Two teams looking for a much-needed win on Saturday were separated by a moment of magic, as Diego Valeri’s late free kick handed the Portland Timbers a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium.
The game was a defensive duel, especially in the middle third of the field, as chances were even and hard to come by for both sides. Each team had efforts clang off the post, and the goalkeepers did their part to keep the game scoreless.
But in the 88th minute, a well-placed free kick was taken by Valeri, as his effort curled into the top corner to beat Andrew Tarbell and extend Portland’s winning streak to three games.
Goals
- 88′ – POR – Diego Valeri
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: The Timbers had to work for it but will be satisfied to leave San Jose with a win, while the Earthquakes’ woes continue. Their winless streak on the season stretches to seven games, worst in the league at the moment. Is it time to wonder if they can pull out of the slump this year?
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: What else? The goal was a winner and it was a beauty.
It had to be @DiegoDv8! 👏 #SJvPOR https://t.co/fhvBvsoaYf
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 6, 2018
- MAN OF THE MATCH: On a night that was begging for a game-changing play, Valeri offered it, and his efforts in pushing Portland to what looked like an unlikely victory throughout the match gives him the edge.
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