SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Cristian Espinoza had two goals and an assist, Cristian Arango added a goal and two assists and the San Jose Earthquakes beat Portland 4-1 on Saturday night to end a three-game skid and snap the Timbers’ seven-game unbeaten streak.
Three of the Quakes’ goals came within a 12-minute span midway through the first half to put them solidly in front.
Espinoza opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a one-touch finish off a pass from the recently acquired DeJuan Jones and added a goal in the 24th on a one-two with Ousseni Bouda.
Arango flicked in a header off a free kick played in by Jones, making his first start for the Quakes after a trade last month from Columbus, to give San Jose (4-6-1, 13 points) a 3-0 lead in the 27th.
Quakes coach Bruce Arena, who coached Jones in New England, said he wasn’t surprised by Jones’ impact in his home debut. Jones was glad to make a contribution early in his San Jose tenure.
“Whenever you can get to a new club and make an impact with the scoring right away, that’s helpful,” he told reporters postgame. “And I’m building chemistry quickly with my teammates. They make it really easy.”
Jones’ arrival and insertion on the right side of the midfield pushed Espinoza up the pitch in the Quakes’ formation, a welcome change for the captain.
“I felt really comfortable there because I’m closer to the goal,” he said of playing forward, “closer to my teammates, in the highest position on the field.”
Felipe Mora got the Timbers on the board in the 42nd minute, putting away a one-touch finish from the center of the area off a feed from David Da Costa.
Related Articles
MLS: Columbus edges Earthquakes 2-1 as San Jose loses its third straight match
Quakes add another player from Revolution, this time a young midfielder
Earthquakes acquire USMNT defender DeJuan Jones from Columbus
Earthquakes doomed by cluster of defensive lapses in 5-3 loss to Kansas City
Quakes fall to LAFC as keeper Daniel goes down with head injury
Portland (5-3-3, 18 points) lost for the first time since March 8.
Bouda capped the scoring in the 88th minute, tapping a ball past Portland keeper Maxime Crépeau after Arango played an arcing cross from the left side to the back post.
“It’s a good win against a very good team,” Arena said. “I thought Portland was dangerous throughout the game. Our guys responded.”
The Quakes play again on Wednesday, when they host Sacramento Republic FC in their opening U.S. Open Cup match at 7:30 p.m. Arena said he expects to rotate his players for that game.
