Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes
By Marko Ukalovic and Alexandra Evans
SAN JOSE — The San Jose Earthquakes (1-2-2) and Houston Dynamo (1-2-2) came into their game with the same record and desperate for a win. They ended the night still with the same record when they played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday evening at Avaya Stadium.
Houston had a scoring chance at the eight-minute mark, when Andrew Wenger received a pass from Romell Quioto, but missed the net by just a few feet. Then San Jose’s captain, Anibal Godoy, came close to the net within the 13-minute mark before the ball was cleared by Houston’s defense.
Magnus Eriksson broke the silence with a beautiful goal in the 25th minute, assisted by Jackson Yueill. Yueill was able to cross the ball into the middle of the box where Eriksson shot the ball past Dynamo goalie Chris Seitz.
Danny Hoesen came close to doubling the lead three minutes later, but was once again cleared by the Dynamo defenders. Tarbell made an excellent save off of Tomas Martinez at the 33rd minute, and Vako Qazaishvili attempted a shot for the Quakes within the 35th minute, but was blocked by Alejandro Fuenmayor.
Hoesen had two wide open scoring opportunities at the 42nd minute, both of which were stopped at the very last second by Seitz. Vako had a scoring chance at the 45th minute which went wide of net.
“Obviously I want to be in good spots and score,” said Hoesen about his team not capitalizing on their chances in the first half. “I’ve learned you gotta keep making the runs. So I gotta keep making my runs. We were off a little bit tonight. Hopefully next game it will be better.”
The Dynamo took control of play immediately in the second half. Martinez got the equalizer goal in the 48th minute off of a rebound and his shot deflected off a Quakes defender foot and into the net.
They would take the lead in the 68th minute when Alberth Elis made a nice centering pass from the right corner over to Mauro Manotas who one-timed the ball while crashing into the net to give Houston a 2-1 lead.
“We were aware of Elis’s strong play,” said head coach Mikael Stahre. “He’s big and fast. We were in big trouble at the point (of the game).”
The Quakes would get their own equalizer in the 85th minute when substitute Quincy Amerikwa’s shot was blocked by a Dynamo defender. Jahmir Hyka, who substituted in at the 67th minute, possessed the ball, dribbled in and used a Dynamo defender as a screen to shoot the ball past Seitz who never had any vision of the shot.
“It was an important goal for us for sure,” said Stahre about Hyka’s performance. “He replaced Vako. He came in with energy and quality. So I’m happy with him that’s for sure.”
Quakes goalie Andrew Tarbell for the second consecutive week tied his career mark with making seven saves in a game. He did it last week against the Philadelphia Union.
GAME NOTES: This marked the first time in 56 games that Chris Wondolowski did not start for the Quakes. He came in as a substitute for Fatai Alashe in the 66th minute.
“We wanted to make a tactical change”, said Wondo after the game. “We wanted to add another guy in the midfield. Coach (Stahre) talked to me about that, it’s the role he asked me to play. Going forward (you) try to take that the best you can.”
Both teams were without the services of one of their players due to serving one game suspensions. San Jose’s Harold Cummings receiving a red card last week in the match against Philadelphia. Houston’s DaMarcus Beasley was served a red card in the 35th minute in a match against New England.
Vako is one of eight players in the MLS that has multiple goals and assists (2G, 2A).
Yellow fever! Things were chippy throughout the game as there were a combined 6 yellow cards called. Houston had four (Martinez, Elis, Adolfo Machado and Darwin Ceren) and the Quakes two (Wondolowski and Francois Affolter.
San Jose is now 1-2-1 at Avaya Stadium this season.
UP NEXT: The Earthquakes face Orlando City next Saturday, April 21st at 4:30 pm PT.
