Cristian Espinoza scored his third and fourth goals of the season for his first splint in almost two years, and the earthquakes in San Jose beat Portland Timbers 4-1 on Saturday evening.
Espinoza also had a decisive pass, while Cristian Arango scored his seventh goal, equaled to the MLS top and helped two others while earthquakes (4-6-1, 13 points) made a sequence of three defeats.
Ousseni Bouda added a late insurance count for San Jose a night when they were attackers Josef Martinez to an injury to the lower body. Martinez is second in the team with six goals. Dejuan Jones has collected his first two assists since he joined the earthquakes of the Columbus crew.
Daniel made four stops for earthquakes.
Felipe Mora scored her fifth goal at the head of the team for Portland (5-3-3, 18 points), which had been undefeated in his last seven games.
San Jose has proven a team of attack capable in its first year under the direction of MLS of all time, Bruce Arena, but their first half hour could be the best they played this season.
Espinoza had completed his first performance of two goals in MLS since May 6, 2023 in the 24th minute.
Arango was at the origin of Espinoza’s opening goal in the 16th minute, playing a midfielder in the midfield before spraying the ball in Jones going down to the right.
Jones dragged a low crossing at the top of the penalty surface, where Espinoza met him for a first finish inside the lower left corner.
Eight minutes later, Espinoza played the game, receiving the return pass, then dribble in the sanction zone before curling his effort in front of the stranded goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (four stops).
Arango finished the ambush in the 27th minute, playing a game with Jones at the bottom right before driving a low finish through the load crepe.
Mora obtained a goal just before half-time with her unique finish of David Da Costa’s cross at the nearby post. But Portland rarely looked threatening after half-time and probably had the chance to concede once again before the end of the night.
– field level media