MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2016
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Forecast: Partly cloudy, 65 degrees
Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Apolinar Mariscal Fourth Official: Alex Chilowicz
National TV: ROOT SPORTS
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst), Samantha Yarock (reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750 AM, 102.9 FM)
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Brett Jacobs (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
Saturday’s match marks the 15th meeting in MLS play between Portland and San Jose since 2011. In league play, Portland has posted a record of 5-2-7 against San Jose, including a mark of 4-0-3 in home matches.
Saturday’s game signifies the second contest of the season between the Timbers and the Earthquakes, with both sides previously facing each other in San Jose on March 13. In their first road game of the season, the Timbers generated 16 shots against San Jose, but were unable to overcome a two-goal deficit in a 2-1 defeat at Avaya Stadium.
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Portland Timbers fell 3-1 to FC Dallas before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on April 13. In their first loss at home to FC Dallas in seven regular-season games played since 2011 (4-1-2), the Timbers, who entered the match leading the league in chances created (65), produced 13 overall shots in the game, but FC Dallas took the lead in the third minute and recorded three goals in the first half to build a 3-0 lead.
LAST TIME VS. SAN JOSE
In their first away match of the 2016 regular-season, the Portland Timbers fell to the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 before 18,000 fans at Avaya Stadium on March 13, despite producing eight more shots than the Earthquakes with 16 overall attempts. Forward Jack McInerney, who made his Timbers debut in the second half, scored Portland’s lone goal in the 89th minute.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Dating back to the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes have a long history of competition. Playing in the NASL, the two sides squared off 18 times with the Timbers earning a 12-6-0 overall record. The largest margin of victory for either side in those days was a 5-0 home win for the Timbers in 1978.
Since 1975, the Timbers have compiled a 17-11-7 record against the Earthquakes in all competitions, including a mark of 5-2-7 in MLS matches. Additionally, since joining MLS, the Timbers have produced a seven-game unbeaten streak against the San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park (4-0-3).
SCOUTING SAN JOSE
Entering Saturday’s game, San Jose is unbeaten in five of its first six games to begin the 2016 regular-season. Since suffering a 3-1 defeat to the LA Galaxy on March 19, the Earthquakes have produced one win and two draws in their last three matches, tying D.C. United and FC Dallas before collecting three points in a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on April 13.
Forward Chris Wondolowski, who leads San Jose and MLS with five goals, found the back of the net for the fifth time in the Earthquakes 2-0 win against New York. The finish marked the 114th goal of his career, placing him in a tie with Ante Razov for the fourth most goals in MLS history. Forward Quincy Amarikwa, who has scored one goal this season, leads the Earthquakes in assists with three through six games played.
TIMBERS FIRST
In his Timbers home debut on April 13, defender Chris Klute recorded a career- high nine tackles during the game, marking the most by a Timbers player this season and the fourth-most by any MLS player in a single game in 2016.
FACING SAN JOSE
Among active players, midfielder Diego Valeri is tied for 14th place with three goals scored against the Earthquakes in three seasons played in MLS.
Additionally, Valeri, who leads the Timbers in shots this season, ranks sixth all-time among active players in the league for shots (35), second all-time for shots on target (16), and fourth all-time for assists (5) against the Earthquakes.
DEFENSIVE STALWART
Entering Saturday’s match, midfielder Diego Chara is ranked first in MLS for tackles won (22). In six games played this season, the Colombian midfielder, who has has played the full 90 minutes in each game, has been named to the MLS Team of the Week on two occasions.
After being named to the MLS Team of the Week for his comprehensive performance against Columbus Crew SC on March 6, Chara returned to the league’s weekly best 11 this week, after logging seven tackles, six ball recoveries and a 94 percent passing accuracy in the Timbers 1-1 draw against the Galaxy on April 10. During the Timbers midweek match against FC Dallas on April 13, Chara extend his lead atop the league standings for tackles with three more successful tackles.
PRECISE PASSING
According to Opta, the Portland Timbers currently rank eighth in MLS for passing accuracy, connecting nearly 80 percent of their passes. In five games played, the Timbers have made 1,751 successful passes.
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The Portland Timbers have compiled a 25-8-21 regular-season mark at Providence Park since 2013, with the team’s eight home losses being the second-fewest in MLS over the last three seasons, trailing only the LA Galaxy (4).
Since 2011, the Timbers have produced a seven-game unbeaten streak against the San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park, compiling a 4-0-3 regular-season record at home against San Jose.
Additionally, the Timbers have recorded three consecutive clean sheets at home against the Earthquakes, dating back to Oct. 8, 2014.
CLUTCH FACTOR
In their MLS era, the Timbers have recorded 20 goals against the San Jose Earthquakes. Of those 20 goals scored by the Timbers, 15 have occurred in the in the final 45 minutes of play. In their most recent match at Avaya Stadium on March 13, Timbers forward Jack McInerney scored in the 89th minute of play, recording his first goal of the season for Portland.
TIMBERS TRACK RECORD
Since the 2013 season, the Timbers are 13-3-11 in games immediately follow- ing a loss. Additionally, in the last three seasons, Portland has lost just 28 times in 108 league matches (42-28-38 overall).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Diego Valeri has scored 24 times for the Timbers. With his next finish, Valeri will move into a tie for seventh place across all eras (since 1975).
Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey currently ranks fifth in Portland history (since 1975) for shutouts. With his next clean sheet, Kwarasey will be tied for fourth place with Mick Poole and Josh Wicks on the Timbers all-time shutout list.
Additionally, with his next victory, Kwarasey will move into fifth place for goal- keeper wins in Portland history across all eras (since 1975).
With his next assist, midfielder Diego Chara will move into a tie for 13th place for assists with Brian Grant (1977-1982) and Stuart Lee (1980-1928) across all eras (since 1975).
With his next assist, midfielder Jack Jewsbury will rank 11th across all eras (since 1975) in Timbers history.
