The Portland Timbers have consistently turned to Diego Valeri when they've needed a big performance.

Friday was no different.

Valeri scored twice as the Timbers (6-5-3, 21 points) beat the San Jose Earthquakes (5-6-4, 19 points) 2-0 to snap a five-game winless streak in front of 21,144 fans at Providence Park. Portland jumped to third place in the tight Western Conference standings with the much-needed victory and now sits just two points out of first place in the West.

"It's huge," Timbers coach Caleb Porter said. "When you're not getting results, you hope that you continue to play well like we did. That's what I was preaching all week."

The Timbers had not posted a win in over a month entering Friday's match and weren't all that far removed from a discouraging 3-0 loss at San Jose on May 6. But Portland didn't look like a club struggling with a prolonged winless streak on their home turf Friday.

Portland dominated San Jose from the get-go, outshooting the Earthquakes 12-0 in the first half and controlling 62.7 percent of possession in the first 45 minutes.

The Timbers were also given a significant advantage in the 37th minute when San Jose midfielder Darwin Ceren was shown a second yellow card and sent off after a foul on Sebastian Blanco.

"I thought we were really sharp prior to the red and I thought we were relentless and in complete control before that," Porter said.

But despite a dominant performance and the benefit of a one-man advantage late in the first half, the Timbers were unable to make the most of their opportunities in the first 45 minutes as they entered the locker room at halftime locked in a 0-0 draw. Fanendo Adi had a tremendous chance to score in first half stoppage time, but sent an open header off the post.

With the Timbers desperate to find the go-ahead goal in the second half, Valeri stepped up.

"El Maestro" got on the end of a cross from defender Zarek Valentin in the 50th minute and chested the pass down toward goal before beating his defender to the ball and firing a shot off the post and into the net to give Portland a critical 1-0 lead. Valeri now leads the Timbers with eight goals and four assists in 12 starts this season.

"It was Diego Valeri pulling off a great play," Porter said. "That's what you need out of your players. Often times, when you're playing a packed defense like we were, that's what it takes. It takes a special play from a special player."

Despite taking the lead in the 50th minute, the Timbers were unable to put San Jose away with a second goal for much of the half. Portland finished the match by outshooting the Earthquakes 22-6, but struggled to capitalize on its numerous opportunities throughout the game.

But Valeri finally found that second goal in the waning minutes of the match to ensure Portland's victory as he scored off a rebound after Adi put a shot off the post in stoppage time.

"I would have liked to get the second goal a little bit sooner, obviously," Porter said. "But it's good to get the second goal, it's great to get a clean sheet and it's good to get three points. And, the biggest thing is, it's great to get rewarded for playing well."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg