Yimmi and Diego Chara combined for a goal in the first half, but Vako scored an equalizer in the second and the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes would split the points in a 1-1 draw at Earthquakes Stadium on Wednesday.
After a back-and-forth opening half-hour, Yimmi Chara scored Portland's opener in the 33rd minute, chipping home the finish after he was set in on goal with a feed from his brother for his first MLS goal.
San Jose nearly equalized a couple minutes later off a curling shot from Vako that made it past Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark, but wound up glancing off the post. The Quakes nearly missed again on the sequence following the rebound, as Vako nearly cashed in a cross from Paul Marie in front of goal, but saw the shot trickle just wide.
Portland nearly doubled the advantage in the 55th minute after a deflected cross landed at the feet of Jaroslaw Niezgoda, who teed up a shot from inside the six-yard box, only to be denied by goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski, making his first appearance of the season for San Jose.
The Quakes found their leveler that would salvage the point in the 76th minute after substitute Chris Wondolowski headed down a cross to Vako, who was crashing down the left side and slotted the shot on goal. It was originally ruled on the field that Portland's Dario Zuparic had cleared the shot off the line in time, but the goal was awarded on Video Review, with replays clearly showing that the ball had crossed the line.
Wondolowski nearly found a dramatic winner with a headed effort in the game's waning moments, but the shot was saved by a sprawling Clark, and the contest would end 1-1.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: It's another frustrating result for the Timbers after their MLS is Back Tournament triumph, as they're now at just one win in seven matches since coming home from Orlando. It was the tenth time Portland has conceded a goal in the final 15 minutes of a match this season, a troubling trend for Gio Savarese and Co. that they'll look to correct moving forward. The Quakes showed some moxie to salvage the draw, and were arguably a little unlucky to have not found a goal earlier. Matias Almeyda's men still have issues but they've at least looked better defensively in their two matches since that 7-1 shellacking in Seattle.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The Chara to Chara connection was a fun moment, and just the sixth time in MLS history a sibling duo has combined for a goal.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Vako got the equalizer and was San Jose's most dangerous player throughout the night, narrowly missing a highlight-reel goal on that first-half shot that went off the post.
Next Up
- SJ: Saturday, September 19 vs. Portland Timbers (10:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, DAZN in Canada)
- POR: Saturday, September 19 at San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, DAZN in Canada)
