, but that rebellious spirit was more or less contained in the second half.
