Portland Timbers Shut Down San Jose Earthquakes in 2-0 U.S. Open Cup Win

The Portland Timbers grabbed a first half lead and did not let go, beating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 in tonight's U.S. Open Cup match.

The Timbers opened the scoring in the 34th minute in cartoonish fashion, sending a curled ball into the box that bounced and bobbled to Dairon Asprilla, cutting in from the right wing. With an open goal in front of him, Asprilla hit a simple shot, only for San Jose keeper Bryan Meredith to sprawl out across the goal and get a hand on it, but not stop it as the ball rolled toward an offside Jack McInerney on the goal line. With nothing else to do, McInerney put his hands up in the air and stood still, waiting for the ball to roll past him and into the back of the net.

McInerney would get one of his own just six minutes later in the 40th. After a hand ball just outside the Quakes' box gifted the Timbers an opportune free kick, Jack Barmby, Diego Valeri, and McInerney all stood over the ball. Barmby approached first, running over the ball in a typical dummy move. McInerney went next and the whole of Providence Park expected him to do the same, but instead the Timbers striker hit a wickedly dipping ball that dropped over the San Jose wall and rippled the back over the net inside the near post.

From there the Timbers would grind out the rest of the match, dominating possession for long stretches and shutting down any build up from the Quakes.

The Timbers are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake in league play.