San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers | MLS Match Preview

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs PORTLAND TIMBERS
AVAYA STADIUM, San Jose, Calif.
March 13, 2015 (WEEK 2, MLS Game #20)
7 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes)

It's a meeting of first-place clubs in the Western Conference to open the season when the San Jose Earthquakes play host to the Portland Timbers on Sunday afternoon at Avaya Stadium before a FOX Sports 1 audience. The Quakes kicked off their new season with a victory on their home ground, defeating the Colorado Rapids 1-0. The Timbers opened defense of their MLS Cup 2015 title in the best possible fashion, knocking off Columbus Crew SC 2-1 in a cup final rematch at Providence Park.

• Chris Wondolowski netted the game’s only goal as the Quakes defeated the Colorado Rapids to open their 2016 season, the first time since 2012 the club has won its opening match of the season.
• The Timbers started off defense of their 2015 MLS Cup title the way the championship game ended – a 2-1 victory against Columbus Crew SC, at Providence Park. Diego Valeri and Fanendo Adi scored goals for the Timbers.
• The Timbers have not lost to the Quakes over the last two seasons, a span now of five matches. The Timbers took a 1-0 victory in the lone meeting last season at Providence Park, their second consecutive home win vs. San Jose. The Timbers have won four of seven matches in Portland, with three draws.
• The teams also reached a scoreless draw last Aug. 2 in the first meeting ever at Avaya Stadium. The Timbers’ 2-1 victory on Oct. 4, 2014 in Santa Clara was the first by a visiting team in the all-time league series.

REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Eric Boria; AR2 (opposite): Peter Balciunas; 4th: Alex Chilowicz
MLS Career: 194 games; FC/gm: 23.3; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 37; pens: 56

SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (13 meetings): Earthquakes 1 win, 13 goals … Timbers 5 wins, 19 goals … Ties 7
AT SAN JOSE (6 meetings): Earthquakes 1 win, 7 goals … Timbers 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 4
RETURN MATCHES: 4/16: Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. PT; 6/1: Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. PT

LAST YEAR (MLS):
7/5: POR 1, SJ 0 (Jewsbury 91+)
8/2: SJ 0, POR 0

• Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. POR: P7 W2 L2 D3 … Caleb Porter vs. SJ: P8 W4 L1 D3