PORTLAND, Ore. – The San Jose Earthquakes went goalless in Tuesday night's 2-0 US Open Cup loss to the Portland Timbers, getting shut out for the third time in three games. Adding insult to injury, the Earthquakes were not able to direct a single shot on target, frustrated at every turn by the Timbers' defense.
"Same story, different chapter for us in the last couple of games," said veteran striker Chad Barrett after the match. "We are doing what we can to get the ball in the net: getting the ball in the final third, getting better as the game goes on, but still not being able to complete that final pass or that final shot."
That inability to break down Portland provoked frustration for the San Jose striker, who acknowledged the toll that the team's current struggles are taking on the team.
"It has been a while since we won," said Barrett. "I think that weighs on the guys a little bit. Getting that win, I think, will bring a lot of joy back to the locker room, a lot of joy back to the way we play, and a lot more confidence to the individual players. That lies with me – me, [and fellow forwards] Quincy [Amarikwa] and Adam [Jahn]."
Reinforcements are coming soon, however, as the Earthquakes' internationals return from Copa America Centenario.
"Getting Wondo [Chris Wondolowski] back will be great," Barrett said. "Getting the guys from Panama [Anibal Godoy and Alberto Quintero] back will be a big boost for us. We just need to get our team healthy again and keep pushing. That's the goal, that fifth spot right now. We have got to keep climbing the ladder like we were at the beginning of the year."
With the Western Conference standings as tightly packed as ever, San Jose are only a win away from moving as high as third place. But with both the Timbers and Sporting Kansas City within striking distance from below the red line, the Earthquakes could just as easily fall down the ladder if things do not change soon.
