Quotes: Portland Timbers at San Jose Earthquakes
Portland Timbers Quotes
Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
On overall performance:
“First of all, I’d like to credit San Jose. They were certainly up for it and we knew they would be. They need points and this is a critical time for them. And you could see that, they were hungry and I thought they fought hard. It’s a tight field and they stepped hard to every pass. We had a tough time getting into a rhythm, at times. Obviously they went direct as well, and [Steven] Lenhart, we knew, he was a handful….all game long he was. We weren’t as far off in the performance as it might seem, so we’ll keep it in perspective. We certainly had plenty of chances to win the game. We had, in my opinion, far more quality chances than they did. But that’s soccer, we had more chances, but we’ve got to finish those chances. On the defensive side, we had a few lapses. We gave away a counter attack, didn’t do a good job on the damage control and gave up the penalty kick. And then on a set piece, we weren’t focused and they played a quick restart and we got punished. So, there were a few lapses that we need to learn from and correct and sort out, defensively, and then obviously on the other end, the attacking end, we have got to do a better job finishing our chances. But if you look at the overall performance, it’s not like we got outplayed, and it’s not like we didn’t get chances. If we finish, the game is different. And if we are focused in a few moments, then the game’s different. So, we have to put it behind us quickly and take it out on Vancouver Saturday. It’s a big game.”
On making a late push for an equalizer:
“I think with this team, with the results that we’ve gotten where we’ve come from behind, you always think there’s a chance. I can’t fault the guys’ effort. In the end, we were a couple plays away, and we had the chances to level it, but the ball didn’t fall. But I can’t fault their effort. We dug ourselves a hole with a couple lapses, and in the end it was too little, too late.”
Thoughts on questionable nature of the two goals allowed:
“I’m not sure if the foul that led to the PK was in the box; it seemed out. Most refs probably call that out when it’s borderline. On the second goal, I thought the free kick was clearly offside, but we’re not the only team to get the raw end of calls this year. It happens, and there are no excuses. We have to avoid those situations to begin with.”
Timbers defender Michael Harrington
On the team’s performance:
“What went well is that we had a ton of chances to score goals and it’s always positive when you’re creating those chances. Unfortunately, we weren’t sharp with those chances and didn’t take advantage of it. We didn’t stick the ball in the back of the net. We came out really strong and you want to take advantage of that and capitalize when you start well because the game will have its [ebbs] and flows. We just weren’t quite sharp enough in front of goal.”
On the team not giving up:
“That’s kind of been our [modus operandi] all season. We’ve been down in a lot of games and we’ve come back and gotten results. That’s why we’ve only lost three games all season long. That’s where that confidence comes from.”
San Jose Earthquakes Quotes
Earthquakes interim head coach Mark Watson
On winning streak:
“[The winning streak] is great for us. It gives us confidence and momentum moving forward. We have a good team and, like I’ve said before, we’ve had a tough season. It’s been a struggle at times. I think to have good performances and be tight defensively and to get wins, it does a world of good for our confidence.”
Earthquakes defender Jordan Stewart
On win:
“We had to get these three points tonight, period. When you are battling for a playoff spot and you can gain ground on a conference foe, that match becomes a must win. After Marvin [Chavez] was sent off, it became a war situation for us. The fans were behind us and we all stepped up to close this match out.”
Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas
On clubs’ first win against Portland Timbers:
“Most of our matches with them are competitive, so we never let the fact that we were winless affect our play. It feels better to know we’ve won against a team we are chasing. We had a great week of training, particularly with our set pieces. Steven [Lenhart] had a great finish off of my ball to double our lead.”
Notes:
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The Timbers remain in second place in the Western Conference, now tied with the Colorado Rapids, who defeated the LA Galaxy on Saturday. Both Portland and Colorado are just three points back of conference-leader and Supporters’ Shield leader Real Salt Lake.
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The loss to San Jose was the first by the Timbers to a Western Conference opponent in 2013; Portland is 5-1-6 against conference opponents.
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Portland’s three losses are the fewest in MLS.
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The Timbers and Earthquakes met for the third and final time during the 2013 regular season. Portland suffered its first loss to San Jose in league play since joining MLS in 2011, and is 2-1-5 overall in the all-time MLS series between the two clubs.
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The Timbers played three of its four regular-season matches in the month of July on the road.
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The Timbers rank second in MLS in fewest goals allowed (20) this season, and are tied with Seattle Sounders FC for the fewest goals allowed (9) in the second half.
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The Timbers attempted 20 shots against the Earthquakes, the most the club has recorded in a road match this season. It’s the third time this season in which the Timbers have recorded 20 or more shots in a match; the others were March 3 vs. New York and May 2 vs. New England.
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The Timbers had nine corner kicks against the Earthquakes, the most in a match since recording 12 against Chivas USA on May 12 at JELD-WEN Field.
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The Timbers have scored 15 goals away from home, tied for second-most in MLS.
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Portland also struck for its 22nd second-half goal of the season in the 83rd minute against the Earthquakes, which ranks among MLS leaders in second-half scoring.
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Forward Darlington Nagbe matched a career-high with his sixth goal of the season. He is tied with both Ryan Johnson and Will Johnson for the club lead in goal-scoring.
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With his seventh assist of the season, midfielder Diego Valeri ranks among MLS’s assist leaders.
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Defender Jack Jewsbury became the first Timbers MLS player to make 80 league starts for the club, featuring at right back in the match against San Jose.
- Midfielder Diego Chara missed his first league match of the 2013 campaign as a result of an injury sustained at Philadelphia on July 20. It is just the eighth match (out of 84) that he has missed since joining the club in April 2011.
