Will Johnson scored his third goal of the season, over the last three games, equaling his career-high set in 26 games for Real Salt Lake a season ago. “I’ve always had the ability to score goals, and it’s nice to be producing for the team,” Johnson said. “And also being a leader, I think that puts a little bit of extra pressure on myself and responsibility when a play needs to be made. I played on a team in Salt Lake where guys, when they needed to step up did, guys who have been around the block and now I’m that guy. So I have to step up and make plays or will other guys to make plays. It’s all part of the evolution of my game and becoming a leader here in Portland.” After conceding eight goals in their initial four matches, the Timbers have now posted back-to-back clean sheets and have now conceded a goal in 222 minutes. “Two games and two clean sheets, that was a part of our game that people were questioning; I wasn’t. I knew we had it in us to be a very good defensive team and we’ve shown that the last two games. A big reason is we’ve been working hard in training to tighten things up,” said Porter. Said goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts: “Both teams we played had nothing much on goal. It a sign that we are playing well and doing what we want to do when it is becoming much easier defensively.” With David Horst lost for the remainder of the season with a fractured leg, Mamadou “Futty” Danso made his first start of the season, partnering Mikaël Silvestre in central defense. “He was fantastic. When I told him that he would be starting he was very excited. I thought this type of game would be a very good thing, because he’s physical and very strong and good in the air. He played with a lot of maturity and confidence. You could see that he has started a lot of games,” said Porter. Diego Valeri was also held out of the match after suffering a blow to the head that forced him out of the Houston match before the opening half-hour was complete. Continuing on from the Houston match, Darlington Nagbe slid to the attacking midfielder position and Kalif Alhassan came in on the right wing. “I have a little more freedom, more of a role to get forward. [Diego] Chara and I were working well last game. Being right in the middle of the field, just the two of us, you see the whole field. Being a leader puts a little extra pressure on me when a play needs to be made,” said Will Johnson.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES The San Jose Earthquakes lost their second consecutive match on the road in the front end of the home-and-home series against Portland at Jeld-Wen Field. The Quakes sit in a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with 8 points from 7 matches. TEAM NEWS Quakes head coach Frank Yallop made one change to the team that reached a 1-1 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Buck Shaw Stadium. Steven Lenhart came into the team in place of Shea Salinas. The Earthquakes were shut out offensively for the third time in seven games in the loss in Portland. A year ago, on their way to the Supporters’ Shield, they were shut out just twice in 34 matches – the fourth-fewest times in a season in MLS history. “We feel we can play against anybody when we’re on our game. We were just off our passing tonight on a slick pitch” said Yallop. “Obviously, they are very good at it, they are used to playing here. I thought they moved the ball well without creating tons of chances, which was good for us defensively.” Steven Lenhart was making his first start of the season, partnering Alan Gordon in attack. He played 63 minutes before giving way to winger Cordell Cato. “I feel that we picked a pretty bad night to not play our best soccer. We really didn’t connect a whole lot of passes, and therefore weren’t able to get a lot of crosses or generate things around the box,” Chris Wondolowski said. “Whenever you don’t do that, you’re sitting deeper and deeper, and Portland had a great free kick to beat us.” Gordon was sent off in the 69th minute, guaranteeing a suspension for the return match with Portland. His suspension was then lengthened by three additional games by MLS Commissioner Don Garber for using unacceptable and offensive language towards an opponent. “Even with 10 men, I felt it was going to be 0-0 for us. Didn’t feel that we were probably going to score tonight, but felt pretty comfortable we could hang in there. We did defend the box well,” Yallop said. “I think that for us, when your back is against the wall, with 10 men, you have to keep digging in there.” With Lenhart and Gordon starting together up top, Wondolowski moved to a wide attacking midfield role, before shifting to an out-and-out striker spot for the final 20 minutes. Shea Salinas was unavailable for the match due to a bone bruise in his left knee. “We wanted to get (fullbacks) Justin (Morrow) and Dan (Gargan) forward, but to do that, you have to be able to connect some passes and have a buildup,” Wondolowski said. “We didn’t do that. We couldn’t get them involved and therefore, we couldn’t get crosses in.”
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