PORTLAND, Ore. – The San Jose Earthquakes conceded two first half goals and fell 2-0 to the Portland Timbers in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Providence Park Tuesday night.
The Timbers nearly jumped onto the scoreboard just seven minutes into the match. Portland midfielder Jack Barmby got free behind the Quakes defense with Kofi Sarkodie closing him down. He slid a ball across the face of goal, but Fatai Alashe came up with a sliding clearance to end the threat.
Shea Salinas had San Jose’s first big chance just minutes later. Cordell Cato found Innocent down the right wing, and after beating one defender, he dropped a pass to Salinas 10 yards from goal. Salinas’ shot sailed over the near post.
Quakes goalkeeper Bryan Meredith got down low to keep the Timbers off the board midway through the first stanza. Dairon Asprilla cut in from the left wing onto his right foot and ripped a low shot to the far post. Meredith dove to his left to make the stop and keep the match even.
The Timbers grabbed a 1-0 lead after a deflection in the box fell to the foot of Asprilla. Barmby sent a cross into the box, but Matheus Silva’s clearance deflected off Jack McInerney and dropped to Asprilla, who one-timed a shot underneath Meredith and into the net. The goal came in the 34th minute.
McInerney pushed the advantage to 2-0 with a well-taken free kick from the top of the box. He blasted a right-footed shot into the near post past a diving Meredith in the 40th minute.
Salinas created a great opportunity with under 20 minutes to go after beating Taylor Peay off the dribble on the left wing. Peay fouled Salinas to set up a free kick deep in Timbers territory. On the ensuing set piece, Salinas drove a low cross into the area that was just cleared away by the Timbers defense before a host of Quakes attackers could get there.
The Quakes return to MLS action this Saturday, June 18 when they head to Orlando to take on Orlando City SC. The match kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT live on CSN California, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
Notes:
- The Earthquakes were unbeaten in Open Cup play in Portland coming into the match, earning victories in 2004 (3-0) and 2005 (2-0) when Portland was a member of the USL. They also defeated the Timbers May 3, 2011 in Portland in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match on an overtime goal from Ike Opara in the 120th minute.
- The Earthquakes have now played in the U.S. Open Cup 13 times in team history and they currently hold a 14-13 all-time record in U.S. Open Cup play. The Quakes best finish in the tournament came in 2004 when they advanced to the semifinals before losing to the Kansas City Wizards 1-0. Ronald Cerritos is the club’s all-time leader in goals in Open Cup competition with four. The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 100 consecutive years dating back to 1914. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP FOURTH ROUND
Portland Timbers 2 - San Jose Earthquakes 0
June 14, 2016 – Providence Park in Portland, OR
Attendance: 16,834
Scoring Summary: POR – Dairon Asprilla (Jack McInerney) 34; POR – Jack McInerney (unassisted) 40.
Misconduct Summary: POR – Taylor Peay (caution) 71; SJ – Adam Jahn (caution) 83; SJ – Jordan Stewart (caution) 88.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Bryan Meredith, Cordell Cato, Victor Bernardez (Marvell Wynne 60), Matheus Silva, Kofi Sarkodie, Innocent (Matias Perez Garcia 68), Fatai Alashe, Tommy Thompson, Shea Salinas, Chad Barrett (Jordan Stewart 78), Adam Jahn.
SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 0; SAVES: 5; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 4.
PORTLAND TIMBERS: Jake Gleeson, Taylor Peay, Amobi Okugo, Liam Ridgewell, Zarek Valentin, Dairon Asprilla, Jack Jewsbury, Ben Zemanski, Jack Barmby (Ned Grabavoy 61), Diego Valeri (Darren Mattocks 71), Jack McInerney (Neco Brett 86).
SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; SAVES: 0; FOULS: 7; CORNER KICKS: 0; OFFSIDES: 5.
