Tag: Nashville FC

The San Jose Earthquakes and Nashville SC battled to a 0-0 draw at Geodis Park in Nashville on Sat Jun 11, 2022 (San Jose Earthquakes twitter)

by Marko Ukalovic

NASHVILLE — The San Jose Earthquakes and Nashville SC each earned a point in a 0-0 draw on Saturday evening at GEODIS Park.

San Jose comes off the international break with a point in its first match in the month of the June. Nashville SC extended its unbeaten streak to four matches.

The Quakes played without several regulars including Francisco Calvo (international duty), Marcos Lopez (international duty), and captain Jackson Yueill (injury).

Nashville SC (6-4-5) nearly had the match’s opening goal in the ninth minute. Hany Mukhtar played a through ball to Luke Haakenson, who dribbled around goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and put a shot towards the empty net before Paul Marie made a last-ditch slide tackle to put the ball out of play.

Marcinkowski was San Jose’s (3-6-6) best player during the match making key saves throughout the match including in the 33rd minute when he kept a Mukhtar header out of the net with a diving save.

The Quakes best chance to score in the opening 45 minutes came in the 40th minute when Cade Cowell bent in a right footed shot from 10 yards out only to have Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis to make a diving save to his right.

Marcinkowski once again came up big for San Jose in the 76th minute when he made a save on an unmarked C.J. Sapong’s header that he knocked away from the net.

Jan Gregus tried to be the hero for the Quakes in the 87th minute but his shot from just outside the D was stopped by Willis.

Marcinkowski finished the match with fives saves to earn his second clean sheet of the season. Willis made six saves on six shots on target for his fourth clean sheet of the season.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with two corner kicks. Nashville SC had seven.

The Quakes are now 0-0-2 all-time vs. Nashville SC, including a 0-0-1 record on the road.

San Jose is now 3-2-3 in MLS play under interim head coach Alex Covelo.

Midfielder Cristian Espinoza made his 100th MLS appearance, starting and playing 79 minutes.

UP NEXT: San Jose conclude its three-game road trip when they take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday 6/18 at 6:30pm at Rio Tinto Stadium.

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.