The San Jose Earthquakes won 2-1 versus the Portland Timbers FC on Sunday at Avaya. The win puts them tied for first place in the Western Conference with Sporting Kansas City. Both teams have six points.
San Jose Earthquakes Making Most of Chances
The offensive stats were decidedly in Portland’s favor. Portland led in shots 16-5, shots inside the box 11-3, corners 5-1, and chances created 14-7. Where Portland stumbled was putting pressure on David Bingham, who faced just two shots on goal the entire game.
The game was eerily similar to last week’s result versus Colorado, in which the Rapids out-shot the Quakes 18-7, out-chanced the Quakes 9-7, out-possessed the Quakes 58%-42%, and simply out-played the Quakes, even though San Jose won 1-0.
However, the Quakes did turn some stats into their favor against Portland. San Jose controlled possession 54%-46%, and out-passed the Timbers 471-380, stats that were decidedly in Colorado’s favor last week.
Portland Head Coach Caleb Porter was disappointed with the result. “We kept getting chances and I thought we would level it,” Porter said after the game. “Sloppy game, sloppy field. And in saying that, we still had the better chances on the day, but the game comes down to what you do in the boxes. They finished theirs, and we didn’t.”
The difference between 0-2-0 and 2-0-0 has been the Quakes’ ability to convert their chances while thwarting their opponents’ chances. The Quakes have a season chance-conversion rate of 23% (3 out of 13) while their opponents’ conversion rate is 5% (1 out of 20).
Needless to say, this is not the formula for sustained wins. While the Quakes were fortunate to score a second goal at the end of the first half off a Quincy Amarikwa 35-yard volley, Portland should be considered equally unfortunate having two shots hit the woodwork.
So are the Quakes for real, or getting really lucky? Things to consider include defeating a Rapids team which just beat the L.A. Galaxy 1-0 and defeating the defending MLS Cup champions. A bad team probably does not grab the six points from these two matches, but a good team probably wins the statistical battle in both matches. Perhaps the most telling answer will come this Saturday in Los Angeles against a Galaxy team that flirted with a +30 goal differential at home last season. If San Jose can improve on their attack and create more chances while continuing to play lock-down defense on opponent scoring chances, don’t be surprised if they walk out of Los Angeles with three points.
