Portland Timbers drew with the San Jose Earthquakes 1-1 before a sellout audience of 22,157 at Providence Park. Weather was good and the conditions were almost perfect: a goal in the second half, an extra man from the 52nd minute, and an emotional domination of the match.
Even that, though, had the team give away an equalizing goal during stoppage time after squandering two all but secured points. The end result keeps the Timbers in the Western Conference's fourth position on 30 points but leaves with a real sense of disappointment. San Jose, meanwhile, stays at seventh place on 23.
Scoreboard control and numerical supremacy were not enough
Portland Timbers took the lead in the 71st minute when Juan Mosquera volleyed in a beautiful goal, off a well-worked exchange with Felipe Mora. That seemed sufficient to secure an easy home win, especially with San Jose's Ian Harkes having being dismissed in the opening moments of the second half.
Up a man, pressure had become the expectation and an extra goal in mind to seal the game. All of that never materialized. The team could not maintain the intensity or translate the advantage into complacency. San Jose, with only ten men on the field, nevreyielded.
San Jose takes advantage of the turnaround and crashes the party
San Jose equalized the game in stoppage time of the 93rd minute. After Ousseni Bouda's long-range strike, there was a partial block by Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis. Preston Judd took the loose ball and struck with a tap-in.
Providence Park remains a stronghold and history favors Portland against San Jose
Even with the draw, the Portland Timbers extended their long home unbeaten streak. The club continues unbeaten in its last nine home matches of the season thus far at Providence Park. There are five wins and four draws in the streak. A solid record that signifies form in front of the home crowd and one that has helped their season thus far. The Timbers have not lost to San Jose in home league matches since the team joined the league in the year 2011. That counts as 14 wins and 5 draws