San Jose Earthquakes Cristian Espinoza and head coach Matias Almeyda exchange congratulations following the Quakes win over FC Dallas on Sat Apr 24, 2021 at Pay Pal Park in San Jose (@SJEarthquakes photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The San Jose Earthquakes scored three unanswered goals en route to a 3-1 win over FC Dallas in its home opener on Saturday afternoon at the newly minted Pay Pal Park.

FC Dallas (0-1-1) almost received a gift in the opening minute where Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski lackadaisically made an errant past inside the six-yard box that landed on the foot of Jáder Obrian. Marcinkowski had to recover quickly and make a save. The ensuing corner led to Bressan’s header attempt hitting off the crossbar.

The first five minutes of play was filled with sloppy and mistimed passes for head coach Matias Almeyda’s squad.

San Jose (1-1-0) had not one but two penalty kick opportunities in the first half but weren’t able to capitalize on its first chance.

Obrian fouled Cristian Espinoza inside the D-box with an elbow up high that referee Timothy Ford whistled him for the foul and awarding the first chance.

Espinoza telegraphed his shot as FC Dall goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer kept the ball out of the net in the 19th minute.

Then in the 31st minute a handball inside the D-box by Tanner Tessmann led to San Jose’s second chance from six yards out after a video review.

Oswaldo Alanís buried his opportunity to the right corner past Maurer for his first goal of the season.

The Quakes received a scare in the 37th minute. A shot by Ryan Hollingshead got past Marcinkiwski but running back to sweep the ball around from danger before it crossed the goal line was midfielder Carlos Fierro.

Marcinkowski made a big save in the 41st minute when he came out to challenge an attempt by Obrian and poked checked the ball away before Obrian could shoot it.

The Quakes outshot FC Dallas 4-2 in the first half.

San Jose doubled its lead in the 49th minute. Sophomore forward Cade Cowell slipped a pass over to Espinoza that led to a breakaway. Espinoza redeemed himself as he chipped the ball past Maurer into the lower left corner for his first goal of the season.

Cowell made it 3-0 in the 59th minute for San Jose on a highlight reel of a goal. Cowell received the ball from 10 yards out and fought off one FC Dallas defender. The 17-year old sensation deked out another before putting the ball past Maurer in the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

FC Dallas spoiled Marcinkowski’s shutout bid in the 79th minute. Ricardo Pepi cleaned up the rebound off a shot by Andrés Ricaurte as he buried the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

Captain Chris Wondolowski, who came in as a substitute in the 71st minute, was ejected by Ford on a dubious call at best. His foul on Jose Antonio Martinez at first resulted in a yellow card despite minimal contact on the play. Ford then changed his mind a minute later and issued Wondo’s second red card of his career.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had 3 corner kicks. FC Dallas had 5.

The Earthquakes are unbeaten in seven straight meetings with FC Dallas (W5 D2), their longest current unbeaten run against any opponent. San Jose last went longer without a loss to Dallas during a nine-game run (W2 D7) from 2004 to 2009.

Phelipe replaced Maurer in the 61st minute as Mauarer was injured on the goal by Cowell

UP NEXT: The Quakes host DC United on Saturday 5/1 at 8:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

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