Category: San Jose Earthquakes

Espinoza’s hat trick give Earthquakes 4-3 comeback win over Sounders

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The San Jose Earthquakes celebrate a penalty-kick goal by Cristian Espinoza during the second half against the Seattle Sounders at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sat Apr 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE– Cristian Espinoza picked a great time to score his first hat trick.

Espinoza’s penalty shot in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half earned the San Jose Earthquakes a 4-3 come from behind victory over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

With the score even at three, video review concluded that Nouhou Tolo took down Francisco Calvo inside the box to concede the penalty early into stoppage time of the second half.

Espinoza kicked the penalty shot into the lower right corner as Sounders goalie Stefan Frei guessed wrong diving to the left to complete his first hat trick in a Quakes uniform as well as hand San Jose their first win of the season.

This was the first match played since Matias Almeyda was let go as head coach of the team by San Jose this past Monday and the first match coached for interim coach Alex Covelo. He had served as head coach of the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side Quakes II during their inaugural season in 2022. Covelo earned his first win in his coaching debut for the Quakes.

San Jose finally earned its first win in its eighth matches. Seattle have lost two matches in a row after having a three-match point streak.

Seattle (2-4-1) drew first blood on a penalty shot after Nathan took down Raul Ruidiaz inside the box with a sliding tackle. Nicolas Lodeiro converted the penalty in the 14th minute for his first goal of the season.

The Sounders doubled its lead six minutes later in the 20th minute off of a set piece. Lodeiro’s free kick was finished off with a header by Cristian Roldan into the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

San Jose (1-4-3) answered back with Espinoza’s first goal of the game in the second minute of stoppage time in the first half. Espinoza cleaned up his own rebound after his initial shot went off a Sounder defender and right back to him for his second goal of the season.

Seattle regained its two-goal lead in the in the 57th minute. Lodeiro picked up his second assist when he set up Jordan Morris with a cross into the middle of the box where Morris tapped it in past Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski for his team leading second goal of the season.

The Quakes began their comeback three minutes later with Espinoza’s second goal of the match. Espinoza sent in a shot from a tough angle that handcuffed Frei and went into the back of the net on the short side in the 64th minute.

San Jose scored the equalizer a minute later when Jackson Yueill scored a tic-tac-toe goal set up by Jamiro Monteiro for Yueill’s first goal of the season.

Marcinkowski finished the match with four saves on seven shots on target to earn his first win of the season. Frei made three saves on seven shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with six corner kicks. Seattle had two.

UP NEXT: San Jose travel to the Big Apple to take on NYFC on Sunday 5/1 at 10:00am at Yankees Stadium.

Ebobisse’s brace help Earthquakes draw with Nashville SC 2-2

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Nashville SC and the San Jose Earthquakes played to a 2-2 draw at Pay Pal Stadium in San Jose on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (photo from San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Jeremy Ebobisse is using 2022 as a showcase season.

Ebobisse recorded his second brace of the season as the San Jose Earthquakes came back twice to settle for a 2-2 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon at Pay Pal Stadium.

San Jose, despite remaining are winless in their first seven matches, earned another point and have earned a point in their last three home matches. Nashville SC has points in three straight matches.

This was the first match between the two clubs as Nashville SC entered the MLS as an expansion team in 2020.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda welcomed back his best defender to the starting lineup in Nathan. The Brazilian fullback played in his first match since the opener when he suffered a lower body injury in the first half.

Nashville (3-2-2) drew first blood late in the first half. Former Quake Anibal Godoy fed Hany Mukhtar at midfield off of a turnover. Mukhtar dribbled all the way in, untouched, and beat Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski with a right footed shot into the right corner for his first goal of the season in the 38th minute.

San Jose (0-4-3) had a couple of chances earlier in the opening 45 minutes, including a shot from Cristian Espinoza from inside the box in the 16th minute, but it was easily handled by Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis.

San Jose’s luck changed early in the second half. A handball by Danile Lovitz in the 51st minute set up a free kick from 20 yards out.

Ebobisse bent in a perfect ball into the left corner of the net past Willis for his team leading fourth goal of the season in the 52nd minute to score the equalizer.

“It’s a team that does not give up,” said Ebobisse. “We’re a team that always play to the final whistle. We always believe we can turn this game around.”

Nashville SC regained the lead in the 63rd minute. CJ Sapong’s header off a throw in caromed over to an unmarked Mukhtar along the left side. The German native used a diving kick into the empty net for his first brace of the season.

The Earthquakes took advantage of another set piece. A corner kick from Jamiro Monteiro found its way to Jan Gregus who poked the ball back into the middle and Ebobisse chipped it into the back of the net for his fifth goal and second brace of the season.

Marcinkowksi finished with two saves on five shots on target. Willis made three saves on five shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with eight corner kicks. Nashville SC had one.

This was Nashville’s first MLS match against a team from California.

The Earthquakes are off to the worst start in club history with just three points from their first seven games. San Jose is the 10th team in MLS history to have fewer than three points after six games, while only three teams have had two or fewer points through seven games in league history.

UP NEXT: San Jose host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday 4/23 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

Dynamo hang on to defeat Earthquakes 4-3

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The San Jose Earthquakes just couldn’t catch up to tie the game against the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo squeezed by with good defense keeping the Quakes out of the zone for a one goal win at PNC Stadium in Houston in MLS action on Sat Apr 9, 2022 (photo by the San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Houston Dynamo scored two goals in the second half and then hung on for dear life to preserve a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at PNC Stadium.

San Jose remain winless in their first six matches to start the season. Houston have won two matches in a row and have points in four consecutive matches.

Houston (3-1-2) drew first blood in the eighth minute off a set piece. Adam Lundqvist’s corner kick found its way on to the foot of Sebastián Ferreira and he buried a one-timer past Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski for the first of his two goals on the night.

San Jose (0-4-2) answered back in the 25th minute with the first of Jeremy Ebobisse’s two goals in the first half. Cade Cowell centered a pass in the box and Ebobisse slammed home a one-timer top shelf for his second goal of the season.

Three minutes later Ebobisse struck again for the Quakes. Jan Gregus crossed the ball into the box where an unmarked Ebobisse headed the ball into the lower left corner for his second goal and third of the season in the 28th minute.

“I think it’s tough to get too high on scoring in a defeat because ultimately it’s a defeat. It doesn’t advance the team’s goals. If the team’s goals aren’t advancing, then my individual goals aren’t either,” Ebobisse said.

Houston scored the equalizer just before halftime. Marcinkowski aggressively came out to stop Tyler Pasher’s one-on-one attempt, but Darwin Quintero cleaned up the rebound into an empty net for his team leading fourth goal of the season in the 43rd minute.

The Dynamo used the momentum of Quintero’s goal and seized the momentum in the second half with two unanswered goals 11 minutes apart.

Teenage Hadebe scored off a corner kick from Pasher with a left footed shot that beat Marcinkowski for his first goal of the season in the 57th minute.

Then in the 68th minute, Fafà Picault danced around a couple of Quakes defenders inside the box before finding Ferreira along the left side and the Paraguayan striker’s shot deflected off of Marcinkowski for his second goal of the match and of the season.

Tommy Thompson brought the Quakes back into the match in the 77th minute off a set piece. Thompson’s high volley off a corner kick beat Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark to the far side for his first goal of the season.

“It’s a difficult loss. Any time you concede four goals, you’re not going to be happy about it. It’s been a difficult start to the season. There’s no hiding from that. This is not how we planned it. It’s just something that we’re going to have to correct,” said Thompson.

San Jose had a chance to score the equalizer in the 85th minute but Clark robbed Ebobisse’s bid for a hat trick when he made a save on Ebobisse’s header that was headed for the far corner.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with two corner kicks. Houston had three.

The Quakes have a 9-15-4 overall record against Houston Dynamo FC.

Ebobisse’s two goals were also his 29th and 30th goals of his MLS career. He has now scored three goals in the last two matches. His brace marks the third of his MLS career and first since Oct. 7, 2020 (vs. LA).

Thompson also made his 163rd appearance for the Quakes, tying Richard Mulrooney for sixth most appearances in club history.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host Nashville SC on Saturday 4/16 at 12:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Earthquakes storm back from two-goal deficit to earn point in 2-2 draw with Austin FC

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The San Jose Earthquakes and Austin FC battle to a 2-2 draw in a cliffhanger at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sat Apr 2, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — It looked like a good old fashioned Goonies comeback.

The San Jose Earthquakes scored two goals in two minutes in the second half to overcome a two-goal deficit in a 2-2 draw result with Austin FC on Saturday afternoon at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose, despite earning a point, remained winless in its first five matches to start the season. Austin FC has points in four out of its first five matches to start the season.

Austin FC (2-1-2) drew first blood in the 11th minute. Julio Cascante sent a long ball in from midfield. Maxi Urruti touched the ball up into the air before shooting it over the head of Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski just below the crossbar for his first goal of the season.

San Jose (0-3-2) had scoring chances from Cristian Espinoza in the 7th and 26th minutes as well as a free kick from Jan Gregus from 18 yards out in the 35th minute, only to have Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver keep the ball out of the back of the net.

Austin FC dictated the play in the opening 45 minutes with six total shots, three on target.

Jackson Yeuill was called for a foul inside the box on Dani Pereira in the 50th minute resulting in a penalty shot for Austin FC by referee Alex Chillowicz.

Sebastian Driussi cashed in the penalty with a shot into the upper left corner of the net for his team leading fourth goal of the season in the 52nd minute.

The Quakes came within inches of cutting Austin FC’s in half when a header by Francisco Calvo off a corner kick danced on the goal line and was kicked away by Stuver before the ball crossed the line in the 55th minute.

San Jose was awarded a penalty shot in the 69th minute when former Earthquakes defender Nick Lima took down Jamiro Monteiro inside the box off a centering pass.

Jeremy Ebobisse finished the penalty kick by getting Stuver to guess wrong as he tapped home the ball into an empty net for his first goal of the season in the 70th minute.

The Quakes struck again to even the score two minutes later off a set piece. Gregus sent the ball into the middle off of a corner kick and Cade Cowell was able to swarm in and beat Stuver with a left footed shot for his first goal of the season in the 72nd minute.

San Jose had a chance to score the winning goal in the 88th minute when Ebobisse pickpocketed an Austin FC defender just outside the box. Ebobisse’s shot and Cowell’s rebound attempt were stopped by Stuver. However, the rebound attempt by Calvo sailed high over the net on what was an empty net.

Marcinkowski finished the match with three saves on four shots. Stuver stood on his head making eight saves on 10 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with nine corner kicks. Austin FC had none.

Cowell was named the Man of the Match.

Each team were issued three yellow cards during the match.

The Earthquakes are unbeaten in the four meetings with Austin, including three last season.

The Earthquakes are off to the second-worst start in club history with two points from five matches, only beating out the 2019 season in which they lost four in a row to open the campaign. San Jose has never had fewer than three points after five games of a season (three in 2014 and 2019).

Austin FC snapped its 10-match road losing streak dating back to last June, scoring only two goals in those games. There have been only seven longer road losing streaks in league history while only the Red Bulls from March to June 2009 (1 goal) have scored fewer than two goals over any 10-match road span.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to Houston to take on the Dynamo on Saturday 4/9 at 5:30pm at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Earthquakes fall to Minnesota United 1-0

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The Minnesota United FC’s Luis Amarilla scored nine minutes into the first half that’s all the United would need to defeat the visiting San Jose Earthquakes at Allianz Field in St. Paul Sat Mar 19, 2022 (file photo from mls.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

ST.PAUL, Minn. — Luis Amarilla scored a first-half strike, and it was all Minnesota United FC needed to overcome the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 at Allianz Field on Saturday night.

Amarilla had a mini-redemption arc over nine minutes of an action-packed first half to get MNUFC (2-0-2) on the board. After just putting a chip attempt over the crossbar in the 23rd minute, leading a break that looked sure to produce the game’s opener, Amarilla struck gold in the 32nd minute, making a defense-splitting run to meet Robin Lod’s pass from the wing, and finishing smartly.

“We knew they could hurt us with [Luis] Amarilla, where they looked for him a lot with their crosses and that’s how they scored. After they went up, we still couldn’t find our groove. It was one of the worst starts that we’ve had,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda.

In the second half, the teams dueled each other without adding to the scoresheet. Benji Kikanovic came closest for the Quakes (0-3-1) on a 56th-minute attempt. The Loons threatened to double their lead on a Bongokuhle Hlongwane corker and a Lod scorpion kick that nearly fell below the crossbar before an attentive JT Marcinkowski palmed it out.

The Quakes’ keeper also saved on a 1-on-1 situation in stoppage time against Franco Fragapance to give his offense one last-gasp chance.

“The roles changed a little bit at halftime and that gave us some more numbers out wide to try and create some overloads in wide areas. I thought we did that well late on,” said Quakes defender Tanner Beason.

Dayne St. Clair had a perfect clean sheet as the Quakes did not register a shot on net. Marcinkowski made four saves on five shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Each team finished with four corner kicks.

The Quakes now hold a 4-4-2 all-time record against Minnesota United FC, including a 2-2-1 record on the road.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns back to action after the International break as they host Austin FC on Saturday 4/2 at 4:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Union shut out Earthquakes 2-0

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Philadelphia Union goaltender Andre Blake got the stop on the San Jose Earthquakes with one save good enough for a shutout at Sabaru Stadium in Chester PA on Sat Mar 12, 2022 (file photo from mls.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

CHESTER PA— The San Jose Earthquakes offense was as cold as the chilly temperatures.

The Philadelphia Union used the chilly conditions to their advantage in a 2-0 shutout victory over the Quakes on a frigid Saturday evening at Sabaru Stadium.

The temperature at kick off was 20 degrees and only got worse throughout the game.

San Jose is still winless after their first three matches. Philadelphia have won two in a row and have started the season with seven points in three games.

The Union (2-0-1) drew first blood in the 23rd minute. Sergio Santos was able to get around Jackson Yueill on the left wing. Santos’ cross found a wide open Cory Burke who tapped home the ball into an empty net.

San Jose (0-2-1) weren’t able to generate much offense in the opening 45 minutes as they had their ball in their own end for the majority of through half.

“We were lacking the depth to beat Philadelphia today,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda. “Philadelphia beat us out wide and we lost them in the box.”

Philadelphia doubled its lead in the second half after a miscue by San Jose inside the box.

A clearing attempt by the Quakes in the 56th minute went off the forearm of Yueill, who struggled throughout the match playing center back for the first time in his career, setting up a penalty kick.

Daniel Gazdag cashed in the penalty two minutes later with a chip to the right as he got Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski guessing to the left.

Things were chippy between both teams with a combined six yellow cards issued.

Union goalkeeper Andre Blake only needed to make one save to earn the clean slate. Marcinkowski made four saves on six shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Philadelphia had three.

Three Quakes rookies made their MLS debut as subs in the second half included Ousseni Bouda, Wil Richmond and 16-year old Nick Tsakiris.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its road trip against Minnesota United on Saturday 3/19 at 5:00pm at Allianz Field.

Earthquakes down a man come back to earn a point against the Crew in a 3-3 draw on match’s final play

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Francisco Calvo (80) of the San Jose Earthquakes scored two goals in the final two minutes at Pay Pal Park in San Jose for the win over the Columbus Crew on Sat Mar 5, 2022 (photo by San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Francisco Calvo has only played two games for the San Jose Earthquakes but has already made an immediate impact.

Down by two goals late in the second half and down a man, Calvo scored two goals off two separate headers in the final 10 minutes of the match to earn a 3-3 draw for San Jose over the Colombus Crew on Saturday afternoon at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose (0-1-1) drew first blood early thanks to Paul Marie who drew a penalty kick for San Jose in the fifth minute after Milos Degenek fouled him inside the box.

After video review Christian Espinoza made a slight hesitation before beating Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room with a low show to the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

The Quakes were on the wrong end of a controversial call in the 33rd minute. Jamiro Monteiro battled for a loose ball with Darlington Nagbe when both collided with one another. Referee Guido Gonzales Jr. initially issued a yellow card to Monteiro.

After video review, the call was changed to a red card an automatic ejection for Monteiro. They called swung momentum over to the Crew’s side.

Columbus (1-0-2) finally cashed in with San Jose being down a man in the 40th minute. Steven Moreira dribbled inside the box and crossed the ball over to Lucas Zelarayán who blasted a shot into the top right corner for his second goal of the season.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda decided to shake up the lineup to start the second half. In were Cade Cowell and Judson for Chofis and Eric Remedi to bring in more of an attacking presence.

Philadelphia gained its first lead in the 68th minute off a set piece. A corner kick resulted in Yaw Yeboah crossing the ball back into the middle where Gyasi Zardes one timed the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

The Union scored what appeared to be an insurance goal five minutes later off a free kick. Zelarayán recorded his brace when he was able to bend in his right footed shot past Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski in the 73rd minute.

San Jose cut the lead to one goal in the 84th minute. Ján Gregus centered a free kick from 25 yards out into the middle of box where Francisco Calvo was left unmarked and headed the ball past Room for his first goal as a member of the Earthquakes.

Calvo’s heroics came on the last play of the match thanks to a gaffe by Room that gave San Jose a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Once again it was Gregus who centered the ball into the middle of the box and Calvo headed the ball into the lower right corner for his brace.

Marcinkowski made four saves on seven shots. Room finished with one save on four shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with four corner kicks. Colombus had nine.

Nathan, who suffered a torn meniscus in last Saturday’s season opener vs. the New York Red Bulls. He had surgery on Monday and is expected to miss up to two months.

San Jose had their undefeated record vs. Columbus at PayPal Park extended to four matches (2-0-2). Additionally, the Earthquakes extended its unbeaten streak of eight straight home matches against Columbus (4-0-4) dating back to a 3-0 loss in August 2009, also snapped. The eight-game run is San Jose’s longest active home unbeaten run against any single opponent.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to Philadelphia to take on the Union on Saturday 3/12 at 4:30pm at Subaru Park.

Earthquakes open 2022 season with 3-1 loss to Red Bulls

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San Jose Earthquakes opened up their regular season against the New York Red Bulls at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sat Feb 26, 2022 (logos from MLS)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE —It was not the start the San Jose Earthquakes were looking for to begin the 2022 campaign.

The New York Red Bulls scored two second half goals en route to a 3-1 victory on Saturday afternoon over San Jose on Opening Day at Pay Pal Park.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda entered his fourth (and possibly his final) season with a roster, for the first time in 13 years, that didn’t feature Chris Wondoloski (retired). However, three new additions in Dutch midfielder Jamiro Monteiro (trade with Philadelphia Union), Costa Rican defenseman Francisco Calvo (free agent signing) and Slovakian midfielder Jan Gregus started for Almeyda in a revamped lineup that also featured Chofis and Cade Cowell.

New York has won the past four matches against San Jose.

San Jose (0-1-0) had a scoring chance in the 15th minute when Cristian Espinoza shot from outside the box was deflected away by Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, but Monteiro’s rebound attempt was blocked.

The Quakes lost their best defender Nathan to an injury in the 22nd minute and was replaced by Tanner Beason.

New York (1-0-0) had a point-blank attempt from Sean Nealis in the 21st minute but Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made a diving save without giving up a rebound. Then in the 35th, Marcinkowski made a one-handed leaping save over the net on a shot by Patryk Klimala.

The Red Bulls drew first blood at the end of the first half in the first minute of stoppage time. Lewis Morgan serviced a ball into the middle where Klimala chipped it over Marcinkowski just inside the right post for his first goal of the season.

“It’s going to take some time,” said Almeyda regarding the three new faces in his lineup to make an impact. “Some teammates are able to do it faster than others. I think the three new guys looked good today. Surely, as time goes on, they will get better, and our team will play better.”

San Jose answered back in the 69th minute off of a free kick. Espinoza sent a low line drive into the middle where Chofis headed the ball into the far corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

New York responded three minutes later in the 72nd minute. A turnover near midfield led to Omir Fernandez dribbling in from the left side of the box and shooting the ball through the legs of Marcinkowski for his first goal of the season.

The Red Bulls sealed the deal with a goal in the second minute of stoppage time. Tom Barlow got inside the box and his shot got past Marcinkowski for his first goal of the season.

Coronel just one save on two shots on target to earn the victory. Marcinkowski made four saves on seven shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with four corner kicks. New York had six.

New York’s John Tolkin, Dru Yearwood and Cristian Cásseres Jr were issued yellow cards during the match. San Jose were issued none.

San Jose is 18-16-9 overall against the Red Bulls franchise.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Columbus Crew on Saturday 3/5 at 2:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Wondo says farewell in Quakes final game in 1-1 draw with FC Dallas

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San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski being carried off the field he broke the all-time MLS record for goals on May 18, 2019.—Courtesy of the San Jose Earthquakes.

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The greatest goal scorer in MLS history had his swan song.

San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski announced his retirement from the game of soccer to a crowd of 17,075 after his team played its final match of the season to a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Sunday afternoon at Pay Pal Park.

What was supposed to happen last year in 2020, finally happened after a career that spanned 17 years. Wondolowski originally intended to have 2020 be his final year in soccer but due to the Covid-19 pandemic that postponed the season for four months and then returned with no fans allowed inside the stadiums, he wanted to play one more full season with the fans in attendence.

Wondo, 38, finished his storied career as the MLS leader in goal with 171, 26 more than any other MLS player (Landon Donovan-145) and 413 games played, including 376 appearances for San Jose, most in club history and third most in MLS history.

He also holds the MLS records for combined regular season and playoff goals (173), goals for one club (167), game-winning goals (46), and goals in 1-0 victories (14), while ranking second in multi-goal games (25) and tied for second in hat-tricks (5).

As for the match, it was only fitting that Wondolowski scored a goal in his final game. His goal broke the ice for San Jose (10-13-11) in the 34th minute. Marcos Lopez sent in a low cross into the box where Wondo one-timed a perfect volley into the left corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

FC Dallas (7-15-12) had a chance to even the game late in the half when Quakes goalie Daniel Vega, who made his only start of the season, collided with Jáder Obrian inside the box and was whistled for a penalty by referee Victor Rivas.

However Ricardo Pepi’s penalty attempt in the 40th minute hit off the cross bar and was cleared away by the Quakes as FC Dallas weren’t able to generate a second opportunity.

FC Dallas scored the equalizer two minutes later. Jesus Ferreira’s clearing attempt out of his own zone caught San Jose’s backline flatfooted as it led to a breakaway from Obrian. The 26 year native of Colombia dribbled in and chipped the ball past Vega for his ninth goal of the season in the 42nd minute.

Each team had chances in the final 10 minutes of the match to score the game winning goal but none of the attempts were successful.

Vega didn’t make a save on the one shot on target his faced. FC Dallas goalie Jimmy Maurer made six saves on seven shots as each keeper earned a draw.

For Wondolowski, he wanted to make his announcement in front of the Quakes faithful to give them a chance to say goodbye to him on the pitch one final time.

“I wanted to do this in front of fans instead of in front of a bunch of cameras,” said Wondolowski as he address the crowd. I wanted to do this in front of you because you guys have been there from day one. This is the last run. I told myself I would cry, and I knew that tears would be coming, but thank you guys. It’s been an amazing ride. I can’t thank you guys enough. It starts with my teammates and literally the league. These guys have been there, in the locker room, practices and the battles. I’ve got to thank my family and everyone here. There are more people than I can count, many Wondolowskis, mom, dad. I got my wife and two girls and a little one on the way.”

Wondo couldn’t help but be overcome with emotion as he talked to the crowd and how much each of them meant to him during his career.

“The cool thing is that I get to do this with my hometown team,” the native of Danville continued. “Thank you guys for this wonderful ride. Thank you for being a part of me, pushing me on. I can’t thank you guys enough. This organization is going to do big things. I can’t wait for it, and we’ll be here for the future. Thank you to the fans. From Faultline to Epicenter, the Ultras and everyone here. I can’t thank you guys enough. You guys mean the world.”

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda had this to say about his time with Wondo over the past three years.

“I enjoyed coaching him. We have an excellent relationship in the humane and sporting aspect. He has been a great professional. A goal scorer is leaving and it is difficult to replace goal scorers, especially him. Hopefully, our young players have recognized the path Chris has taken and follow it. Chris leaves a huge legacy behind, which is the nicest thing to leave behind. Many leave titles, many leave huge numbers, but he leaves a special legacy as the all-time leading scorer. With time, he and many others will realize how important that is,” Almeyda said.

Wondlowski, whose MLS career began in 2005 as a fourth-round Supplemental Draft pick out of Chico State, took home Golden Boot presented by Audi honors during the 2010 and 2012 campaigns. A five-time MLS All-Star and three-time Best XI selection, he also was named the league’s MVP in 2012.

The Quakes have a lot of questions to be answered during the off season such as who will be the next general manager? Will Almeyda return as head coach? Does he want to return? Will the team continue with its youth movement or will they look to acquire veteran talent both domestic and international?

Those questions will have answers to them later on as the offseason progresses.

But today was all about the celebration of Bay Area soccer legend Chris Wondolowski who hung up his cleats one last time.

Earthquakes score four unanswered goals in 4-3 upset win over Real Salt Lake

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The San Jose Earthquakes Chris Wondolowski kicks the ball against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy UT on Sat Oct 30, 2021 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SANDY, Utah—Playing spoiler isn’t such a bad thing.

The San Jose Earthquakes took their new role well as they scored four unanswered goals and then hung on at the end in a stunning 4-3 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon at Rio Tinto Stadium.

San Jose won their final road game of the season and finished 5-6-7 away from Pay Pal Park. Real Salt Lake failed to to move up in the Western conference standings and currently hang on the seventh and final playoff spot with 45 points.

It was the first time San Jose had won two consecutive games in Rio Tinto Stadium since RSL joined MLS in 2005.

Real Salt Lake (14-13-6) controlled the first 30 minutes of the game as they were able to create counter attacks as San Jose only had three fullbacks to start the game, leaving them vulnerable in its defensive zone.

In the ninth minute, RSL drew first blood. A failed clearing attempt by San Jose led to the ball ending up on the foot of Albert Rusnák. The Slovakian striker made a nice give and go with Damir Kreilach and Rusnák finished off the play with a chip in past Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski for his ninth goal of the season.

Real Salt Lake came very close to doubling their lead in the 26th minute. A point blank shot from five yards out by Rubio Rubín was stopped by Marcinkowski.

San Jose (10-13-10) turned the tides in the 37th minute. Cade Cowell, who was inserted back into the starting lineup by head coach Matias Almeyda, received a long ball along the right side. The 17-year old forward raced down the right side and centered a ball into the middle where Carlos Fierro diving attempt put the ball into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.

The Quakes earned their first lead of the game in the third minute of stoppage time. Off of a corner, Fierro serviced the ball over to the right side where an unmarked Chris Wondolowski, who also made his return to the starting 11, headed the ball past Real Salt Lake goalie David Ochoa for his fourth goal of the season to cap off an entertaining opening half.

Wondo increased his MLS all-time goal total to 170. With his 13th goal all-time against Real Salt Lake, Wondolowski tied Landon Donovan for the most has scored more against RSL since they joined MLS in 2005 (including playoffs).

San Jose increased its lead to 3-1 in the 69th minute after a spectacular individual effort for Cowell. Marcinkowksi started a counter attack as he kicked the ball out to Cowell near midfield. Cowell raced in, faked out Justen Glad with a move into the middle of the box, then got Ochoa to bite right as Cowell slid the ball into the lower left corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

It was Cowell’s first goal since back in May of this year.

The Quakes looked to have put the nail in the coffin in the 79th minute when captain Jackson Yueill pick pocketed the ball off of Rusnák just outside the box. Yueill slammed home a shot top-shelf for his third goal of the season. It proved to be the game winning goal.

Real Salt Lake scored twice in the final eight minutes of the game to make the game closer than it should have been.

Anderson Julio sent a cross into the middle that hopped over two players onto the foot of Maikel Chang for his second goal of the season in the 85th minute.

Rusnák scored his second goal of the match after his left unmarked inside the box and one-timed a centering feed from Aaron Herrera in the third minute of stoppage time for his 10th goal of the season,

Marcinkowski finished the match six saves on nine shots to earn his 10th win of the season. Ochoa made two saves on six shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with 0 corner kicks. Real Salt Lake had 0.

Real Salt Lake had its seven game home winning streak snapped. It had equaled NYCFC for the longest home winning streak of the season. It was also the longest home winning streak in Real Salt Lake’s MLS history.

Damir Kreilach scored his 15th goal of the season in Real Salt Lake’s win over Dallas on Wednesday. Only two players have scored more goals in a single season in RSL’s history: Álvaro Saborio (17) in 2012 and Jeff Cunning ham (16) in 2006.

UP NEXT: The Earthquakes close out the regular season against FC Dallas on Sunday 11/7 at 3:00pm at Pay Pal Park.