Timbers eliminate Earthquakes from playoff race with 2-0 win

PORTLAND — Dairon Asprilla had a striking bicycle kick goal and the Portland Timbers eliminated the San Jose Earthquakes from playoff contention with a 2-0 victory Wednesday night.

The Timbers (15-13-4) snapped a three-game losing streak as they try to hold on to the fourth spot in the Western Conference with two games remaining.

The Earthquakes (9-10-13) have never won at Providence Park.

The Earthquakes were in 10th place in the West and coming off a 1-1 draw at home with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. San Jose made the playoffs last season, ending a two-year postseason drought, but fell to Sporting Kansas City on penalties in the opening round.

The Timbers fell to the Whitecaps 3-2 last Wednesday. Portland, which was also eliminated in the first round last season, is still just four points above the playoff line.

Diego Chara scored in the 34th minute to put Portland in front. Asprilla added a goal on a bicycle kick from some 20 yards out in the 55th minute. It was his 10th goal of the season.

The Earthquakes saw the return of defenders Defenders Marcos Lopez and Nathan after they had to sit out a game for yellow card accumulation.

TIMBERS 2, EARTHQUAKES 0

San Jose 0 0 —0

Portland 1 1 —2

First Half—1, Portland, Chara, 2 (Mora), 34th minute.

Second Half—2, Portland, Asprilla, 10, 55th.

Goalies—San Jose, JT Marcinkowski, Daniel Vega; Portland, Steve Clark, Aljaz Ivacic.

Yellow Cards—Lopez, San Jose, 19th; Paredes, Portland, 20th; Chara, Portland, 27th; Remedi, San Jose, 50th; Asprilla, Portland, 57th.

Referee—Alex Chilowicz. Assistant Referees—Ryan Graves, Jeffrey Swartzel, Edvin Jurisevic. 4th Official—Mark Allatin.

A—16,086.

Lineups

San Jose—JT Marcinkowski; Tanner Beason, Nathan, Tommy Thompson (Marcos Lopez, 46th); Cristian Espinoza (Carlos Fierro, 60th), Eduardo Lopez, Eric Remedi (Chris Wondolowski, 60th), Jackson Yueill; Jeremy Ebobisse, Benjamin Kikanovic (Cade Cowell, 60th), Andy Rios (Paul Marie, 46th).

Portland—Steve Clark; Pablo Bonilla, Bill Tuiloma, Jose Van Rankin, Dario Zuparic; Diego Chara, Santiago Moreno (Sebastian Blanco, 78th), Cristhian Paredes (George Fochive, 68th); Dairon Asprilla (Marvin Loria, 85th), Yimmi Chara, Felipe Mora (Jaroslaw Niezgoda, 78th).