2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 12
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers
Earthquakes Stadium – San Jose
September 16 – 9:30 PM ET
TV: FS1, FOX Deportes
STREAMING: FOX Sports App in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada
The San Jose Earthquakes and Portland Timbers meet in the first of back-to-back showdowns at Earthquakes Stadium Wednesday night, with both teams looking to put Week 11 disappointment behind them.
The Quakes (2W-4L-4D) settled for a 0-0 Cali Clasico draw Sunday night, while the Timbers (4W-4L-2D) suffered a 4-2 defeat to LAFC.
The teams split decisive home wins a year ago with the Earthquakes scoring three times in the opening 34 minutes for a decisive 3-0 victory, prompting a post-match apology to fans from Giovanni Savarese.
San Jose Earthquakes
There was only one way to go after a 7-1 midweek defeat to the Seattle Sounders. So not conceding against a red-hot LA Galaxy side is a moral victory, but it only extended the Quakes winless streak to five.
“This was an important game mentally and because it was also a Clasico," Matias Almeyda said. "Last game, we played against a first-place team and we looked like a last-place team. We have to be real with ourselves, without lying to ourselves. Practicing only two days, playing every three days, and traveling are definite factors. Also, natural causes such as canceling a practice due to the bad air quality – it all affects us. Especially because this team needs to train. Tonight, the players left it all on the field. We’ll see how we recover for the next game.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Danny Hoesen (F) - thigh injury
- OUT: Jack Skahan (M) - thigh injury
- OUT: Casey Walls (D) - thigh injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Guram Kashia (D) - thigh injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Portland Timbers
Savarese's search for consistent complete performances continues after the Timbers were done in by a 15-minute stretch late in the first half in which they conceded three times in a 4-2 loss to LAFC at Banc of California Stadium. Outside of that stretch, Savarese had few complains, lauding his squad especially for an "excellent" opening half hour.
“The change was just the mentality, that’s all because if we continue to do the same thing we did in the first 30 minutes and the majority of the second half there’s no way that we concede this amount of goals in the way we did in these 15 minutes,” Savarese said.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Dairon Asprilla (M) - left knee injury
- OUT: Blake Bodily (M) - right thigh injury
- OUT: Andrés Flores (M) - right thigh injury
- OUT: Sebastian Blanco (M) - right ACL injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Larrys Mabiala (D) - right thigh injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Chris Duvall (D) - right lower leg injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Earthquakes
- Earthquakes: 5 wins, 17 goals
- Timbers: 2 wins, 10 goals
- 4 draws
Officials
- Referee: Alex Chilowicz
- Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Diego Blas
- 4th Official: Michael Radchuk
- VAR: Fotis Bazakos
