Portland Timbers extend win streak to three straight with 2-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes

Cristhian Paredes, Evander score as Portland's unbeaten streak runs to five games

PORTLAND, Ore. – Cristhian Paredes scored just before the half and Evander tallied a goal for the second straight match as the Portland Timbers extended their win streak to three and unbeaten run to five games (4-0-1) with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday night at Providence Park.

The victory saw Portland rise to eighth place in Western Conference standings.

Streaking

Earning their third straight win tonight, the Timbers are unbeaten in five straight matches (4-0-1). It marks their longest unbeaten streak of the 2023 campaign and most consecutive wins this season. Portland has scored multiple goals in six straight matches, tallying 12 in that span.

Notable Numbers

Cristhian Paredes scored his second goal of the 2023 campaign, while Evander recorded his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Notably, Evander scored in back-to-back matches and has recorded four goals and one assist in Portland’s last six matches. In his fourth appearance for the Timbers since joining the team in August, Bryan Acosta tallied his first assist for Portland. Franck Boli tallied his second assist of the season. Entering the match as a second-half substitute, Yimmi Chara made his 100th regular-season appearance for the Timbers.

Playoff Picture

With four regular season matches remaining, the Timbers (10-11-9, 39pts) currently sit in eighth place of the Western Conference standings. The Timbers will face the Colorado Rapids (Sept. 23) and Houston Dynamo FC (Oct. 21) at home, and LA Galaxy (Sept. 30) and C.F. Montreal (Oct. 7) on the road.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR – Cristhian Paredes (Bryan Acosta, Franck Boli), 45+3 minute: Starting at the midfield, Franck Boli dribbled towards the top of the box and opened the play to the right wing to find Bryan Acosta, who inside the area sent a cross into the six-yard box. Cristhian Paredes finished the play by sliding the ball past the Earthquakes goalkeeper and into the back of the net. 

POR – Evander, 58th minute: Off a deflected shot in the box, Evander pounced on a loose ball and finished the play with a right-footed shot into the middle of San Jose’s goal.

SJ – Matthew Hoppe, 60th minute: Cristian Espinoza shot a long ball from the right side of the box that Timbers goalkeeper David Bingham punched out of the goal. Matthew Hoppe, standing inside the six-yard box, slid the ball into the goal. 

Next Game

With a quick turnaround, the Timbers will return to Providence Park to host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, Sept. 23. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm PT (TICKETS, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

Notes

• With tonight’s win, Portland sits above the playoff line in eighth place of the Western Conference standings.
• Portland earned its third straight win tonight. 
• The Timbers are unbeaten in their last five matches (4-0-1), extending their most successful unbeaten run this season. 
• Portland has scored multiple goals in six straight matches, tallying 12 in that span.
• The Timbers lead the series against the Earthquakes with a 17-6-10 overall record.
• Portland is unbeaten in 16 all-time regular-season home matches against San Jose (W12 D4), winning 10 of the last 11. The 16 all-time regular-season home meetings are the most by one team against another without ever losing in MLS history.
• Cristhian Paredes scored his second goal of the 2023 campaign.
• Evander registered his team-leading ninth goal of the 2023 campaign and 11th across all competitions this year. 
• Evander has scored in back-to-back matches and has recorded four goals and one assist in Portland’s last six matches.
• The Timbers tallied a season-high 19 shots in tonight’s match.
• Bryan Acosta tallied his first assist for the Timbers tonight. 
• Yimmi Chara made his 100th regular season appearance for the Timbers.
• Paredes will miss Saturday’s home match vs. the Colorado Rapids due to yellow card accumulation.

Portland Timbers (10-11-9, 39pts) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (10-10-10, 40pts)
Sept. 20, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Paredes (Boli, Acosta), 45+3
POR: Evander, 58
SJ: Matthew Hope, 60

Misconduct Summary:
SJ: Marie (caution), 32
SJ: Gruezo (caution), 35
POR: Paredes (caution), 41
SJ: Espinoza (caution), 90+2
POR: Bingham (time-wasting), 90+9

Lineups:
POR: GK Bingham, D Mosquera, D McGraw, D Zuparic, D Mosquera, M Acosta, M Paredes ©, M Evander (Y.Chara, 64), F Moreno (Asprilla, 78), F Boli (Mora, 64), F Blanco (Antony, 64)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D Araujo, D Mabiala, D Miller, F Loría

TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Paredes, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Evander, 3); FOULS: 12 (Acosta, Boli, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6, SAVES: 4

SJ: GK Daniel, D Marie (Akinola, 86), D Beason, D Rodrigues (Mensah, 62), D Akapo (Trauco, 59), M Gruezo (Tsakiris, 59), M Yueill ©, M Monteiro (Cowell, 59), F Hoppe, F Ebobisse, F Espinoza

Substitutes Not Used: GK Marcinkowski, D Munie, D Thompson, M Judson

TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Ebobisse, Espinoza, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Espinoza, Hoppe, 1); FOULS: 9 (three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2

Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistant Referees: Chris Wattam, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Sergii Boiko
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 67 degrees
Attendance: 21,518

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.