After 90 minutes of extremely physical but mostly fair play, both the San Jose Earthquakes and Portland Timbers will be forced to admit that their 1-1 draw was a justified result. Both teams had chances to win the match and will feel like they should have been able to win the match, but neither could put away a winner at Buck Shaw Stadium.
The game was one defined by contrasting styles, as San Jose played patiently and with the ball on the turf for the most part while the Timbers tried to use their superior size and speed to engineer chances through direct play. Their strategy helped to create the first goal, as Jorge Perlaza's pace was a thorn in the side of another MLS team.
In the 23rd minute, Perlaza did well to stay onside as he took off at the perfect moment after a through ball on the right side of the penalty area. He squared a ball across the box for Kenny Cooper, who was somehow completely unmarked as he tapped the ball into the back of the net.
San Jose's patience eventually paid off in the 67th minute, thanks to a goal created by Steven Beitashour and Alan Gordon. Beitashour was arguably the man of the match, playing a great game defensively and assisting on Gordon's goal with a fantastic cross, which Gordon headed into the back of the net.
After the match, Gordon revealed that he was playing with a double hernia and that he will be undergoing surgery later in the week. He was in visible pain as he spoke with local television reporters, but certainly didn't seem to regret getting out on the pitch in pain.