PORTLAND – The Portland Timbers’ second win of the season was far from artistic. Portland’s first goal was all about hustle, the second took a fortunate deflection. But in terms of fighting spirit, Saturday’s 3-1 win over San Jose was something to admire.
They survived injuries to goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey and winger Darren Mattocks and the late game dismissal of Diego Valeri. They survived a few shaky moments in a scoreless first half. And when San Jose got late life from a Chris Wondolowski penalty kick, the latest combination of Timbers defenders stood tall.
Zarek Valentin, who had a solid game at right back in place of injured Alvas Powell, said that games against physical opponents such as San Jose can be difficult.
“You’ve got to grind it out. Sometimes it’s ugly football, but those things get results,” Valentin said.
Coach Caleb Porter said his team might not have gotten this important win if not for McInerney’s goal in the 52nd minute. It came at the end of a quick counter attack that included three less-than-precise touches before McInerney was able to win the ball with a slide tackle and score.
“I just saw the ball in front of me and a defender between me and the goal and I knew if I coulde win the ball I’d be in on goal,” McInerney said. “I don’t think it was the prettiest goal but at the end of the day we’ll take it and take the three points.”
Powell’s absence meant a new back four again. Valentin started at right back, his most comfortable position along the back line. The result, perhaps understandably was a start that Porter described as “nervy” while the Timbers tried to avoid early mistakes.
As the night wore on, the Timbers seemed to get more settled. One key was the ability of Valentin and left back Chris Klute to limit the crosses the Earthquakes like to send to the front of the goal.
“We didn’t have to deal with as many dangerous crosses because those guys were tight, those guys shut down their wingers on many occasions and made it easy for us,” Nat Borchers said.
Not that the win came easy. Leading 2-0 as the clock ticked past 90 minutes – but with eight extra minutes coming because of the injuries – referee Chris Penso called Borchers for fouling Wondolowski and awarded the penalty kick that set up a frantic finish. Borchers had a handful of Wondolowski’s jersey, but disagreed with the decision.
Borchers said Wondolowski lobbied Penso before the play, telling the referee that Borchers was being too physical.
“I don’t know what (Wondolowski’s) hands were doing either. I’m sure he had a piece of me,” Borchers said. “I was backing into him and he fell over and I fell over. I think it’s a tough call, personally.”
Borchers and Valentin both praised the job Jake Gleeson did off the bench.
“Jake’s an experienced goalkeeper. (He) made great decisions. I thought he was outstanding,” Borchers said.
Porter said he wasn’t certain, but that Kwarasey might have torn a ligament in his finger. The coach did not have a postgame update on Mattocks, whose head met the shoulder of San Jose defender Victor Bernardez. Mattocks needed help to walk to the locker room.
Through it all, the Timbers found a way to get a win that might be one of the more emotionally significant when this season has played out.
“We’ve been giving up goals, and we’ve been rotating different guys in, so you could see a little bit we’re working out some kinks in that back group,” Porter said. “But I couldn’t be more proud of the guys. This is a gut-check time, and the guys responded like they always do: showed their character, showed their mental toughness and we showed our depth and our resiliency.”
NOTE — Darlington Nagbe, who made a surprisingly quick return to training after Sunday’s injury in Los Angeles, was not in the Timbers 18 on Saturday. Dairon Asprilla was in the 18 after missing two games with a foot injury.
