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Timbers continue playoff push against 'Quakes

Oct 7, 2014 - 8:05 PM Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - The Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes will renew their rivalry on Wednesday when the two sides square off at Providence Park.

It will be the third meeting between Portland and San Jose this season and the second within the last four days.

The two sides battled at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday in a match that ended San Jose's playoff hopes.

The hosts had taken a second-half lead through Chris Wondolowski, but a brace from Rodney Wallace helped the Timbers reverse the deficit and keep pace with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the race for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

As crunch time approaches, Timbers head coach Caleb Porter has welcomed Wallace's contribution.

"With Rodney now stepping up and scoring goals, it's helping make us a more of a diverse team in the attack," Porter said following Mondays training session at the team facility. "And now you have to start worrying about the wingers, which opens it up for the other guys. So I think bottom line, we need production out of our wingers, and Rodney is stepping up and bringing that."

While Portland did well to overturn the late deficit, San Jose will feel hard done by the result given that both of Wallace's goals came by deflections.

"Portland is a good team, but to give up two deflection goals is the story of our season," said 'Quakes defender Jason Hernandez. "I'd love to have some deflection goals go in for us. I feel like we've been on the wrong end of things for most of the year. A lot of good work and effort in front of our fans was all for naught tonight. They say you make your own luck and we try our hardest every night but we just can't seem to get our heads above water. It's very frustrating."

San Jose's struggles continued as its winless run extended to 11 games, but it was the club's elimination from playoff contention that was most crippling.

And with the 'Quakes already out of the playoff hunt, they learned that they will be without Wondolowski for Wednesday's contest after it was announced that the striker was called into Jurgen Klinsmann's squad with the United States national team.

Wondolowski's absence opens the door for Portland to keep the pressure on Vancouver by taking maximum points against the 'Quakes on Wednesday. A win would see the Timbers jump two points ahead of the 'Caps just before their difficult trip to CenturyLink Field on Friday to face surging Seattle Sounders FC.