Category: San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose sports podcast with Ana Kieu and Jerry Feitelberg: Do the Quakes really have home field advantage?; Is it time to throw in the towel on SJSU football?

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose sports podcast with Ana:

1. The Quakes took on the WhiteCaps at BC Place in Vancouver on September 1st. What were your three takeaways from this match and how did it compare to the August 25th match at Avaya Stadium?

2. The Wondo watch remains in full effect as Chris Wondolowski is just four goals away from making history. Right now, Wondo has 142 goals.

3. Vako is the other Quakes player that fans should be talking about whether or not they’re a diehard or a casual fan.

4. Quakes attacking midfielder and Loomis, Calif. native Tommy Thompson is grateful for the amazing fans.

5. The Quakes will host a Beer Fest at Avaya Stadium on September 15th versus Sporting Kansas City. All proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

6. Flipping the script to San Jose State football. The Spartans lost to the UC Davis Aggies 44-38 and that was a game that they were supposed to win, according to most Spartans’ media members and fans and even some college football odds in Las Vegas.

7. A lot of people have contacted you through email, phone and social media that it’s time to throw in the towel on SJSU football. Do you still stand by your prediction of 5-7 and do you think that head coach Brent Brennan should get fired?

Ana does the San Jose sports podcast each week at sportsradioservice.com

Road woes: Earthquakes lose to WhiteCaps 2-1 at BC Place

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: London Marq

The San Jose Earthquakes took a trip to the Great White North and were welcomed by the eighth-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on Saturday night. It would prove to be physically challenging match for San Jose as they drew 22 fouls from Vancouver.

The opening score came from WhiteCaps midfielder Alphonso Davies at the 22nd minute. The Quakes remained off-balance, despite controlling the possession for the majority of the game, as well as passing with 82% accuracy for the match.

San Jose found themselves in themselves in the scoring third often enough, with 11 shots taken. However, as it has been all season, opportunities continue to slip through the Quakes’ fingers. Only 2 of 11 shots required goalie intervention.

The WhiteCaps found more success, and founds that they could work the opposing keeper more often, with 5 of 16 shots on target. In the 78th minute, Vancouver’s Nicolas Mezquida effectively shut the door on the Quakes’ hopes of winning the match, when he scored to make it a 2-0 game.

These two teams played a full 90 minutes of soccer plus three minutes of stoppage time. Vako helped the Quakes avoid getting shutout by the WhiteCaps by scoring his ninth goal of the season at the 90th minute.

The WhiteCaps defeated the Quakes 2-1.

Since it’s late in the season and with a negative cellar-dweller image in place, San Jose needs to reevaluate for the team’s future. If they can’t find a way to build a more consistent team with better chemistry, they will be bottom feeders again next year.

The Quakes return home to Avaya Stadium, where they’ll host Sporting KC on Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 pm PDT.

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: What did the Quakes do at home?; plus SJSU football preview

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Photo credit: @SutterHealth

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. The Vancouver WhiteCaps edged the San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 at Avaya Stadium last Saturday night. What were your three takeaways from that match?

2. The Quakes hosted FC Dallas last night at Avaya. What do you have to say about that match?

3. Speaking of last night, the Quakes hosted A’s night for those who are A’s and Quakes fans. How did that turn out?

4. The Quakes head to British Columbia to take on the WhiteCaps this Saturday. What are three things the Quakes need to do in order to beat or at least draw with the WhiteCaps?

5. The Quakes will face Cruz Azul FC in an international friendly at Avaya on October 13th. Do you think that’s a good matchup?

6. The San Jose State Spartans host the UC Davis Aggies in its season opener at CEFCU Stadium tonight. What’s your prediction for the Spartans and do you think they’ll beat the Aggies?

Catch Ana on the San Jose Earthquakes podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes win wild 4-3 match over FC Dallas to snap home winless streak

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The 4000 lb gorilla has officially left Avaya Stadium. Chris Wondolowski was the difference in an offensive juggernaut featured in the second half. His game-winning goal help the San Jose Earthquakes (4-14-8) defeat the Western Conference leading FC Dallas (13-6-7) 4-3 on Wednesday evening in front of a small, but raucous crowd.

The victory snapped the Quakes’ longest home winless streak in franchise history of 12 games. The Quakes hadn’t won at home since the season opening match on March 3rd against FC Minnesota.

The Quakes captain was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench as a substitute the past five games. His last start was on July 25th, a home match against the Seattle Sounders. His game-winning goal came in the 62nd minute when he received the ball just outside the defense box and made a pretty give-and-go with Vako. As two FC Dallas defenders collapsed on Vako, Wondo was left all alone and fired a strike into the upper left corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.

The Wondo Watch is now at 142, only three away from Landon Donovan’s MLS record of 145. It was also his 40th game-winning goal of his career. Which just so happens to be second in MLS history to guess who, Donovan, who had 41 of them.

“It’s great to get the goal,” said Wondo. “I keep using this word, but I’m so proud to be the captain of these guys. To be with them, to be out there fighting. It’s a huge win.”

FC Dallas would get off to another quick start against San Jose. In the eighth minute, Michael Barrios received a favorable bounce off a throw in and centered the ball right into the middle of the box where both Nick Lima and Quakes goalie Andrew Tarbell both went for the ball that deflected off Tarbell and right into a waiting Maxi Urruti. The Argentinian play-maker wasted no time tapping it into an empty net for his seventh goal of the season.

Vako would give the Quakes the equalizer in the 16th minute when after a nice give and goal with Magnus Eriksson, he was able to get the ball inside the box after a failed header clearing attempt by Matt Hedges left Vako all alone with a clear path to the goal where he took two dribbles and rocketed a shot into the upper left corner of the goal past FC Dallas goalie Jimmy Maurer . It was the Georgian striker’s seventh goal of the season.

Hedges would be the focus of another blunder in the 30th minute when he misfired wide right on a wide-open net after receiving a great centering feed from Barrios.

Vako proved to be a one man show in the 42nd minute when he gave the Quakes a 2-1 lead. He received a pass from Jahmir Hyka from 20 yards out, then dribbled down the middle of the box where he magically was able to get the ball through three FC Dallas defenders and once again had a clear path to the goal. He snapped a shot past a diving Maurer into the right corner of the goal for his eighth goal of the season leaving FC Dallas stunned.

“We had a lack of balance from our side tonight,” said FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja. “When you get three goals on an away game and don’t get points, obviously something didn’t work out well.”

FC Dallas tied the game in the 51st minute when substitute Santiago Mosquerea, who came in to start the second half, was rewarded after taking a centering pass from Urruti and fired a shot from 10 yards out past Tarbell for just his second goal of the season.

However, the deadlock wouldn’t last long when three minutes later at the 54th minute, Eriksson scored on a spectacular shot from 20 yards out. Eriksson worked a give-and-go with Wondo and on the return feed bent one in just inside the upper left corner of the post that Maurer had no chance at. It was the Swedish midfielder’s seventh goal of the season.

“I think the combination play up front has been better,” said Eriksson. “We have gotten to know each other better. It has worked well for the moment. We finally took three points at home and it’s a good feeling.”

FC Dallas would not go quietly as just four minutes after Eriksson’s goal at the 58th minute. they would get the equalizer at the 57th minute when Dominque Badji finished a pretty tic-tac-toe of a goal. Urruti sent a pass over to right side to Jacori Hayes, who then centered the ball over to a wide-open net. Badji, who one-timed the ball into an empty net for his team-leading ninth goal on the season.

“Not happy,” Quakes head coach Mikael Starhe jokingly said when asked about how he felt about the four-goal span in 10 minutes. “We talked about it in the locker room that we have to continually play our game and follow our game plan.”

Things would settle down after Wondo’s goal. However, FC Dallas put the pressure on the Quakes in the final minutes of stoppage time. Lima made a game saving sliding deflection to knock out the ball past the net in the final seconds of stoppage time.

GAME NOTES: The Quakes were without the services of defenseman Harold Cummings who was suffering from a thigh injury.

FC Dallas was without midfielder Carlos Grueza due to a suspension from yellow card accumulation.

There were no yellow or red cards issued in the game by referee Sorin Stoica.

The Quakes are now undefeated in their past four games against FC Dallas 3-0-1, including 3-1-4 in their last eight against FC Dallas. Overall, they are 16-8-8 against FC Dallas.

Jahmir Hyka’s goal streak was snapped against FC Dallas. He scored his last three matches against them.

UP NEXT: The Quakes travel to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps on Saturday, September 1 at BC Place at 7:00 pm PDT.

Whitecaps come back from 2-0 deficit to edge the Earthquakes 3-2

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By Marko Ukalovic and Alexandra Evans

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Earthquakes (3-14-8) might want to want to hire a voodoo doctor with their way their luck has been this season at home. Down 2-0 entering the second half, the Vancouver Whitecaps (10-9-7) rattled off three unanswered goals to edge the Quakes 3-2 on Saturday evening at Avaya Stadium.

It was a very important win for Vancouver. With 37 points on the season, they currently are tied with the Portland Timbers in sixth place and jumped over the Seattle Sounders in the MLS standings. All three teams are vying for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

For the Quakes, they still haven’t won at home since their season opening match against Minnesota FC back on March 3rd.

It looked like the Quakes would snap their 11-game winless streak at Avaya when they drew first blood early in the first half when Jahmir Hyka intercepted a clearing attempt by Vancouver’s Aaron Maund off of a centering pass by Nick Lima in the seventh minute. Hyka collected the ball and fired off a shot into the lower left corner of the goal past Whitecaps goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic for his third goal on the season.

San Jose would double their lead when Marcel de Jong tripped Danny Hoesen just inside the box at the 15th minute. The foul was initially ruled outside the box, but after the video review, the Quakes were awarded the penalty shot.

Magnus Eriksson converted the penalty for a 2-0 lead with a low line drive to the left corner of the goal beating a diving Marinovic for his fifth goal of the season at the 18th minute.

Quakes goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell made a nice diving save off of a Kei Kamara, the Whitecaps’ leading goal scorer, header to open up the first minute of the second half. Tarbell was able to tip the ball away from the goal. It was a foreshadow of things to come in the second half.

“We played well the first 30 minutes,” said Quakes head coach Mikael Stahre. “After we conceded the first goal, we lost everything. The power, the willingness to play the game.”

Yordy Reyna would cut the lead in half in the 59th minute on a free kick from 25 yards out for his fourth goal of the season. The free kick was set up, thanks to a foul committed by Luis Felipe. Reyna’s shot deflected off Tarbell’s hand into the right corner of the net.

Three minutes later, Vancouver would tie the game when Kamara created a counter attack. He passed the ball over to the left side for a streaking Cristian Techera, who deked out Florian Jungwirth and fired the ball past Tarbell into the net for his eighth goal of the season at the 62nd minute.

“They gotta believe they are good players,” said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. “When they produce performances like that, especially in the second half, we’re just not that nice to play against–which is a good trait to have.

Kamara would give the Whitecaps the lead in the 68th minute when Reyna received a long ball from midfield on the left side and centered the ball over to a wide-open Kamara, who tapped the ball into an empty net for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.

“It was a gut punch,” said Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski. “(We) played so well for so long and then (you) have 15 minutes of complete letdowns.”

An apparent hand ball inside the Vancouver box on Maund wasn’t called in the 83rd minute when a centering feed fell beside Maund and appeared to touch his arm. Maund was then taken out by friendly fire four minutes later when his teammate Kendall Watson’s forearm smacked him upside his head when both players were attempting to clear out a centering pass.

Even with six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game, San Jose would fail to get the equalizing goal and drop another heartbreaker at home.

GAME NOTES: Anibal Godoy received a yellow card in the 30th minute after a sliding tackle on Reyna. Reyna received a yellow card in the 51st minute for unsportsmanlike conduct when he spiked the ball protesting a foul. A minute later, Vancouver’s Felipe was also issued a yellow card as well as De Jong was tagged with a yellow card on a vicious tackle on Lima at the 52nd minute.

Play was stopped a minute into stoppage time in the first half when Jakob Nerwinski collided with Joel Quiberg as both players were playing a loose ball in the air. Both players did not suffer an injury on the play.

This past Wednesday, Quakes defenseman Guram Kashia was named the recipient of the inaugural #EqualGame award from UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, for his stand in the wake of intense criticism after wearing a rainbow-colored armband in October.

UP NEXT: The Quakes return back to action on Wednesday, August 29 as they host FC Dallas at Avaya Stadium 7:30 pm PDT.

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Wondo watch in full effect; plus SJSU football updates

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. Chris Wondolowski scored goal No. 141 in the Quakes’ 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium. The Wondo watch is in full effect.

2. Aside from Wondo, what were some other takeaways from the Quakes vs. Toronto FC match?

3. Why did head coach Mikael Stahre wait until the 89th minute to allow Dominic Oduro to make his Quakes debut?

4. The Quakes have two more games in their current homestand. What do they need to do in order to defeat or at least settle for a draw with the Vancouver WhiteCaps and Dallas FC?

5. San Jose State football is just around the corner. Was the Spartans’ second and final scrimmage of this year’s Fall Camp better than expected?

6. Joe from Akron, Ohio asked, “Do the Spartans look better than last year?”

Catch Ana on the San Jose sports podcast each week at SportsRadioService.com!

Wondo’s sub heroics help Earthquakes earn draw against Toronto FC 1-1

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By Marko Ukalovic and Alexandra Evans

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Just when the San Jose Earthquakes (3-13-8) were left for dead, the heroics of their captain Chris Wondolowski, who came off the bench as a sub rescued his team and prevented another home loss in a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC (6-12-6) at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. San Jose still only has one win at home on the season.

The first half would go scoreless. However, the Quakes had three great chances to break open the deadlock. In the 22nd minute, Vako dribbled between three defenders inside the box only to have his right foot shot blocked away by Toronto FC goalie Alex Bono.

Vako would create another chance three minutes later when he dribbled in to the right of the box, back flipped the ball to defenseman Joel Quiberg, who made a perfect cross over to Eriksson, whose rocket of a shot was thwarted by Bono.

“Feels like those chances reflect on (how) our season (has gone) so far,” said Eriksson. “We are playing better as a team, creating chances. But we still missed the three points, especially (here) at home.”

The best opportunity for the Quakes came at the 35th minute when Danny Hoesen received a ball from 12 yards out and centered a ball off the hands of Bono that trickled out to the middle of box where Eriksson had a wide-open net to shoot at. His attempt was deflected over the net on a desperation tackle by Justin Morrow.

“From my perspective, it was the best 45 minutes of the season,” said head coach Mikael Stahre. “We created five really big chances in the first half. If we score in the first half, we would win the game.”

Toronto FC’s best chance in the first half came when Marco Delgado centered ball into the middle of the box where Jordan Hamilton was one-on-one with Quakes goalie Andrew Tarbell, but Hamilton was whistled offside at the 17th minute.

Lukas Janson, who made his debut for the defending MLS champions, drew first blood for Toronto FC in the 59th minute after taking a pretty centering feed from Gregory van der Wiel, who came in as a substitution for Ashtone Morgan a minute earlier. Janson tapped the ball into an empty net for his first career MLS goal.

Wondolowski’s equalizer for the Quakes in the 77th minute came on his own rebound. His initial shot from eight yards out was stopped by Bono, but he was not able to hold on to the rebound. Wondolowski crashed the net and kicked the ball into an empty net for his seventh goal on the season.

“You want to prove that you deserve time out there,” said Wondolowski. “Earn minutes anyway you can. I try to make any impact I can. I do like starting though. But I don’t mind coming off the bench.”

San Jose had one last chance to escape with a win late in the match, but Kashia’s header off a Chris Wehan free kick in the second minute of stoppage time sailed wide of the net.

GAME NOTES: Defenseman Shea Salinas had to sit out the game due to a red card he received last week against the Colorado Rapids. Toronto FC was without forward Jozy Altidore and defenseman Chris Mavinga, who were both suspended.

WONDO COUNTDOWN! Wondolowski is now four goals away from the all-time lead in MLS history with 141 goals. Former Quake Landon Donovon is the leader with 145 goals.

Dominic Oduro made his debut for the quakes as a substitute for Eriksson in the 89th minute. Oduro was acquired in a trade on August 8th that sent Quincy Amarikwa to the Montreal Impact.

Guram Kashia received a yellow card in the 52 minute of the match when dragged down Janson.

The Earthquakes are in the midst of a 10-game home winless run (0-5-5), tied for their longest such streak in club history, June–August 2000.

Tarbell has conceded 10 goals from outside the box this season. Since 2010, only one keeper has allowed more such goals in a single season.

Toronto FC has one win in their last seven-league away games (0-3-3), allowing 2+ goals in five of the seven matches.

The overall series is now 5-5-5.

UP NEXT: The Quakes take on the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, August 25 at Avaya Stadium at 7 pm PDT.

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Quakes wrap up August with three matches; plus San Jose State football updates

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. The Quakes lost a heartbreaker to the Colorado Rapids 2-1 last Saturday at DSG Park. What went wrong?

2. Three Quakes Academy players are now CONCACAF Girls’ Under-15 Champions after shutting out Mexico 3-0 for a first-place finish.

3. Just a reminder, Chivas will take on Pumas at Levi’s Stadium on October 10th.

4. Do you think the Quakes can beat Toronto FC at Avaya Stadium this Saturday?

5. Quakes forward Dominic Oduro turned 33 on Monday.

6. Talk about what’s going on with the San Jose State Spartans at CEFCU Stadium.

Catch Ana on the San Jose Earthquakes podcast each Wednesday at SportsRadioService.com!

After red card, Earthquakes lose heartbreaker to Rapids 2-1

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By Pearl Allison Lo

The Colorado Rapids went double on the dramatics, scoring in the 93rd minute to take the match 2-1 over the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.

Colorado would be the first one to go on a winning streak out of the two teams, as the Rapids won their last game in the 90th minute.

San Jose’s Shea Salinas received a red card in the 88th minute for an elbow to the face of Dillon Serna trailing behind him. This prompted the rest of the players to gather. Serna and Harold Cummings received yellow cards the next minute.

Kellyn Acosta passed forward and Édgar Castillo made the short pass to his right to Bismark Boateng in the box to set up the winner. Boateng then got the two defenders in front of him to fall as he kicked and also Quakes goalie Andrew Tarbell, as the ball rolled in for Boateng’s first career goal since he entered the MLS in 2017.

Game possession stayed at roughly 60% for Colorado and 40% for the Quakes for the match. Shots ended up pretty even, 16-15, respectively.

The Rapids struck first in the 24th minute. Acosta took the corner and Sam Nicholson raced in to receive it and give it back to Acosta, who put the ball in from outside the box, Tommy Smith then headed in the finish. It was Acosta’s first helper for his new team.

San Jose’s attempts by Jahmir Hyka and Vako in the first half went into the hands of Rapids captain Tim Howard.

For the first half, Colorado’s Jack McBean along with San Jose’s Castillo and Danny Hoesen had two shots apiece. A shot on goal apiece went to Smith, McBean, Vako and Salinas.

Vako had another shot on goal that did not make it through–along with a game-high five shots and three shots on goal–and Tarbell made a face-to-face save in the 53nd minute.

In the 58th minute, Guram Kashia drew a penalty and the Quakes finally got past the invisible wall that was connected to Howard, when Magnus Eriksson converted on a penalty kick.

San Jose temporarily had the lead in the 66th minute, but it was taken away for an offside after the ball seemingly deflect in from Vako off Hyka.

Wondolowski then replaced Hyka in the following minute.

Up Next: The Quakes go home to Avaya Stadium for a three-game homestand, starting with Toronto FC next Saturday at 7 pm PDT.

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Quakes prepare to wrap up homestand vs. Colorado Rapids; plus San Jose State football updates

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Photo credit: @luisfelipe_7

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana:

1. The Quakes will wrap up their brief, two-game homestand Saturday night at 6 pm PDT. They’ll welcome the Colorado Rapids to Avaya Stadium.

2. Tell us more about Vako’s creative play and how it has been helping the Quakes as of late.

3. The MLS showed some love to San Jose after their match vs. Colorado.

4. The Quakes publicized the America Frias’ hat trick Tuesday morning.

5. Speaking of noteworthy moments, Vako was also named as the MLS’ Player of the Week.

6. Quakes defender Joel Qwiberg will be at the SoccerKraze in Campbell next Thursday, August 16 from 2 pm PDT to 3:30 pm PDT.

7. College football is just around the corner, and the San Jose State Spartans have already started their Fall Camp last Wednesday. What’s the lowdown on the August schedule prior to the Spartans’ kickoff vs. UC Davis on the 30th?

8. Terry Malley began his 64th birthday Tuesday with another morning of San Jose State football.

9. Senior Jake Colman is doing whatever it takes to be the Spartans’ starting left guard for the 2018 season.

Catch Ana on the Quakes and SJSU podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com