Category: San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes draw 1-1 with Dynamo on the road

Published on by Eric HeLeave a comment

By: Eric He

sjearthquakes.com photo: San Jose Earthquakes Chris Wondolowski who scored in the 59th minute to help force a draw was the game hero on Sunday in Houston

Chris Wondolowski’s second half goal was good enough to force a 1-1 draw for the San Jose Earthquakes on the road against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday night.

Down 1-0 in the 59th minute, Wondolowski found room in front off a cross from Cordell Cato, and he deflected it in to even the match. It was the captain’s 118th career goal and also marked an important milestone — Wondolowski has now scored against all 21 MLS teams he’s played against. His career actually started with the Dynamo before joining the Earthquakes.

“It’s kind of cool,” Wondolowski said on the accomplishment. “It is special. Houston has always had a special place in my heart and I really spent some great years here. It took a little while but it’s a great feeling.”

He almost had two goals on the night, but his chance from close range late in the first half was denied by Dynamo goalie Joe Willis. Instead, it was Houston which struck first in stoppage time, courtesy of Alex. The Brazilian forward zig-zagged his way around the Quakes’ defense and beat David Bingham to put the Dynamo ahead 1-0.

Opportunities were abound for both teams late to take a 2-1 lead, but the goaltenders stood tall. Simon Dawkins’ try from the left of the box was pushed aside by Willis in the 70th minute. Bingham came up huge in the 90th minute, stopping a free-kick attempt from Cristián Maidana that was headed by Andrew Wenger in on goal.

“We had some real good looks in the second half,” Quakes’ head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “Obviously they were taking control in the last little bit and we were kind of running on fumes there but that goal gave us some real good confidence. We had some real good looks to put up 2-1.”

San Jose outshot Houston 15-13, with shots on target even at three apiece, though the Dynamo controlled nearly 60 percent of the possession.

This is the Earthquakes’ ninth tie of the season, and they remain winless on the road at 0-5-6. They are still eighth in the West, and will face New York City FC at Avaya Stadium next on Friday.

Quakes draw with Real Salt Lake on the road

Published on by Eric HeLeave a comment

By: Eric He

sjearthquakes.com photo by Quakes team president David Kaval:  San Jose Earthquakes in Real Salt Lake on Friday

The San Jose Earthquakes couldn’t hang on to a one-goal lead as their match against Real Salt Lake on Friday night ended in a 1-1 draw.

Chris Wondolowski scored in the ninth minute to give the Quakes an early lead, but Luke Mulholland equalized in the 64th minute. Both teams had chances in the final third of the match to break the tie, thought neither was able to convert.

Real Salt Lake outshot San Jose 14-12 and held the majority of possession. Mulholland’s goal was a thing of beauty, as he converted off a clever lob pass by Javier Morales.

The goal answered Wondolowski’s strike from close range, finding the loose ball off a corner kick and converting past the goalkeeper.

Shea Salinas banged a shot off the crossbar in the 80th minute, as the Quakes’ best chance to re-take the lead came up inches high. Goaltender David Bingham and the Quakes’ defense stood their ground to salvage a draw.

San Jose is still without a road win this year and remains outside the playoff picture in the West at 26 points. Next up, the Quakes take on Houston on the road on July 31.

Dawkins Late Tally Lifts Undermanned Quakes Past Toronto FC 2-1

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

sjearthquakes.com photo: It’s a dog pile celebration as San Jose gets a one goal win over Toronto

SAN JOSÉ, Calif. – The San José Earthquakes faced an uphill battle Saturday night if they wanted to avoid losing two consecutive MLS matches at Avaya Stadium for the first time in club history. Despite being down two men for the final 37 minutes of play, a surprising strike in the 71st minute from Simon Dawkins pushed the Quakes (6-6-7) to a 2-1 win.

“I was dying inside,” said Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear. “I just wanted that final whistle to come a little quicker than it did.”

Dawkins pushed the shorthand attack up the field, then cut back on a Toronto defender before firing a shot from dead center. Reds rookie keeper Alex Bono was frozen on the bid, meekly hopping up to try to bat it away before watching it slip over his fingertips. For Dawkins, a designated player signed in the offseason for San José it was his second goal of the year.

“That was the loudest I’ve heared this place,” said Kinnear. “It made the fans go from being mad to being really hopeful. You could feel the sense of stadium from everybody.”

The win was a tremendous all-around defensive effort for the Quakes. Visiting Toronto FC (6-7-6), led by reigning MLS Most Valuable Player Sebastian Giovinco, played more than half the game up a man following Anibal Godoy’s red card in the 42nd minute. Another red card to Alberto Quintero in the 53rd minute gave the Reds plenty of time to leave the Bay Area with a full three points in hand.

“The second half seemed to last six hours,” quipped Kinnear. “Especially after Alberto was sent off. You just wanted to will them to win. But they were willing themselves to win.”

Toronto held nearl a 60-40 possession edge and were able to play in the attacking half for large swaths of the contest. The Reds fired 15 second half shots on keeper David Bingham, with only two hitting their mark.

“The guys were fantastic,” said Kinnear. “David coming out on crosses, we were blocking shots.”

Despite the considerable manpower advantage, Toronto only managed to score once, with the goal coming in the waning minutes of the first half with the Reds down 1-0. A pair of former Earthquakes connected on the then game-tying tally in the 44th minute when defender Justin Morrow tipped in San José native Steven Beitashour’s pass for his third marker of the season.

While Toronto score last in the first 45 minutes, the Quakes had their considerable share of chances. San José opened the match looking to push the pace early, scoring a goal in the 7th minute that ultimately was stricken due to an overeager Chris Wondolowski. Simon Dawkins found Wondolowski behind the Reds backline for the easy chip-in for the Quakes striker seeking to end a six-game goal-less drought. The 100-plus goal scorer will have to keep seeking his skid buster, as the referee called back the goal on an offside.

Former Toronto FC forward Quincy Amarikwa gave the Quakes their first lead in a contest since the middle of May, connecting on a Fatai Alashe cross in the 30th minute. Amarikwa took the cross, coming from Alashe outside the box on the left wing, and redirected it just in front of the Bono into the net for his second goal of the season.

With the win, the Earthquakes move a point behind Portland for and a win behind Vancouver for sixth and seventh place with a game in hand on both. They’ll hit the road for a pair of games against Real Salt Lake (July 22nd) and Houston (July 31st). The MLS All-Star game will also be held at Avaya Stadium July 28th, with the MLS’ best facing off against Arsenal.

Earthquakes blanked at home by FC Dallas as winless streak continues

Published on by Eric HeLeave a comment
The Earthquakes dropped their first home match all year on Friday against FC Dallas (Kelley L Cox / USA Today Sports)
The Earthquakes dropped their first home match all year on Friday against FC Dallas (Kelley L Cox / USA Today Sports)

By: Eric He

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Earthquakes’ winless streak reached seven matches on Friday night with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of FC Dallas at Avaya Stadium.

The away team scored the match’s lone goal in the 51st minute off the foot of Maximiliano Urruti, who delivered a bicycle-kick strike to put FC Dallas ahead six minutes into the second half.

The Quakes had their chances in the match, outshooting Dallas 12-7, but were unable to capitalize and find the equalizer. A ball put in the net in the 68th minute was waved off due to goaltender interference. Matias Perez Garcia’s long-range shot in the 70th minute skipped all the way through, but went wide.

“When we were down 1-0, our whole focus was to get that equalizer until the final whistle because we thought we were going to get [it],” midfielder Anibal Godoy said, via a translator. “We’ve done it over the last couple of games, especially at home. But it didn’t work out for us.”

A quality chance for Simon Dawkins 12 minutes later from the left was turned aside by FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz. And Perez Garcia’s poor ball handling despite having room at midfield in the 89th minute was all she wrote for the Quakes, who have been shutout in back-to-back matches.

“Right now we’re just not scoring enough goals,” head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “We’re playing from behind. It’s easier said than done to go out there and get the first goal. It’s a frustrating period for us right now. We’re a little bit disappointed in ourselves.”

The first half featured plenty of action but no goals. Urruti, the forward who had the bulk of the opportunities for FC Dallas, nearly put his club ahead in the 19th minute when he broke in alone, but Quakes’ goaltender David Bingham deflected it just enough to glance off the crossbar.

San Jose was inches away as well. A free kick by Godoy in the 32nd minute clanked off the post. Ten minutes later, Shea Salinas received a cross at point-blank range but his attempt was denied by Seitz. A header by Quincy Amarikwa on the ensuing corner kick sailed just high.

“This game we had a lot of chances,” Salinas said. “We hit the post. We had a bunch of other times where we were in on goal and it just wasn’t falling our way.”

The two teams went into halftime scoreless, but it didn’t take long for FC Dallas to seize control out of the break.

“We knew they were good in the counterattack and lost the ball in the middle of the field in the counterattack and they scored on us,” Salinas said on Urruti’s goal, which was set up on the rush by a long centering feed that was knocked down, deflected off Quakes’ defender Victor Bernardez, and right to Urruti, who timed his bicycle kick perfectly.

San Jose out-possessed FC Dallas, 54.2 percent to 45.8, and had eight corner kicks to FC Dallas’ five. But it wasn’t enough to get on the scoresheet.

“It’s getting that goal,” Kinnear said. “We’re lacking goals right now. To win games we need to score.”

This is the Quakes’ first loss in Avaya Stadium in 2016; the last defeat came in September of last year. It came at a bad time too, with the team looking to break out of a stale stretch of winless matches and stay afloat in the playoff picture. The Quakes remain at 22 points and eighth in the Western Conference; with a win, they would have been tied for fifth.

“We’re missing opportunities here,” Kinnear said. “Other teams have something to say about it, but we’re good enough to take these opportunities presented for us and put pressure on other teams.”

He added: “Things aren’t falling for us right now but that doesn’t mean we give up; we work harder.”

Next up, San Jose takes on Toronto FC a week from Saturday at home.

Earthquakes Fall to Fire In Chicago

Published on by bentleonard18Leave a comment

By Ben Leonard

photo by sjearthquakes.com: The Quakes take a tough loss in Chicago to the Fire 1-0

With five defenders injured, the San Jose Earthquakes (5-5-7) fell to the Chicago Fire (3-5-7) 1-0 on a goal by Joao Meira in the 38th minute. Even with the win on Friday, Chicago remained in the Eastern Conference’s cellar.

“We didn’t play good, simple as that,” Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear said Friday. “We just kept giving the ball away; it wasn’t like we were under a tremendous amount of pressure. We just didn’t play good.”

San Jose was outplayed and out-shot 16-6 (7-2 on goal) by Chicago, a team that had been last in the East in goals scored this season (15). Down several key regulars, the defense struggled to compete with the Fire, but kept the team in the game.

This wasn’t by any means unpredictable: the results simply haven’t been coming on the road for San Jose.With the loss, San Jose is left still in search of its first road win, going 0-5-4 in enemy territory this season. However, Kinnear isn’t too worried about being away from the friendly confines of Avaya Stadium going forward.

“I think the overall performances of the team is more important than the stadium we play in,” Kinnear said. “Saying that, I know we are good enough to win a game on the road, we need to stop giving up the first goal and coming from behind. Sometimes we need a little bit of magic and things to go our way and we’re not getting those right now.”

The defense hasn’t necessarily been the main issue for the Earthquakes — opponents have scored multiple times in just five of the Earthquakes last seventeen contests.

San Jose will look to rebound at home in their next contest, taking on FC Dallas (9-5-4) on Friday.

 

Fireworks at the California Clasico

Published on by joelamiLeave a comment

By: Joe Lami

photo from sjearthquakes.com: Promo for MLS Classico at Stanford Stadium on Saturday between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy

PALO ALTO, Calif.—The California Clasico never disappoints and 2016’s episode adds another great chapter to the historic rivalry between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy. The game that really saw everything, between great chances, red cards, and nearly all of the 50,816 fans in attendance yelling homophobic slurs ended in a 1-1 draw, thanks to some late heroics by the never-say-die Quakes.

The fans at Stanford Stadium truly saw fireworks on the pitch Saturday evening, right before one of the largest annual Bay Area firework displays lit up the Palo Alto sky.

San Jose had their mojo early, despite losing center back, Victor Bernardez to a right leg injury in just the seventh minute. Forward, Chad Barrett replaced him, changing the formation with the substitution. Barrett ended up being a vital piece for the Quakes, creating some great chances and knocking home the only San Jose goal of the evening in 90th minute.

The first half ended with no score, although San Jose had 12 of their 23 shot attempts.

Los Angeles scored first, netting home a header in the 69th minute. Steven Gerrard floated a cross from the right side into the middle of the box to find a wide open Giovani dos Santos for the 1-0 lead.

“I thought it was a really soft goal to give up. The ball was in the air a really long time,” said Earthquakes’ coach Dominic Kinnear.

Shea Salinas came in the 62 minute for San Jose, subbing Matias Perez Garcia and ended up being the difference maker. The guy known for his beautiful crosses had been working his magic, and it finally paid off in the 90th minute on a set piece when he found the head of Barett for the late equalizer. Barrett jumped high above the Galaxy defense and headed a one-bouncer past keeper, Brian Rowe for the score.

On military appreciation night, the pitch turned into a war-zone towards the end of the contest, as he nastiness reigned down, finishing with Ashley Cole receiving a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct just before the final whistle blew. LA coach, Bruce Arena, commented on the officiating, “if the officials look at that last 15 minutes of that game, they’d be very disappointed in their performance. That was a poor display.”

San Jose is content with the outcome, as they feel like they did enough to win the contest, but are also happy getting a point of it as well. Both San Jose and Los Angeles are battling for playoff position in the Western Conference. LA currently is one point up on San Jose in the standings. Each team has played 16 games.

Orlando and San Jose end even

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

~ Photo credit: Orlando City SC

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ In the first large event since the June 12 Orlando shooting, there were no true losers with each team earning a point, as the game ended in dramatic fashion in a 2-2 draw Saturday.

It was San Jose’s first game on Orlando City’s SC home turf and the opposing team was probably more favored than usual considering recent events.

With tributes even before the game, the Quakes partook with Orlando Pride shirts, patches, black armbands and multiple fundraising efforts.

At game end, Orlando remained unbeaten at home with a five game unbeaten streak and at least two goals in their last four MLS games. The Quakes ended a three-game scoreless drought with their most goals scored since May 11.

Orlando has scored at least one goal in all of their games this season.

The first half saw at least five shots for at least each team, but none on target. Orlando had the majority of possession.

San Jose’s Marvell Wynne started the game the way he ended last game, with a speedy clearance in the 3rd minute against Cyle Larin.

The Quakes’ Fatai Alashe and Shaun Francis were issued yellow cards in the 37th and the 39th minutes.

Both teams scored two goals in the second half. San Jose had the majority of possession.

The Quakes’ Victor Bernardez got a yellow in the 46th minute. From the 49th minute on, Orlando got their three yellow cards.

History was made in the league when play was stopped in the 49th minute for a moment of silence for the 49 victims from June 12. Fans held cards around the stadium to represent all the colors of the rainbow.

The scoring opened up in the 67th minute. From straightaway, Orlando’s Seb Hines headed the ball from Adrian Winter’s corner kick into the inside left netting.

San Jose’s Chad Barrett subbed in in the 78th minute and like teammate Shea Salinas who subbed in in the 62nd minute, they would soon contribute critically.

In the 85th minute, the Quakes’ moment came. Salinas sent an innocent looking pass in from beyond the corner of the penalty box. It became dangerous when Barrett then got the ball at a similar position to Hines, near the center of the goal box line. His header bounced past a late diving Joe Bendki, as it hit the ceiling of the net. Barrett’s enthusiasm after his goal was emphatic. It was his first goal in six games played with San Jose.

The teams were not done yet though, as both scored again in stoppage time.

It was a more powerful shot that entered the net in the 91st minute. Orlando’s Carlos Rivas also sent an innocent looking pass to Julio Baptista. His second touch earned him the goal, as goalie David Bingham got his hands on the ball, but it was not enough as it went to the right back of the net. Baptista took off his shirt in celebration and was later penalized for delaying the restart of play.

Surely the game was now over. However, Salinas made sure he had the final say in the 94th minute, as he was due. It started with a goal kick and the Quakes’ did not score until Salinas’ sliding third touch during the sequence, which was interspersed after touches by teammates and Orlando.

Game notes: San Jose’s Anibal Godoy and Alberto Quintero rejoined the team after their stint with Panama. They each had a shot. Teammate Simon Dawkins led the Quakes with four shots. San Jose is still winless on the road and Saturdays this season. They hope to break the Saturday streak in their next matchup, which will be another California Clasico on June 25th at 7pm.

Quakes lose first U.S. Open Cup versus Timbers

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

~ Photo by Eric Cech

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Both teams returning from the two week international break and their last matchup with each other, San Jose was eliminated in the 4th round of the Open Cup, with a 2-0 win by Portland Tuesday.

This was the third overall Open Cup matchup between the teams, all of them played in Portland. All had one side going scoreless.

Shots were almost even 10-9, but the Quakes had no shots on target compared to seven for the Timbers.

After being ejected last game, Portland’s Dairon Asprilla, who had the first goal, had four shots, with a season-high three on target.

The first goal was a questionable goal in the 34th minute. Jack Barmby sent a ball to Jack McInerney, who only got a touch on it. Matheus Silva’s slide to save then went off goalie Bryan Meredith and to Asprilla. What made the goal questionable was that while the ball made its way to the net, McInerney was behind Meredith and as Meredith missed and then made another attempt, it could be argued that McInerney prevented Meredith from making the save.

For the second goal, a hand ball by Silva set up a free kick. McInerney’s teammate then faked a kick right before McInerney made sure at least one of his team’s goals were not in doubt, as he sent the ball above the wall past Meredith in the 40th minute.

San Jose started having more possession in the 55th thru 70th minutes.

The Quakes’ Marvell Wynne stopped a breakaway by Neco Brett in the 91st minute.

Game notes: It was the Timbers’ second straight clean sheet in as many games. San Jose has now been shut out their past three games. Meredith made a season-high five saves. A bright spot for the Quakes: for the first time since Week Two, Clarence Goodson was seen on the bench. San Jose will return to MLS play again Saturday when they face Orlando City SC at 4:30pm.  In case you didn’t notice, @ for #PORvSJ, first time in the 18 since Week 2 #quakes74 #usoc

 

Quakes Shot Parade Comes Up Empty Against Timbers

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

photo from sanjoseearthquakes.com: The San Jose Earthquakes were close but not close enough losing in Portland 1-0

The San Jose Earthquakes were a veritable firing squad Wednesday night at Provedence Park, but the Portland Timbers survived volley after volley after an 11th minute goal to win 1-0 at home. The Quakes fired off 13 shots in total to just 2 Timbers bids but defender Liam Ridgewell’s header off a free kick was the difference maker in the midweek match-up. It was the second straight contest that saw the Earthquakes missing the majority of their offense due to international duty.

Fatai Alashe’s offense on Diego Valeri in the Timbers’ attacking half in the 10th minute set up the Portland strike. On the kick, Valeri chipped the ball to the far side just outside the penalty box. From there, Ridgewell headbutted the ball past Quakes keeper David Bingham for the lead.

Just two minutes later Quincy Amirakwa nearly tied the game after connecting on Matias Perez Garcia’s free kick attempt. Perez Garcia was active throught the game, nearly scoring on a free kick in the 53rd minute. An Amirakwa header in the 76th minute almost found the mark as well for the third of San Jose’s three shots on net.

The game got chippy early and often. In total, five cards were issued. San Jose’s Matteus Silva received the first yellow of the match in the 17th minute, but Portland’s Dairon Asprilla was sent off with a red card in stoppage time to end the first half. The returning Jordan Stewart, Chad Barrett and Perez Garcia also were issued yellow cards for the Quakes.

The Quakes receive a two week respite while all eyes turn to the Copa America. Their next match will be in the Sunshine State on June 18th against Orlando FC. The following Saturday San Jose takes the pitch at Stanford Stadium for the second leg of the California Clasico.

 

Shorthanded Quakes Draw Dallas Nil-Nil, Stay Unbeaten at Avaya

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

photo by USA Today: San Jose Earthquakes goaltender David Bingham get his fourth clean sheet of 2016 in a 0-0 draw with Dallas at Avaya Stadium on Saturday

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The unbeaten streak at Avaya Stadium continued Saturday night for the San Jose Earthquakes, but a chance at overtaking Los Angeles for second place in the Western Conference went by the wayside for a makeshift Quakes lineup. San Jose and FC Dallas crawled to a nil-nil draw in a match that saw the Quakes take the pitch without five players who have accounted for 75% of their total goals this season.

“Overall I’m not terribly thrilled,” assessed Quakes coach Dominic Kinnear of the team’s result. “But I’m not digging a grave either.”

With Copa America almost underway, the Quakes leading scorer Chris Wondolowski (7 goals) was absent from Saturday’s competition. He instead was playing 1,800 miles away in Kansas City, representing the United States in an international friendly tune-up against Bolivia.

Apart from Wondolowski, the Earthquakes were also without Anibal Godoy and Alberto Quintero (Panama), Kip Colvey (New Zealand) and Simon Dawkins (Jamaica). That group makes up for 12 of the Earthquakes total 16 goals.

Mix in injuries to a number of Quakes players like Innocent, Matheus Silva and Clarence Goodson as well and San Jose seemed short more players than were dressing. It was a struggle to field a fit 18.

“It’s been difficult,” said Kinnear. “But every team goes through it. I’m not going to say our team is the only team to go through injury problems and call-ups. It’s just coinciding with each other and leaving us a little short-handed.”

Chemistry was an early and ongoing issue for the ragtag Quakes, but the team still managed to connect on 74 percent of their passes. They did struggle in the final third, connecting on just over half (53 percent) of their passes, and didn’t generate many chances. In fact, both teams managed only two shots on target a piece.

“At times we let ourselves down with our side passing the closer we got to goal,” said Kinnear. “But the effort we got from everyone was 100 percent.”

While two shots on target for isn’t enough for the Quakes, the two going the other way were nice. Despite struggling to fill the roster, the Quakes still managed to bog down a Dallas team that has scored 23 goals this season over its first 14 games and nearly found three points late in the game. Tommy Thompson, playing the full 90 minutes at midfield for the first time all season, narrowly missed bouncing a header past Dallas keeper Chris Seitz in the 88th minute. Seitz managed to corral the ball and keep the contest even, earning a point on the road for Dallas.

“When Tommy got his head on that ball late in the game it was going to be something good for us,” said Kinner.

With only one point in hand, San Jose will have little time to try to develop a cohesive unit. They head to Portland to face the Timbers Wednesday night again facing the possibility of being shorthanded.

“It doesn’t matter who is playing and who is not,” said Kinnear. “The expectation is always the same. We expect to win a game.”