Quakes get another chance at Timbers, and to end winless skid

The San Jose Earthquakes will look to snap their winless run at seven games when they host the Portland Timbers for the second time in four days on Saturday night.

The Quakes (2-4-5, 11 points) have at least posted draws in back to back matches following an embarrassing 7-1 defeat to the Seattle Sounders on Sept. 10, in which they became the quickest team in MLS history to give up five goals from the opening whistle.

San Jose held the Galaxy scoreless last Sunday, no small feat considering L.A. entered the game on a four-match winning streak. On Wednesday, the Quakes responded through Valeri "Vako" Qazaishvili in the 76th minute of a 1-1 draw with the Timbers. Portland took the lead in the 33rd.

Head coach Matias Almeyda believes his side should've had more from those two matches, after holding more possession in both games and dominating in terms of chances created in the latter. But it was also a third game of four in 11 days for a team that currently sits last in the Western Conference.

"I think we were missing the relentlessness that the other team had when they countered and scored the goal," Almeyda said. "It's difficult for all of us because tomorrow they rest, the day after tomorrow they are sore, and then the day after that we play again."

At least this time the Timbers (4-4-3, 15 points) are also facing a short turnaround, and with one of the older rosters in the league could see a number of lineup changes.

Yimmi Chara is among those more likely to figure in a bench role Saturday. He scored his first goal on Wednesday since joining the Timbers prior to the season, but has started consecutive games only once. He exited Wednesday's game after 64 minutes.

Yimmi Chara was assisted on the goal by his brother Diego Chara. It was just the sixth time in MLS history that a pair of siblings had teamed up for a goal.

"We played him the minutes that we thought he needed and he continues to advance, he continues to get stronger and better," said Portland coach Giovanni Savarese. "Hopefully he's going to be fully fit soon to be able to play 90, we're working on it. But today his performance was outstanding."

--Field Level Media