By Ivan Makarov
SANTA CLARA, CA – Facing elimination in the CONCACAF Champions League with a draw or loss, San Jose Earthquakes delivered one of their best performances this season against Montreal Impact on Tuesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium, defeating them 3-0.
After trading chances early on, the Quakes scored first on the 21st minute. A long throw in the Montreal’s zone landed on Steven Lenhart’s head who passed it back to Chris Wondowski. This caught Montreal’s defense by surprise and there was no one able to stop Quakes forward as he put the ball into the net, scoring first Champions League goal for the club in the tournament.
While the game looked even prior to the goal, the lead gave the Quakes needed confidence and they started to take over the pocessing and the scoring chances.
“The game changed a little bit [after the first goal],” said Montreal’s center back Alessandro Nesta. “We had some opportunities, and some chances, but as it happened today, if you don’t score, you start losing these opportunities.”
Impact’s best moment of the first half came at the very end when the cross from the left zone came within inches of Daniele Paponi’s foot and the empty net. Justin Morrow read the play and cleared it away from danger last moment.
Marvin Chavez delivered the second blow on the 57th minute. The ball was inside Montreal’s penalty box and Matteo Ferrari cleared it outside the box. It wasn’t a good clear, however, and it fell to Chavez chest who stopped it and put a hard volley on the net right after. It flew fast and into the net, giving the Quakes two goal lead they desperately needed to improve their standings.
Desperate for change, Montreal head coach Marco Schallibaum made double substitution on the 63rd minute, sending Felipe and Marco Di Vaio (current leading MLS goalscorer) onto the field. That didn’t help, however and neither forward had a scoring chance the rest of the game.
Coming on as a substitution for Marvin Chaves, Shea Salinas scored a similar goal as Chavez on 84th minute. It was another failed clearance by Montreal, and Salinas got the ball just at the top of the penalty box, with only Jeb Brovski and the goaltender to beat. Salinas accelerated with his signature takeoff speed, and blew past Brovski who couldn’t keep up. With just the goalkeeper Troy Perkins in front of him, Salinas put the ball into the net with the low kick to make it 3-0 for the Quakes.
Salinas could have made it 4-0 when he got the ball on the edge of the box during stoppage time, but he shot the ball straight into Perkins.
How pleased was the Quakes interim coach Mike Watson with the three goals in one game after scoring just once in the last three games?
“Very pleased,” he said after the game. “I thought at 1-0, there was still a lot to do in the game. We still had to defend a lot. It shows our persistence. We feel very good about our performance. Maybe three goals is what we need to get going offensively.”
Quakes are next back in action on Saturday when they travel to Salt Lake City on take on Real in the MLS regular season. Their next Champions League game is at home against CD Heredia on October 23.
Sports Radio Service 