Portland logging vs San Jose: Full firepower + habitual gifts for defense

【Portland Lumberjack: Rejuvenate at home and sprint to the top two in the West? 】

It seems that long-term home game is exactly the medicine needed by the Portland lumberjacks. They are currently in the longest winning streak of the season (two straight wins), which undoubtedly injects a heart-warming agent into the team.

Although Phil Neville's team sometimes seems to be stretched on the defensive end, they seem to be sharper on the back line with the cheers of fans. From 2025 to present, they have conceded one or fewer goals in seven of their nine AP League games at Providence Park Stadium, which shows that their home defense is trustworthy.

They have scored at least one point in eight of the last nine league games played in Portland. If they can win at home again this Friday, they will achieve their first three-game winning streak since June-July 2024 (at the time it was a four-game winning streak), which is undoubtedly a milestone.

They failed to score points in only one of the last six domestic games. Currently, they are only one step away from San Diego, the second in the West, and are only six points away from Vancouver, the number one in the West, and the hope of sprinting to the forefront of the West is getting bigger and bigger. After 17 rounds of games, the lumberjacks have scored 29 points, 9 more points than the same period in the 2024 season, which shows that the team has made significant progress this season. It is worth mentioning that the Portland Lumberjacks have never lost to the San Jose Earthquake at home. At Providence Park Stadium, they have won five consecutive victories against the Earthquakes in various events.

【San Jose Earthquake: Offensive Madman, Defence Failure? 】

For better or worse, the San Jose Earthquake never lacks passion in the game, but unfortunately, their passion in the last round brought bad results.

Bruce Arena's team stubbornly equalized the score with eight minutes left, but failed in stoppage time in the second half and eventually lost a good game, and the record of unbeaten in all eight games ended.

The San Jose Earthquakes have conceded goals in the first half or second half stoppage time four times this season, and they conceded two goals in the last game to St. Louis City, which is undoubtedly a big hidden danger on their defense.

In 2024, the Earthquake team scored the least goals in the West Zone, but this season they have transformed into the team with the most goals in the West Zone (34 goals), full of firepower. They have only one game in the league this season without scoring (a 0-0 draw with the New England Revolution).

If they can win away again this Friday, they will win the fourth away game of the 2025 season, which will tie their away game combined for the past two regular seasons, indicating that they have improved their away performance.

Although the Earthquakes have never beaten the Lumberjacks at Providence Park Stadium, they won both of their 2025 clashes with the Lumberjacks, including a 1-0 elimination of the Lumberjacks in overtime last month for advance to the U.S. Open Cup.

【Injuries and Key Players: Who can return to their thighs? 】

Portland lumberjacks: Last Sunday, the lumberjacks were missing Jonathan Rodriguez (lower limb problems) and Zach McGraw (back pain). In addition, Finn Thurman, Ariel Rassett and Maxim Crepeo were all called up by the national team to participate in international competitions, but they are all expected to return to the team in time this weekend. Anthony and David Ayala scored in the second half of the game against St. Louis City, respectively, to help the team reverse the victory.

San Jose Earthquake: In the loss to St. Louis City, the Earthquakes lacked Nico Chachiris, Noel Barker and Bruno Wilson, all of whom suffered leg injuries. A calf strain left Dejuan Jones missed the last game, and the team's top scorer Christian Alango also watched from the wall due to muscle problems. Josef Martinez once equalized the team, which was his seventh goal in the regular season, second only to Alango's nine goals.

Both teams are facing injuries to key players or national team recruitment issues. Whoever can return with full health in this game will undoubtedly influence the situation.

[Final prediction: Portland Lumberjack 3-2 San Jose Earthquake]

These are definitely two teams with strong offensive desires. They both like to speed up and fight against each other. If the game becomes a goal battle as we expected, we trust the Portland Lumberjacks’ defense more, and despite their occasional mistakes, they appear more solid at home. The San Jose earthquake is full of fire, but habitual defensive mistakes may make them lose in this offensive.