Photo credit: The Canadian Press via AP – Paul Chiasson
~ By Pearl Allison Lo
~ San Jose remained winless over Montreal, as the Quakes were held without a win in their last seven games as well Wednesday, 3-1.
It was San Jose’s first loss versus a Canadian team this season, as the Impact ended their four-game winless streak.
Just like last game versus Montreal, Chris Wondolowski scored and almost scored again. His game-high six shots tied a season-high and he remained after the game, the only current player on the team to score versus the Impact.
Dominic Oduro scored first for Montreal, after Matteo Mancosu’s shot went off Bingham in the 22nd minute.
10 minutes later, the Impact doubled their lead. Ignacio Piatti capitalized on a turnover, passed ahead to Mancosu and Mancosu returned the favor, sending the ball behind him to Piatti in the center.
In the second half, Wondolowski split the lead in the 62nd minute. It started when teammate Darwin Ceren took a long shot from beyond the box that goalie Evan Bush punched with his hands. Bush’s punch then went to Hassoun Camara’s head and to Wondolowski’s left foot.
Things looked even better for the Quakes when Laurent Ciman fouled Shea Salinas, resulting in a penalty kick. Wondolowski took the kick, but Bush made the save with his legs in the 85th minute.
Substitute Johan Venegas then essentially put the game out of reach in the 92nd minute. He took a side pass from Piatti and beat Bingham on his right side.
San Jose’s Alberto Quintero could be seen limping after the game after suffering seven fouls.
Game notes: The Quakes finished with 62.1% possession. San Jose next plays Real Salt Lake October 1 at 7:30pm.
photo by sjearthquakes.com: They battled they tussled but the San Jose Earthquakes came up a goal and three points short in their loss to Sporting KC at Avaya Stadium on Saturday
SAN JOSE, Calif.–On the same night three MLS team stamped their ticket to the playoffs, the San Jose Earthquakes stubs were torn to shreds by Sporting KC in a 2-1 loss. Dropping three important points for San Jose makes their playoffs dreams extremely bleak with just five games remaining in the season.
The Quakes nightmare started early, as star striker Quincy Amarikwa went down in the opening minute after a mid-air collision with KC keeper, Tim Melia. After reviewing the replay, it appeared that Amarikwa sustained a brutal knee injury that will likely put him out until next summer. Quakes’ head coach, Dominic Kinnear confirmed that Quincy will undergo the proper scans on Sunday.
After Amarkiwa was finally stretchered off the pitch, Sporting added insult to injury burring a goal in the seventh minute. Dom Dwyer found the back of the net heading home a set piece after he spilt between three different Quakes defenders that failed to pick up the assignment.
Kansas City’s second goal also came on a set piece, as Kevin Ellis backheeled a corner kick for the game-winner. Kinnear mentioned the importance of the set piece and how they have not been up to Earthquakes’ standards.
San Jose’s lone goal came from Simon Dawkins, who hit a near empty net after beautiful footwork from Henok Goitom, who picked up his first assist in an Earthquakes kit. Goitom mentioned that the team has to take it one match at a time, “and if you’re thinking about the playoffs, you’re looking too far ahead”.
San Jose has two games remaining at Avaya Stadium, and it is unknown at this time whether or not the Ultras will be making a return this season, as the protested the game on Saturday night due to sanctions placed on them after incidents involving smoke bombs at the September 10th home game.
If the Ultras decide not to support their local team, Avaya Stadium definitely has the potential of being dead silent for the final two games of the 2016 campaign after Saturday night’s near elimination.
~ Photo credit: Garrett W. Ellwood/Colorado Rapids
~ By Pearl Allison Lo
~ Several streaks were continued as San Jose and Colorado drew Saturday 0-0.
The Quakes now have a 14-game unbeaten streak (7-0-7), including a third straight shutout versus the Rapids. San Jose’s winless streak was extended to five.
Colorado had their third straight shutout at home.
The first half was an even 50/50 in terms of possession.
Both goalies made big plays in the first half.
In the 24th minute, Rapids’ Dominique Badji had a breakaway but David Bingham stood his ground. Bingham got his hands on the ball and when Badji got his feet back on the ball, Badji kicked the ball across the net.
All the cards in the game went to Colorado in relatively quick succession. Former Quake Sam Cronin, Dillon Powers and Axel Sjoberg received yellow cards for unsporting behavior.
San Jose threatened late in the first half. In the 42nd minute, Darwin Ceren and Fatai Alashe shot at net, Chris Wondolowski with the assist on the latter one. Then in the following minute, Tim Howard stopped Simon Dawkins right up front with a hook save.
In the second half, Bingham was forced to make saves in the 67th and 68th minute.
After the 74th minute, it was the Rapids’ defense that kept them in the match.
The Quakes continued with attempts near the end of the second half. Quincy Amarikwa had the most with attempts in the 80th, 84th and 93rd minute, but two were blocked and one missed.
Andres Imperiale also had a blocked attempt in the 83rd minute and made a tackle in the box in the 86th minute.
Game notes: Badji had a season-high five shots. San Jose next plays Kansas City September 24 at 7:30pm.
sjearthquakes.com photo: San Jose Earthquakes Chris Wondolowski scores his tenth goal becomes the first player to score ten or more goals in seven seasons as he faces off here against the Seattle Sound on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium
SAN JOSE, Calif.-The Earthquakes struck early, but failed to fend off a late surge from an aggressive Seattle Sounders team on Saturday night, settling for a 1-1 draw in a crucial game in the Western Conference race.
The draw between the Western Conference rivals caps off a frustrating four-game skid for San Jose in which the team has been held without a win while sitting in the 7th spot in the standings.
While the Earthquakes will certainly take the one point allotted to them in Saturday night’ tie, the frustration is mounting within an organization that’s on the fringe of being eliminated from the playoff race.
“It hurts,” said head coach Dominic Kinnear. “If you look at New York, Houston and even tonight, you walk off the field with two points out of those three games. It hurts you in the standings and it hurts because I think we should have had more.”
Entering the day just three points behind the red line in a tight race for the final playoff position, San Jose looked to snap their untimely winless streak with a relentless attack that kept Seattle on their heals through most of the early going.
San Jose tested Seattle’s net minder Stefan Frei early and often while scrapping their way to multiple set pieces early on in the match, sending multiple dangerous attempts towards the net that were just barely turned away.
But it would be none other than Chris Wandolowski who would snap the Earthquakes’ streak of 235 straight minutes without a goal, as the captain would flick a shot passed the outstretched hands of Frei in the 20′ minute after a nice touch by Jordan Stewart sent the ball towards the front of the net.
Wandolowski’s score would mark his 10th career goal against Seattle, the most by a single player in MLS history against the team.
The Sounders would respond with a tempered attack of their own, as Seattle’s Tyrone Mears threatened an equalizer after skipping a ball across the front of the San Jose goal just minutes later, but San Jose would escape the half holding their 1-0 advantage.
Entering the final half of play in a desperate bid to keep their own playoff hopes alive, the Sounders pushed forward against the San Jose defense with relentless pressure of their own, dominating the control of the game.
San Jose’s defense would eventually break on a costly mistake, allowing a free kick from Nicolas Lodeiro to squeak past goaltender David Bingham to notch things up at 1-1.
San Jose fought desperately for a last-minute score to reclaim the lead, sending multiple threatening free kicks and a botched strike by Chad Barrett towards Seattle’s net, but had their efforts turned away to end the night with just one point.
After the game, both coaches expressed dismay at the outcome that barely helped either of the two playoff hopefuls.
“You can’t creep up, you have to take big steps,” said Kinnear. “But right now we’re creeping instead of taking big steps.”
San Jose will look for the elusive three-point win next Saturday in the tough confines of the Colorado Rapids
SAN JOSE- The San Jose Earthquakes invited C.F. Pachuca, a club from Mexico and last year’s Liga MX champions, to play in an international friendly in San Jose. The Quakes attempted a big comeback but ultimately fell short, losing 4-3 as time expired.
The first half was all Pachuca as the international club netted two first half goals to hold a two goals to none lead. It appeared that if the first half continued into the second, San Jose was headed for some major trouble.
And when the second half begun, it looked troubling as the visiting team struck first with another goal early in the half from a penalty kick. Fortunately, San Jose was poised to fight back down by three goals and they did just that.
In minute 64, the Earthquakes were on the scoreboard, when midfielder Tommy Thompson found the back of the net for the first time this season. Thompson has been on loan from SJ’s affiliate, the Sacramento Republic FC, since July. Four other players from the Sac Republic squad came on loan to compete in the friendly as well.
The Quakes showed a ton of fight, even though their opponent scored on a penalty kick again just two minutes later. San Jose battled back down by three goals and actually scored a minute after Pachuca. Midfielder Shea Salinas was the shooter as he nailed the far side netting.
In between minutes 60 and 70, the two teams scored three goals altogether as both offenses hit their stride with a little bit of help from chippy play. Pachuca’s midfielder, Ruben Botta, received two yellow cards and was sent off the field around the same time as all the goals.
With their opponents down a man, the Earthquakes hoped to take advantage and cut the two goals lead. However, it took the team too long as they were finally able to cut the lead to one in the second minute of extra play.
Once again it was Salinas who got it past the goalkeeper, but ultimately the Earthquakes fell short, 4-3.
Salinas had a tremendous game and some incredible goals to go with it. The Quakes have struggled to score recently so Saturday night’s friednly was a positive for them going forward.
San Jose’s next matchup is against the Seattle Sounders, next Saturday in San Jose at Avaya Stadium.
photo by sjearthquakes.com: The Columbus Crew stopped the San Jose Earthquakes at every turn for a shutout at Mapfre Stadium
In a battle for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, the San Jose Earthquakes couldn’t move up in the standings after a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew on the road on Saturday.
The Crew scored a goal in each half in their shutout of the Quakes, who were outshot 14-7. Ethan Finley converted in the 32nd minute off a cross from Justin Meram. Finley slid the ball past David Bingham to give Columbus a 1-0 lead.
Bingham had to leave the game late in the first half, after an apparent back injury sustained while diving for a ball. That allowed Andrew Tarbell to make his MLS debut in net, and he impressed immediately with a big save off Adam Jahn.
But Tarbell had little help in front of him. The Earthquakes managed few offensive chances, with Chris Wondolowski not making much of an impact.
Meanwhile, the Crew put the game away in the in the 84th minute on a penalty kick goal by Meram. Merman drew the penalty attacking the net and was taken down by Marvell Wynne. Up 2-0, Columbus was well on its way to winning three points.
The Earthquakes’ next match will be Sept. 10 against the Sounders. They are currently tied with the Timbers for the sixth and final playoff spot
ISI photos: San Jose Earthquakes and New England Revolution deadlock to a 0-0 draw at Avaya Stadium on Wednesday night
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Earthquakes saw a valuable three points slip away Wednesday night at Avaya Stadium with the Quakes settling for a nil-nil draw with the visiting New England Revolution. With only nine games remaining in the regular season the Quakes are locked with the Portland Timbers for the sixth and final playoff spot with 32 points.
Right on their heels are the Seattle Sounders (31 points) and Vancouver Whitecaps (30 points) pushing for the final berth in postseason play. The Revs, likewise, are trying to move up to the top of the table. They sit in eight place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind D.C. United (29 points) for the East’s last playoff spot.
The Quakes were dealt an early blow when forward Quincy Amarikwa had to be subbed for in the 34th minute with an injury. His replacement Chad Barrett failed to produce much in terms of offensive pressure, leading Quakes boss Dominic Kinnear to sub in Henok Goitom in the 76th minute.
The match itself was quite chippy, with the two teams combining for 28 fouls. Anibal Godoy, Darwin Ceren and Simon Dawkins all received yellow cards for the Quakes while the Revs’ Gershon Koffie and Teal Bunbury were also booked.
San Jose managed only seven shots, with one actually hitting the target of New England keeper Brad Knighton. David Bingham was forced to make saves on 3 of New England’s 12 shots on net.
The Quakes hit the road Saturday to face another team struggling to stay relevant in the East. San Jose faces the Columbus Crew, dead last in the division with 23 points, Saturday at 4:30 pm.
sjearthquakes. com photo: Victor Bernandez finds the inside of the net for the San Jose Earthquakes first and only goal of Friday night against the Houston Dynamos at Avaya Stadium in San Jose
SAN JOSE–Under smokey skies the San Jose Earthquakes took on the last place Houston Dynamo Friday night in an effort to seize hold of sixth place in the Western MLS standings. Houston has lost or tied their last 6 games and San Jose at the moment is on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff hopes. A win tonight coupled with a Portland loss would put San Jose into 6th place. Portland, which has struggled with away games, is on the road against Seattle this Sunday.
It has been tough of late for the Quakes who had played to six draws in their previous 11 road matches. San Jose was able to beat Vancouver 2-1 last Friday which may get them back on the winning track especially since road wins are so very difficult. With the Quakes one point behind Portland for a coveted playoff spot the momentum of that Vancouver win may be just what the team needs. “We are poised to do well in this run to the playoffs,” said forward Quincy Amarikwa. The Earthquakes are 5-3-1 all-time at home against the last-place Dynamos.
It was a tough start for San Jose missing a nice set-up and then watching as Houston drove downfield scoring the first goal of the evening taking the early lead 1-0 when #6 Ricardo Clark scored. Late in the first half the Earthquakes had a direct free-kick, missing on the attempt that could have tied up the game. Houston would take the 1-0 lead into the locker room at the half. Although San Jose created three chances they only took one shot on target.
The second half saw San Jose with several great scoring opportunities but coming away empty. Houston took full advantage creating a great chance early in the second half that enabled #50 David Horst to extend the Houston lead to 2-0. The Earthquakes kept the pressure on Houston and finally found the net off the foot of #5 Victor Bernandez San Jose now trailing 2-1. The second half saw more possession time for the Earthquakes and the creation of more scoring opportunities but there would be no further scoring for either team as Houston went on to win the game 2-1.
Head Coach Dominic Kinnear was disappointed at the outcome of this game. “I’m disappointed, we had a lot of chances but it just didn’t happen,” said Kinnear. He referred a number of times to the lost opportunity to catch Portland but did give credit to Houston despite the fact that they are last in the conference. “They are a good team and work well together,” he said.
While it was not the end all be all for the Earthquakes a win would have been pretty nice and was essentially expected especially playing at Avaya. The most disappointing of all was the fact that this was only the second loss at home for the team.
~ It seems San Jose likes their neighbors to the North, as they finally got their first road win this season and first against the Vancouver Whitecaps in their home all-time, 2-1.
The Quakes’ last win also came against a Canadian opponent, Toronto FC, making San Jose 2-0 this season against their Canadian foes.
Other similarities between the two games, were the score, the goal scorers and the timing. In both 2-1 matches, Quincy Amarikwa scored in the first half and Simon Dawkins doubled the score in the second half.
San Jose moved one point from a playoff spot as they extended their unbeaten streak to five games with their second win in a month.
Both sides hit the crossbar. In the 12th minute, the Quakes’ Fatai Alashe hit the crossbar.
While the keeper helped, San Jose got their first lead in Vancouver in over four years. Off a corner, Amarikwa headed the ball to goalkeeper David Ousted. With his hands on the ball, Ousted stumbled back into the net, but dropped the ball to make it 1-0 in the 14th minute.
In the 60th minute, Simon Dawkins made it 2-0 into a wide open net. Alberto Quintero got the assist.
The Whitecaps’ Blas Perez hit the crossbar in the 78th minute.
Bingham just missed his sixth shutout as Vancouver attacked relentlessly in stoppage time and broke through. Nicolas Mezquida’s shot was saved in the 93rd minute but not the 94th. Off a corner by Christian Bolanos, Kendall Watson headed the ball to the near corner where it bounced before Mezquida used a diving header to put the ball above Bingham. After that, Watson had a close header.
Game notes: have now held opponents to solo goals in their last eight games. In his 50th start with the team, Cordell Cato played 90 minutes for now the sixth consecutive match. First 2-0 win since April 13.
Chris Wondolowski misfired on a few scoring chances in the Earthquakes’ scoreless draw against NYCFC on Friday (Kelley L Cox / USA Today Sports)
By: Eric He
SAN JOSE – Give Chris Wondolowski a prime scoring chance around the net and he’ll usually convert. On Friday night, he had not one, not two, not three, but four great opportunities in the second half to put one past the goalkeeper. None of them went in.
The result? A disappointing scoreless draw for the San Jose Earthquakes against the New York City FC in front of a sold-out Avaya Stadium.
“Not happy with this point, no,” head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “We should have come out with the win. I think we know that … We had some good looks. To come out with no goals is a bit surprising tonight.”
San Jose applied pressure throughout the second half and consistently knocked on the doorstep. Wondolowski had several chances from in close, none better than in the 69th minute when a deflected shot by Shea Salinas found Wondolowski all alone in front. But his volley bounced off the post to keep the match scoreless.
The captain said that was the opportunity he’d like to have back the most.
“I thought I had a little more time, but I’ve got to finish it,” he said.
Wondolowski also had opportunities in the 52nd and 57th minutes – the first of which was a header from point blank that went wide.
“I wasn’t losing any confidence,” Wondolowski said. “Just bad choices, bad execution, poor finishing.”
Chad Barrett subbed in and had a great scoring chance in the 76th minute off a terrific lead pass, but he was denied by NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders. Another excellent ball in the 84th minute gave Wondolowski a chance on an odd-man rush, but he once again took to long to shoot and his attempt was blocked.
“Soccer’s always that game,” he said. “It ebbs and flows. I think we created some chances, especially myself. We need to finish them, and that changes the whole course of the game.”
The Earthquakes, who outshot NYCFC 19-10, also had the better of opportunities in the first half, but both teams entered the locker room scoreless. The 10th minute featured a cross by Quincy Amarikwa to Anibal Godoy, but his shot went high. Amarikwa had a chance three minutes later in front, but Saunders gobbled up the ball.
Another chance early in the first half saw Alberto Quintero weave his way through the defense, but he couldn’t get the shot off. Godoy had another opportunity in the 24th minute from point blank, but Saunders made the stop.
“The attitude of the guys, they’re disappointed in the locker room right now,” Kinnear said. “Ties are good, but we’ve got to do better than good right now, we’ve got to get some wins. To win games we need to start scoring some goals.”
David Bingham fended off shots as well on his net, with is biggest save in the half coming in the 31st minute, stopping Frank Lampard. As a whole, the Earthquakes managed to keep NYCFC’s star-power at bay, with the high press proving effective.
In fact, it was the first time NYCFC, the highest scoring team in MLS, had been shutout in 11 matches.
“I felt we were solid defensively tonight,” said defenseman Jordan Stewart. “It didn’t look like we were going to concede a goal tonight the way we were playing.”
This is the Earthquakes’ third consecutive draw. They have 12 games remaining and sit two points out of a playoff spot. That isn’t ideal, Wondolowski admitted, but it’s enough to give him hope.
“I think we have a very special locker room,” he said. “I love what we have here. I still think we can do some great things. Nothing’s changed, nothing’s wavered, and the belief is stronger than ever.”
Welcome aboard
Before the game, the Earthquakes made a trade, acquiring El Salvador National Team captain Darwin Ceren from Orlando City SC for Matias Perez Garcia and an international roster slot.
Ceren subbed in for Fatai Alashe in the 82nd minute, making his Earthquakes’ debut.
“I’m motivated to fit in and continue to play well with these guys,” he said. “Now I have to continue to play hard and earn the right to continue to play significant minutes.”
