The San Jose Earthquakes celebrate after San Jose Earthquakes’ Vitor Costa (94) kicks in the winning penalty kick against Chivas de Guadalajara at the end of a Leagues Cup game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
By William Espy
SANTA CLARA–The San Jose Earthquakes started the Leagues Cup group stage against Chivas de Guadalajara on Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Despite the game being played in the Bay Area, the Quakes were officially the away team and Guadalajara were hosting.
There were some family ties between both teams as Cade Cowell, a native of Ceres, California was in the lineup for Chivas. His younger brother Chance Cowell is a member of the Earthquakes organization but is currently part of their MLS Next team. For the Earthquakes, they got some good news for once with Daniel returning to the lineup following an injury earlier in the season.
The attendance of 50,675 set a new record for the Leagues Cup as well, making the matchup a monumental occasion for the competition. Fittingly, since it was technically a Chivas home game it seemed like the majority of the crowd was donning their iconic red-and-white striped jersey as well.
Guadalajara and San Jose dueled to a 1-1 tie at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday night.
Earthquakes Starting XI: Daniel, Costa, Rodrigues, Beason, Kikanovic, Lopez, Gruezo, Yueill, Pellegrino, Ebobisse, Espinoza
Chivas Starting XI: Rangel, Mozo, G. Sepulveda, L. Sepulveda, Chavez, Gonzalez, Marin, Guzman, Gutierrez, Cowell, Perez
Cowell tried to get some offense going in the opening minute, but his shot was blocked. Cristian Espinoza and Hernan Lopez tried to work their magic for the Quakes in the fourth minute, but Lopez’s shot was blocked and floated down to the goalkeeper Jose Rangel.
The Earthquakes got themselves on the board first though, a header from Jeremy Ebobisse found the net after a great pass by Espinoza, making it 1-0 less than ten minutes into the match. Rangel almost made a major mistake moments later, a bad pass to the centerback caused the ball to pop up into the air, and Espinoza nearly got possession with the goalkeeper well out of position.
Chivas were able to recover and prevent the MLS’s representative from taking a 2-0 lead. Chivas had a chance to score an equalizer in the 18th minute when the Earthquakes got discombobulated in their own box, but through the chaos they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
During the first 20 minutes, it felt like the Earthquakes were firmly in control of the match. Cowell continued trying to be a difference-maker for his side though, forcing Daniel to make a save in the 21st minute.
Cowell was undoubtedly the Chivas’ best player early in the match but his efforts alone wouldn’t be enough for them to walk away with a win. 25 minutes into his return, Daniel went down in some discomfort and required medical attention.
He would remain in the match and it would get back underway shortly. Ebobisse nearly made it a brace in the 27th minute, but Rangel was able to make the save and the ball went out for a corner. After a scramble in front of the goal in the 28th minute, Chivas attempted to appeal for a penalty when an attacker went down inside the box but play went on with no call on the play.
The remainder of the first half was end-to-end action, with neither team really getting a major advantage. Chivas got their best opportunity of the half as stoppage time expired, but the defender in front of the goal was able to get in front of it and the Quakes cleared it out. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of the Quakes heading into the break.
Chivas had 45 more minutes to find an equalizer, while the Earthquakes looked to pull off a major upset to open the Leagues Cup. The Chivas had a promising attacking opportunity in the 51st minute, but the two attackers ran into one another inside of their own box allowing the Earthquakes to recover defensively and clear the ball.
Ebobisse tried to recreate his opening goal in the 56th minute with another header attempt, but the shot went just wide of the goal. Chivas were desperate to get the tying goal, but they were struggling to do so. They were creating chances in the second half, but San Jose’s defense and goalkeeper were holding strong.
Roberto Alvarado fired a long shot in the 70th minute which forced Daniel to jump in an attempt to tip it over the goal. The ball stayed out of the netting, but Daniel once again needed to get medical attention. As the final 20 minutes got underway, the Earthquakes were maintaining their lead but Chivas were bringing pressure.
Chivas nearly scored in the 73rd minute but fouled Daniel on the play and as a result, possession was given to San Jose. Mateo Chavez was on the wrong side of a brutal, but seemingly clean slide tackle in the 78th minute which saw him out of the play as the Earthquakes launched a counter-attack.
He eventually got back up and remained in the game, but was very slow to get up. In the 80th, Chivas got a very dangerous free-kick chance after a foul by Espinoza but were unable to capitalize on it, as the ball went out for a corner, giving them another attacking opportunity.
Armando Gonzalez’s shot would go wide of the goal on the following play though, and the Quakes would get a goal kick. Physicality was the main story in the second half, and it came to a head when Fidel Barajas ran into Daniel resulting in a scuffle in midfield.
Moments later, a midfield collision led to the official handing out multiple yellow cards after another scuffle with quite a few players from both teams involved. Frustration had clearly set in for Chivas, who were likely embarrassed by trailing the opposition they viewed as inferior.
Daniel went down in the 90th minute following another collision. He attempted to remain on his feet as Chivas attacked but kept dropping to a knee until play stopped and he got medical attention. Eight minutes of stoppage time were awarded after there were quite a few delays during the half.
A win was in sight for the Earthquakes though, they just needed to hold on a little longer. Daniel made a save in the 94th minute, when he hit the ground though the ball nearly bobbled loose into the goal but he was able to recover it.
Chivas had an almost certain equalizer in the 95th minute off of a header, but it rang off the goalpost. For the first time this season, it seemed like luck was in the Quakes’ favor. The crowd erupted in the 98th minute when the Chivas finally got their equalizer off of a shot by Roberto Alvarado.
Fans instantly began throwing things on the field in celebration. The game would end in a 1-1 tie, but went to a penalty shootout for an extra point in the group stage. Daniel saved the Chivas’ first shot. Jack Skahan stepped up first for the Quakes and scored, giving them a 1-0 lead in the shootout.
Alan Mozo was next for Chivas,and he scored. Paul Marie stepped up to the spot for San Jose, and he missed the shot. It was tied up heading into the third round. San Jose’s decision to substitute off all of their dangerous offensive players backfired.
Erick Gutierrez scored for Chivas, and Rodrigues came up for San Jose and kept it tied. Cowell was next for Chivas and he shot it well over the goal and Alfredo Morales gave the Quakes a lead. Fernando Beltran missed his opportunity, and Costa put it away for the Earthquakes who walked away with the extra point.
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