San Jose Earthquakes fullback Marcos Lopez battle for the ball with RC Celta de Vigo’s Hugo Mallo at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday JUL 20, 2022. (RC Celta de Vigo)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE— The San Jose Earthquakes came back down from a one-goal deficit late in the first half as the settled for a 1-1 draw with LaLiga’s RC Celta de Vigo in an International friendly on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.
San Jose featured a lineup of players that consisted of the main team’s bench players and a few from MLS Is Next Quakes II team.
Interim Head coach Alex Covelo was creative with his lineup that featured a 5-2-1-2 formation
RC Celta de Vigo, who finished last season in 11th place of the LaLiga, came in with their full lineup consisting of international stars Iago Aspas and Renato Tapia. They featured a 4-2-2-2 formation.
San Jose had a chance in the 36th minute to break the ice from Marco Lopez, but his shot from 12 yards out was saved by RC Celta goalkeeper Ivan Villar.
RC Celta earned a penalty kick in the 39th minute when Jan Gregus fouled Miguel Baeza inside the box.
Aspas cashed in the penalty a minute later as his shot beat ‘Quakes goalkeeper Matt Bersano to the left side to draw first blood for RC Celta.
The ‘Quakes scored the equalizer off a set piece in the 44th minute. Jan Gregus centered the ball off of a corner kick into the box with a charging Marcos Lopez left unmarked and headed the ball into the back of the net.
The best scoring chance for either team in the second half came in the 59th minute for RC Celta. The Spanish team had a point blank shot off a centering pass that had Bersano out of position. Casey Walls came back and knocked the ball away before it crossed the goal line.
Covelo inserted some of his regular starters late in the second half such as Cristian Espinoza, Benji Kikanovic and Judson. However, neither were able to able help give San Jose the winning goal in the end.
US Men’s National Team member Luca De La Torre made his debut for RC Celta as a substitute late in the second half. De La Torre signed with the Spanish club back on July 8th from Heracles in a deal worth around $2 million.
UP NEXT: San Jose returns to MLS action on Saturday 7/23 when they play the Portland Timbers at 7:30pm at Providence Park.
Celta de Vigo 4-2-2-2 formation
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