Valeri’s 25-yard free kick takes down hapless Quakes

Punchless San Jose sits alone in last with loss to Portland

SAN JOSE >> Diego Valeri’s free kick from 25 yards out sailed past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell and into the top right corner with two minutes remaining.

The Earthquakes (1-2-5) narrowly missed their first shutout of the season and failed to score for the first time in eight MLS matches. Despite a game that seemed destined for a scoreless draw, the Portland Timbers (3-2-3) escaped with a 1-0 win on Saturday night in front of 17,850 at Avaya Stadium.

“Trying to save it,” a defeated Tarbell said at his locker after the game. “That’s it.”

Since winning the season opener against Minnesota on March 3, 3-2, the Earthquakes have lost five times and tied twice. In three of those seven games, San Jose scored twice but still couldn’t win. And even when the Earthquakes held their opponent scoreless for 88 minutes on Saturday, they couldn’t take advantage. After the Sounders tied their Saturday tilt against Columbus, San Jose now sits alone in last place in the Western Conference with a meager five points.

“Today I think we handled the defensive part quite well,” Earthquakes coach Mikael Stahre said. “I’m super disappointed from the result perspective.”

The Earthquakes endured an early scare less than eight minutes in when Tarbell gave the ball right back to Portland on a distribution. Fanendo Adi’s shot from 20 yards out ricocheted off the right post and away from danger, though, and San Jose came away lucky to still be tied. The visitors controlled the pace early, but the hosts responded with threats of their own when Nick Lima’s cross instead hit the post and bounced across a crowded 6-yard box. Minutes later, Vako curled one toward the bottom-left corner from 15 yards out before Timbers keeper Jeff Attinella parried it away from harm.

Despite Portland outshooting San Jose in the first 45 minutes, 9-6, the Earthquakes owned a slight edge in possession at the break thanks to sturdy midfield play and an 83.9 percent pass-completion rate. With the match still scoreless and 20 minutes remaining, Chris Wehan replaced Chris Wondolowski in hopes of igniting a stagnant San Jose attack. Wehan saw his first chance, a running strike from 25 yards out, hook well left of the goal.

Quincy Amarikwa replaced Hoesen late in the second half in another Stahre attempt to find a scoring combination, and it almost worked when Amarikwa came inches from toeing in the go-ahead goal with five minutes to go before a diving Attinella came to the rescue.

The final substantial chance of the match came on Valeri’s curling strike, sending the Timbers to a much-needed win while the Earthquakes were left searching for answers yet again.

“Of course it’s a process,” Stahre said. “But we still have to win games at the same time.”