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Timbers Defeat Earthquakes 2-1

July 4, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS) Portland Timbers

PORTLAND, Ore. - Forward Danny Mwanga and defender Jack Jewsbury scored their first goals of the season as the Portland Timbers defeated the MLS-leading San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 before a sellout crowd of 20,438 at JELD-WEN Field on Tuesday night and extended their home unbeaten streak to six games.

Mwanga, making his first home start as a member of the Timbers, struck for the opening goal inside the first 30 minutes of the match and Jewsbury deposited a loose ball into the back of the net before the hour mark to stake the Timbers (5-7-4, 19pts) to a 2-0 lead over the Earthquakes (11-4-3, 36pts). Forward Alan Gordon pulled one back for San Jose in the 74th minute, but the Timbers' defense held the league's best offense to just three shots on goal to preserve the 2-1 win, ending the Earthquakes' three-game winning streak.

The Timbers struck for the opening goal for a fourth straight home match, taking a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute. On a counter attack, midfielder Eric Alexander sprung midfielder Franck Songo'o down the right touchline. Songo'o chipped in a cross to Mwanga in on a run at the near post. With one touch, Mwanga re-directed the ball into the top far corner of the goal, beating a diving effort by Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham.

A set piece from near midfield by Songo'o in the 59th minute lifted the Timbers to a 2-0 advantage. The ball carried into box, where defender Futty Danso and Bingham challenged for it and the two players collided sending the ball bouncing towards the goal line. Jewsbury came rushing in on the back side and poked the ball into the back of the net as he slid across the line.

Gordon scored his sixth goal of the season in the 74th minute to cut the Timbers' lead in half. A cross in from the left side by defender Justin Morrow, was cleared out and fell to the feet of midfielder Marvin Chavez at the top of the box. Chavez sent a bouncing shot back into the area, but the ball took a slight deflection off a Timbers player near the six-yard box. Gordon was in the mix and ensured the ball found its way into the goal.

Portland narrowly missed two other scoring opportunities in the first half. In the 15th minute, Alexander drove a right-footed from inside the box off the base of the left post. Defender David Horst had a bouncing header off a corner kick saved off the line by Earthquakes midfielder Rafael Baca.

The Timbers return to the road Saturday for a third game in eight days, taking on Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium; kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday's context will be televised live on KPDX, in Spanish on Estrella TV and across the Portland Timbers Television Network. Live local radio broadcasts will be available on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

Notes:

* The Timbers played in their 50th league match as an MLS club on Tuesday against San Jose. * Portland is unbeaten in their last six home MLS matches, posting a 4-0-2 record in that span. The club's current streak ties its MLS record for longest home unbeaten streaks set from July 30-Sept. 21, 2011. * Tuesday was the first of three regular-season matchups between Portland and San Jose in 2012. With the win, the Timbers improve to 1-0-2 in the all-time MLS series against the Earthquakes. * Making his first start at JELD-WEN Field and his second overall with the Timbers, forward Danny Mwanga scored his first goal of the season Tuesday against San Jose. It was his first MLS tally since June 25, 2011, as a member of the Philadelphia Union against Chivas USA. * On Mwanga's goal in the first half, the Timbers have scored the opening goal in each of their last four MLS home matches. * When scoring the first goal of a match at JELD-WEN Field, the Timbers have an overall record of 13-2-3 as an MLS club. * Of the Timbers' 14 goals scored at JELD-WEN Field in league play, 12 have been deposited into the North goal in front of the Timbers' Army. * The Timbers' 19 goals against San Jose set a new MLS club record for shots in a single game. The previous high was 17 shots set against Philadelphia in the 2012 MLS season opener on March 12. * Starting for San Jose was forward Alan Gordon, who had a standout rookie season with the second-division Timbers in 2004. He scored 17 goals during his rookie campaign, earning A-League Rookie of the Year honors. Following the season, Gordon was signed by the LA Galaxy and made the move to MLS. * Goalkeeper Troy Perkins made his 45th consecutive MLS start for the Timbers, dating back to April 23, 2011. * Midfielder Eric Alexander made his eighth start of the season Tuesday, returning to the Starting XI for the first time since May 26 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. * Timbers midfielder Lovel Palmer featured against San Jose, making his first start since May 20 against Chicago.

* Midfielder Franck Songo'o has logged an assist in each of the last two home matches - vs. Seattle Sounders FC on July 24 and vs. San Jose on July 3.

* With three shots against the Earthquakes, forward Kris Boyd match the Timbers' MLS club record with at least one shot in 16 consecutive matches. The mark was first set by forward Kenny Cooper during the 2011 season.

* Midfielder Diego Chara was unavailable Tuesday due to a one-game, league-imposed suspension for yellow card accumulation. He missed just his second MLS match since making his Timbers debut on April 23, 2011, both have been the result of a card accumulation suspension; the other was Aug. 6, 2011. With his suspension, Chara's streak of 27 consecutive starts came to an end. * Tuesday's match marked the third and final match of a three-match suspension for Portland defender Hanyer Mosquera for an incident against the LA Galaxy on June 17.

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