PHOTO: San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose, CA. – After an early three-goal outburst, the San Jose Earthquakes cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers at PayPay Park. Cristian Espinoza scored twice for the Quakes, earning man-of-the-match honors, with Chicho Arango adding his seventh of the season in the first half trifecta, before Felipe Mora pulled one back for the visitors. And after enduring the Timbers’ spirited comeback attempt with a resolute defensive effort, Ousseni Bouda capped off the scoring with a late goal.
“It’s a good win against a very good team,” head coach Bruce Arena shared after the game. “I thought Portland was dangerous throughout the game, but our guys responded. The three goals in the first half were huge.”
Dejuan Jones, getting his first start after arriving from the Columbus Crew, notched two assists in his home debut, showing the home fans what the U.S. international can bring to the offense from his defensive winger position.
“Whenever you can get to a new club and make an impact with the scoring right away, that’s helpful,” said Jones, still in uniform and smiling broadly in his postgame comments. “And I’m building chemistry quickly with my teammates. They make it really easy. It’s fun playing with them, so to get the 4-1 win is good. We use the momentum to keep getting more wins.”
For Espinoza, making his 120th consecutive MLS appearance – third best all-time – the insertion of Jones in the line-up gave him more opportunities to get on the scoresheet.
“I felt really comfortable there because I’m closer to the goal—closer to my teammates, in the highest position on the field,” the team captain said. “Sometimes, when I was playing as a right wing, I had to track somebody back. Then I have like 80 minutes to run forward again. It’s really hard work. I tried my best and I played that position. When Bruce decided to put me higher in the field, I felt okay with that.”
Following three straight losses that saw the Quakes drop out of the top nine in the conference – the coveted playoff positions – a return to the win column was welcomed, with the strong start on offense and consistent display on defense key to victory.
“It was really important to start the game that way,” added Espinoza. “We knew that we needed this victory. We need the three points tonight. We were preparing ourselves the whole week for this moment. We know when we stay together, we keep the compactness inside the field, the result will come. Tonight was a great answer.”
The Earthquakes entered into Saturday night’s match against the Portland Timbers nearing the one-third mark of the 2025 MLS season, reeling of late after a promising start to the campaign. The Quakes had won their first two games in promising fashion – certainly impressive given their failings in 2024. New head coach Bruce Arena looked every part the league’s all-time winningest coach, and the reclamation project in San Jose was off to a flying start.
Well, the next eight games, counting a lone victory, sent the Quakes from best in the West to hovering a place above the conference’s bottom three. (By the way, the LA Galaxy are propping up the table after winning MLS Cup five months ago, but you probably already were relishing in that fact.) That win, a 6-1 thrashing of D.C. United on the 29th anniversary of the MLS opening kick in 1996, was a moment of elation in a spell of games that has led to growing frustration.
San Jose has scored 20 goals in 10 games, tied tops in the league, but half of those came in two games – the D.C. win and a 4-0 season opening victory over Real Salt Lake. They’ve scored two or more goals in just two of their other eight games to this point. Chicho Arango and Josef Martinez – the Quakes big off-season signings – have delivered big time with six goals apiece, one of the Golden Boot pace. Meanwhile, the defense has leaked 19 goals in those 10 games, contributing to the Quakes slide down the standings. Not good, Bruce.
And so, with a wisp of dark clouds gathering around PayPal Park, the Quakes and Timbers prepared to kick off Matchday 11 of the season. Phil Neville’s side entered the night in second place in the West, also scoring 20 goals in 10 games, but only allowing 15. Portland has been finding ways to win this season in much the same manner San Jose has found ways to lose. This would be the Quakes seventh home game of 2025 – those two big wins, the only three-pointers so far – and overturning the Timbers felt required.
Cristian Espinoza, the team’s captain, was starting once again, extending his consecutive games played streak to 120, third longest in league history. However, Martinez, who exited last week’s loss at Columbus at halftime having scored the team’s only goal, was not available due to a “lower body injury,” hamstringing San Jose’s attack at an inopportune time. Ousseni Bouda got the call to start in his stead, partnering with Arango in the Quakes attack. He had scored just once this season, back in the season opener, but his overall attributes outweighed those of other options Amahl Pellegrino and Preston Judd.
Portland won the coin toss, preceded over by head referee Fotis Bazakos – an official known for giving the players plenty of leeway on the field – and elected to kick off. San Jose would defend the Ultras end of the stadium in the first half, their backs against the wall of their most ardent supporters.
Ian Harkes and Beau Leroux manned the middle of the field for Arena’s side, immediately clogging the pitch and harassing the Timbers in possession. If Portland was going to find success in attack, it would have to start on the wings. They did get a great look in the sixth minute after newcomer Dejuan Jones was beat on the right flank, but Dave Romney was there to make a shot-blocking slide, allowing Daniel to scoop up the ball in the six-yard box.
Romney was joined in the back three by Daniel Munie and Max Floriani, the second straight game the trio of non-Portuguese speakers provided the shield for Daniel. All three looked up to the challenge early on, sparking a few counterattacks, including a 10th minute play that allowed Chicho a shot on goal, straight at goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, teammates on the 2022 LAFC MLS Cup and Supporters Shield winning side. It certainly wouldn’t be the last encounter between the two, well, at least not directly.
In the 16th minute Chicho found himself sprinting through midfield in possession before spying Jones on a hard wun down the right. Arango made the perfect pass into space, and the former Crew defender cut back a pass to Espinoza, who smartly cut off his run to the near post to take up station above the penalty spot. First time shot, and side netting for the ball, as the Quakes captain rifled the home side to a 1-0 lead. Put Espinoza alone at #3 on the Quakes all-time goal scoring list, and give Chicho the hockey assist.
An almost calamity in the 23rd minute required another Romney clearance, this time as Daniel failed to get to a 50/50 ball outside the area. No worries, though, as less than a minute later, it was Espinoza doubling the San Jose lead after playing a pass off of Bouda and calmly sending his shot inside the far post. It was the fourth goal of the season for the MLS leader in key passes and assists, as the league’s best helper was getting his name first in the scoresheet.
Perhaps a bit stunned, the Timbers once again turned off in possession, and another Quakes counterattack put Chicho through on goal to make it 3-0 San Jose. Jones picked up his second assist of the night, and the Ultras serenaded the traveling Timbers Army supporters with a “We can’t hear you!” cheer.
The Earthquakes started to play with a swagger not seen since the D.C. demolition – and certainly missing in their last home game, the disappointing 3-5 loss to Sporting KC. one-touch passes in advancing the ball, crossfield passed to change the angle of attack, and a “Give me the ball!” mentality from every man in black and blue. There was still an hour of game time left on the clock, but the Timbers looked more prepared to take an early flight home.
A soft yellow card to Harkes in the 38th minute brought out the boo-birds in the stands and presented Arena with a perfect opportunity to confront the fourth official with a patented Bruce Arena smirk and shoulder shrug. Munie’s name was scribbled down in Bazakos’ notebook a minute later, this time more deservedly for a tactical foul. The Timbers capitalized on the momentum shift, with Felipe Mora netting from close range. The more irked version of Arena now prowled the coach’s box.
The players’ fun had faded and in crept frustration. These Quakes were resigned to giving up goals – Mora’s score was the 20th conceded this season – but they responded with their own close attempt. Unfortunately, they would track back to the locker room at halftime holding just a two-goal lead. Portland would certainly be ready to chart their comeback, and San Jose would look to reestablish control of the game in the second forty-five.
“We knew that they would come with everything in the second half and we were ready for it,” shared Espinoza. “Sometimes when the legs start to feel a little heavy, that is the time to be stronger mentally. I think tonight the team showed up in that way. We were really strong mentally—to keep fighting, to keep running, to keep pushing the game for each other.”
Saturday’s second stanza started with San Jose playing left-to-right, with no changes to the line-up. Portland played with more vigor, forcing the Quakes defense to bunker a bit, but there was little the visitors could do to break them down. The Timbers only shots in that timeframe went right into Daniel’s waiting clutch.
But the Quakes became more complacent, and the fans could sense it. A spirited display by the home supporters at both ends of the stadium proved to be a catalyst, and following a botched free kick play, the Earthquakes recovered the ball and ran it right down the throats of the Timbers defense. Vitor Costa made the decisive pass from the wing that Chicho, after the ball deflected off a back rushing centerback, slammed into the net. Que the pandemonium at PayPal Park!
Alas, with VAR watching everything, the goal was called back for an offside infraction, and the crowd adjusted its cheers to the classic, “Ref you suck!”
It was a lifeline for the Timbers, who promptly found their front foot and kept the ball comfortably in the Quakes half of the field. A collection of corner kicks gave Portland ample set piece opportunities, until a longball to Bouda, expertly handled, finally gave San Jose something to smile about. It was short lived, however, as the visitors went right back to harassing the Quakes defense.
Ah, but who really cares about momentum, as the Quakes, even with Rodrigues warming up to enter the game and provide defensive reinforcements, flipped the second half script once again, thanks to the sturdy ankle of Beau Leroux. The second year midfielder expertly earned a penalty kick in the 69th minute, prompting a love fest from his teammates, as Bazakos pointed to the spot. Chicho stepped up to take the kick.
Once again, however, VAR was ready to ruin the party, and the penalty was overturned. The derisive chants became more pronounced, and a visibly upset Arena threw up his hands in disgust. It was still 3-1 in the Earthquakes favor, but retroreferring was not welcomed.
It was, by then, the 75th minute, and time was running out for the Timbers. Daniel was forced into a fingertip save over the bar on a corner kick, but Portland could do little else on the ensuing set-piece. What little possession the Quakes could muster on the reset did little to dampen the Timbers drive, and it wasn’t long before they were back in scoring distance with a free kick at the top of the area. Daniel set his wall, with Jones providing the laydown defender, and all David Da Costa could do was slam his shot into the barrier.
San Jose’s low block had proven resolute going into the last 10 minutes of the match. Mark-Anthony Kaye entered the game to provide a more cover centrally, and Rodrigues comported himself with disciplined defense. The crowd’s cheers became somewhat muted – slightly squeaky bum time, you might say – save for the occasional Quakes fast break. They stayed in their seats, with one eye on the game clock, preparing to celebrate.
And in the 88th minute, Bouda gave them permission to do so, netting at the far post on an expertly weighted cross from Chicho (and hockey assisted by Espinoza) to stretch the lead to an insurmountable 4-1 advantage. Bouda danced the griddy along the endline, elated to have his second tally of the season.
“Coming off three losses, it’s important to get that bounce-back win, so to score four goals is great,” newcomer Jones said. “We have a lot of games in May, so this is the perfect way to start the month. We’ll use this momentum moving forward.”
It was another big win for the Earthquakes, another multi goal game from the offense, and some restoration in the trust Arena has been given as the head man in San Jose. They needed this win, and they deserved the result.
