Tag: San Jose Earthqaukes

FC Cincinnati’s Obinna Nwobodo (#5) lifts up Yuya Kubo (#7) in celebration after one of Kubo’s three goals of the match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Pay Pal Park on Saturday JUN 15, 2024. (FC Cincinnati)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was a night Yuya Kubo will not forget.

The Japanese reserve midfielder scored his first career hat trick as FC Cincinnati defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 4-2 on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

FC Cincinnati snapped its two-game losing streak and have won seven of its past nine games. San Jose are winless in its past five matches.

San Jose (3-11-2-11 points) had scoring chances in the 22nd and 33rd minute of the first half. First, Espinoza centered the ball into the box, but the ball deflected off the foot of Amahl Pellegrino wide left. Then in the 33rd minute Espinoza centered a ball from right to left over to Hernan Lopez, who quickly fed it out to Jeremy Ebobisse in the middle of the box, but Ebobisse’s attempt sailed high over the net.

FC Cincinnati’s (11-3-3-36 points) leading goal scorer Luciano Acosta had two scoring chances in the 29th and 32nd minute of the opening 45 minutes but both of his attempts both were shot over the net.

FC Cincinnati drew first blood in the 53rd minute thanks to a gift from the Earthquakes. Tanner Beason’s pass attempt was intercepted by Pavel Bucha and the Czech midfielder dribbled into the box before firing a right footed shot past Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough for his second goal of the season.

San Jose responded with the equalizer three minutes later. A shot from Vitor Costa just outside the box was initially saved by FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano who dove to his right. Lopez cleaned up the rebound with a right footed punch into an open net for his fourth goal of the season.

The field opened up as the two teams traded chances after both goals were scored. Pellegrino raced down the left side from midfield in the 60th minute one-on-one with Matt Miazga. Pellegrino’s attempted chip toward the net was blocked out of bounds by Miazga for a San Jose corner kick.

“We lost our organization,” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez on his team getting beat on the transition in back-to-back games. “That’s my responsibility as a coach in exercising that and improving that. Especially now that it’s hurt in consecutive games.”

The ‘Quakes gained its first lead in the 72nd minute. Costa sent a home run pass from just beyond midfield that found Espinoza inside the box along the right wing. Espinoza made a move to the inside before burying a left footed shot past for his fifth goal of the season.

FC Cincinnati scored the equalizer six minutes later. Acosta sent a long ball out to the middle of the pitch to Yuya Kubo, who came on as a sub for Serigo Santos in the 64th minute, who won a one-on-one race with Beason before depositing the ball past Yarbrough for his first goal of the match and fifth of the season.

The visiting team regained the lead two minutes later. thanks to some impressive play inside the box. A give and go between Acosta and Gerado Venezuela found its way to the foot of Kubo who tapped it home for his brace and sixth goal of the season.

FC Cincinnati put the game away in the 87th minute with an insurance goal. Acosta picked up his third assist of the match when he sent a ball up to Kubo who got behind the ‘Quakes defense as he finished off his hat trick with a shot right between the legs of Yarbrough for his seventh goal of the season.

“They’re dangerous. If you give Lucho (Luciano) Acosta half a second, he plays a one-touch ball behind Kubo and that’s what they’re capable of,” Gonzalez said.

Celentano made six saves on seven shots to earn his ninth victory of the season. Yarbrough made two saves on nine shots on goal.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with 10 corner kicks. FC Cincinnati had three.

San Jose is 1-2-0 against FC Cincinnati in the all-time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Portland Timbers on Wednesday 6/22 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

Colorado Rapids forwards Calvin Harris (#14) and Kevin Cabral (#91) celebrate Miguel Navarro’s (#9) first goal of the game during the Rapids 3-0 sin over the San Jose Earthquakes at Pay Pal Park on Saturday ARP 13, 2024. (Colorado Rapids)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Miguel Navarro scored two goals as the Colorado Rapids cruised past the San Jose Earthquakes in a 3-0 shutout victory on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost three matches in a row and seven of its first eight matches. Colorado has points in its last three matches with the win.

Colorado (3-2-3) drew first blood in the first 10 minute of the first half. Navarro drew a penalty kick in the eighth minute when he had possession inside the box. Navarro attempted to go around ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough but Yarbrough tripped Navarro to the ground resulting in the penalty foul.

Navarro made a hesitation move before firing the ball past Yarbrough for his first goal of the match and third goal of the season in the 10th minute.

The Earthquakes (1-7) responded with two quick scoring chances in the 13th and 15th minute by Cristian Espinoza. Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffan stopped both of Espinoza’s attempts with diving saves to keep San Jose from answering with the equalizer.

The rest of the opening 45 minutes featured missed opportunities by San Jose. Shots from Jackson Yueill in the 29th minute and Ahmal Pellegrino in the 39th minute sailed high and over the net resulting in a goal kick.

“We didn’t find a way to put our shots to create more danger with our shots and score them,” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez on his team’s lack of goals on the night. “They did. (The score) 3-0 doesn’t reflect the stats, 3-0 reflects what they did effectively.”

The Rapids doubled its lead in the 60th minute when Navarro scored his second goal of the match. Keegan Rosenberry sent a cross into the middle of the box. The ball pinballed off of Rodriguez and then Calvin Harris before Navarro poked home the loose ball into the back of the net to complete his brace and team leading fourth goal of the season.

Gonzalez made a sweep of changes in the 62nd minute as he tried to infuse some energy into his offensive attack as he brought in Preston Judd, Jack Skahan and Benji Kikanovic for Pellegrino, Jeremy Ebobisse and Alfredo Morales.

Cole Bassett put the game away with his second goal of the season in the 80th minute. Navarro found Bassett along the right wing and the Rapid midfielder dribbled in from outside the box into the middle before depositing the ball into the lower left corner past Yarbrough with a left footed shot.

“It’s frustrating when you’re creating opportunities and they’re just not falling your way,” ‘Quakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris echoed his coach’s sentiment. He continued, “I think there were moments tonight that I think we were had good form and in good rhythm. We’re looking to build off of those moments.”

Steffan (3-2-3) stopped all six shots on target to earn his first clean sheet and third win of the season. Yarbrough (1-6) let in three shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with 10 corner kicks. Colorado had seven.

San Jose is 32-27-19 in the all-time series against Colorado.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels down south to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy on Sunday 4/21 at 5:15pm at Dignity Health Park.

San Jose Earthquakes players celebrate a goal scored by Cristian Espinoza during their 3-2 victory over the Seattle Sounders at Pay Pal Park on Saturday MAR 23, 2024. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Something had to give on a cloudy night in Silicon Valley.

On a night when both teams were looking to put a one in the win column, Jeremy Ebobisse scored the game winning goal in the 82nd minute as the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-2 on a rainy Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park in the 16th edition of the Heritage Cup.

San Jose earned its first win of the season after beginning the season losing its first four matches. Seattle has lost two of their first four matches.

“It felt great, especially for the players,” said Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez. “The players have been fantastic in terms of trying to get better. We obviously have been disappointed with the results. We know that it hasn’t bounced our way, but we saw early in the week in competing and with their energy and in their belief. Together they showed that determination.”

Gonzalez made major lineup changes for the first time this season as he replaced his starting midfield with Alfred Morales, Jackson Yueill and Niko Tsakiris. Preston Judd replaced Ebobisse in the starting lineup at striker and William Yarbrough got his first start of the season in goal replacing Daniel in his Earthquakes debut.

San Jose (1-4-0) drew first blood in the 42nd minute. Yueill centered a ball into the box that hit off the head of defender Bruno Wilson over to a crashing Vitor Costa who slid kicking the ball into the net past Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei for his team-leading second goal of the season.

“It’s something we’ve been working, more so crashing the box. We want to be visible in the box. We want to be optimistic that the ball is going to bounce there. It wasn’t exactly the ball I was trying to put there but it was a good moment for him (Costa) to score and be in that position,” Yueill said.

The Earthquakes needed just a minute later to double its lead. Judd dribbled in from the left wing, hesitated, then shot the ball on Frei. The Sounders’ captain initial save bounced out to the middle where Cristian Espinoza cleaned up the rebound into an empty net for his first goal of the season.

The ‘Quakes had all the momentum in their favor as they controlled the possession for the majority of the first half and were rewarded late with the two goals as they headed into the intermission riding high.

Seattle (0-1-2) cut the lead in half when they were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute by referee Gabriele Ciampi when he called Paul Marie for a foul inside the box when he pushed down Yéimar Gómez from behind. Two minutes later Raúl Ruidíaz finished off the penalty by getting Yarbrough to go down before chipping the ball into the middle of the net for his team-leading second goal of the season.

The Sounders scored the equalizer in the 81st minute. Cody Baker centered a ball from the right sideline deep into the box where an unmarked Danny Musovski headed the ball into the back post for his first goal of the season.

Ebobisse, who came into the game as a substitution five minutes earlier, set up his own heroics as he sent out a pass over to Jack Skahan along the right flank. Skahan went around a Sounders defender before centering the ball into the box where a sliding Ebobisse buried into the net for his first goal of the season.

“We all want to be on the field, and we are going to make the most of it when we are on it. It does not mean you don’t have each other’s backs. The situation on the field is for one striker. Even if you want to be the best for yourself, you have to acknowledge when things are going right,” Ebobisse said.

Yarbrough finished the match with five saves on seven shots to earn his first victory in a Quakes kit. Frei made four saves on seven shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with two corner kicks. Seattle had eight.

The Quakes and Sounders FC, both founded in 1974 and originally members of the North American Soccer League (NASL), are celebrating their 50th anniversaries this season.

San Jose is now 15-15-9 all time against Seattle and is undefeated in their last four matches.

The Quakes’ first two goals happened 1:36 apart, which is the quickest span in MLS this season, eclipsing the previous mark of 2:02 by Austin FC against Philadelphia Union on March 16.

Attendance for the match was 16,109.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns to the road when they take on the Houston Dynamo on Saturday 3/30 at 5:30pm at Shell Energy Stadium.

Vancouver Whitecaps forwards Ali Ahmed (#22) and Alessandro Schopf (#8) celebrate their second goal of the game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Pay Pal Park on Saturday MAR 9, 2023. (Vancouver Whitecaps)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The Vancouver Whitecaps reserves scored two goals in the second half en route to a 2-0 shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose have started the season losing its first three matches. Vancouver earned its first win of the season after a 1-1 draw against Charlotte in its season opener last week.

It was a mild first half to say the least. Neither team generated many scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes. San Jose (0-3-0) controlled the possession by a 62%-38 % margin. They had three shots on goal as opposed to the Whitecaps only generating one shot on net.

“I thought we had control of the game,” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez about the team’s disappointment. “I had no doubt that at the very least we were going to tie (the game) if not score and push for the winner. But it doesn’t matter how much possession we have, if we don’t put away chances. Tonight they (Vancouver) were efficient, and we were not.”

Vancouver (1-0-1) had the best scoring chance in the first half when Javain Brown’s header from the center of the box was saved by ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel in the 34th minute.

The Earthquakes kept the momentum they established in the first half to start the final 45 minutes. In the 53rd minute, Amahl Pellegrino’s header attempt went wide right on Whitecaps goalkeeper Yahei Takaoka.

Whitecaps striker Brian White made a move around a ‘Quakes defender in the 60th minute, but his left footed shot just sailed wide left of the net.

The Whitecaps broke the seal in the 74th minute off a corner kick. Ryan Gauld centered the ball into the middle where Rodriguez headed the ball out of the box. Alessandro Schopf, who came in as a substitute in the 71st minute, came charging in from behind and fired in a right footed shot from just behind the D off the hand of Daniel for his team-leading second goal of the season.

Things became chippy in the 79th minute when Vancouver’s Fafa Picault and San Jose’s Alfredo Morales exchanged words and shoves after a foul on Morales by Picault. Each were issued yellow cards in the 80th minute.

“It was a small foul, I tried to sell it a little bit. I got the call from the ref. I just wanted to go to up to him and say I know it was almost nothing but they called it, and he (Picault) went crazy. But that’s how it is, it’s just emotions,” Morales said.

Vancouver put the game away in the 86th minute with an insurance goal from Ali Ahmed. Tristan Blackmon sent a long ball down the left sideline. Ahmed hit the ball off his chest then touched it to himself with his right foot racing into the box before depositing a right footed shot into the upper right corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Takaoka finished the match with two saves on the five shots on target from San Jose to earn his first clean sheet of the season. Daniel made two saves on the six shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with eight corner kicks. Vancouver had six.

‘Quakes defenseman Bruno Wilson received a yellow card for a hard foul in the 62nd minute. Then in the 73rd minute, Preston Judd was issued a yellow card for a hard foul.

Tonight’s attendance was 16,045.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to the Midwest to take on Sporting Kansas City on Saturday 3/16 at 5:30pm at Children’s Mercy Park.

One of the images from the latest renderings of the soon to be built soccer fields and training facilities for the San Jose Earthquakes at the Santa Clara Count Farigrounds. (San Jose Earthquakes).

by Marko Ukalovic

San Jose is looking to become a soccer town with its latest land deal with the local MLS soccer team.

During a press conference earlier this morning that featured local dignitaries and members of the San Jose Earthquakes, the City of San Jose announced in a partnership with the Quakes to develop four public, lighted state-of-the-art soccer fields on Santa Clara County’s Fairground property near Umbarger & Monterey Roads.

In total, Santa Clara County plans to lease 30 acres of its undeveloped Fairgrounds land to the Earthquakes. In addition to the public fields, the San Jose Earthquakes plan to lease approximately 14 of the 30 acres for the team’s new practice and training facility as well as four professional quality soccer fields.  

Santa Clara County supervisor Cindy Chavez helped orchestrate the deal between the city and the Quakes. She was one of the many speakers that included San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, San Jose Earthquakes president Jared Shawlee, Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez and homegrown 17-year-old player Edwyn Mendoza.

“The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds belongs to the public. This is a great way for our youth to have access to outstanding soccer fields year-round for generations to come,” said Chavez, who has worked on developing the SCC Fairgrounds property for many years and represents the area. “This is an historic achievement for our community and signifies the start of many more projects that will benefit our residents.”

In total, Santa Clara County plans to lease 30 acres of its undeveloped Fairgrounds property near Umbarger and Monterey Roads to the Earthquakes. In addition to the public soccer fields on 16 acres, the Quakes plan to lease approximately 14 acres for the club’s new practice and training facility, which includes four more professional quality soccer fields. In all, the project entails the construction of eight total fields.

“Thank you to Santa Clara County and the City of San Jose for partnering with the San Jose Earthquakes to build world-class fields for our community and a premier training facility for our club,” said Shawlee. “We believe that this public-private partnership can serve as a model for connecting pro athletes to their communities while also creating greater access to safe playing spaces for children.”

Mayor Mahan believes the community will benefit from having the new soccer fields available for youth soccer.

“We’re excited to begin working with the County and the San Jose Earthquakes to develop a state-of-the-art soccer facility on a portion of the underutilized land at the fairgrounds,” said Mahan. “Once completed, this site will not only serve the pros, but act as a regional destination for youth soccer teams and residents alike.”

The approximately 35,000-square-foot professional training and practice center will house the Earthquakes’ pro teams and all youth teams within the Earthquakes Academy. The club’s training building will consist of locker rooms, a weight room, dining hall, theatre, medical treatment facility, hydrotherapy equipment, laundry rooms, staff office space and more.  

Gonzelez, who has only been in San Jose for only a year with his family, said this project is very personal to him because he grew up playing on community fields and is a great way to produce local talent.

“I have worked all across the country, and as soccer continues to grow in America, I’ve witnessed firsthand how important it is that community fields are connected to their local professional clubs.” said Gonzalez. “This past season, we led the league with 13 homegrown academy graduates, which shows our commitment to local players, but also how much further impact a first-class facility will have on their development to reach their full potential.”

Mendoza, who signed a professional contract with the Earthquakes in May, believes this facility will give more kids the ability to play the game they love.

“I grew up in San Jose, so this facility will be a game-changer, not just for the Earthquakes players, but for kids from my community who get so much joy from playing the sport they love,” said Mendoza. “For them to have the opportunity to play on fields right next to the professionals they look up to will serve as a visual reminder that they can follow their dreams and make them a reality one day.”

In June 2021, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors authorized the County Administration to enter into negotiations with the San José Earthquakes regarding its Letter of Interest to lease acreage at the Fairgrounds, on which it would construct soccer fields and a two- or three-story field building.

Santa Clara County and the San Jose Earthquakes entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) on April 5, 2022, and amended on April 4, 2023, which provided the parties with a period of 18 months to discuss potential plans for a soccer facility at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

The County of Santa Clara, the San Jose Earthquakes and the City of San Jose are coming together in a joint agreement to build a practice facility for the Earthquakes, shared public fields and all the necessary infrastructure needed for the facility.

The hope is to have the facility ready to open in 2026 just before the FIFA World Cup hits the United States and locally here at Levi’s Stadium.

San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodriguez battles for a loose ball with Minnesota FC midfielder Franco Fragapane at Allianz Field on Saturday SEP 30, 2023. (Minnesota FC)

by Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Earthquakes needed some late match comeback magic to earn a critical point.

Paul Marie scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute as the Quakes settled for a 1-1 draw with Minnesota FC on Saturday evening at Allianz Field.

San Jose stayed in eight place in the Western Conference with the tie to stay one point ahead (42) of FC Dallas (41) who earned a point with a 0-0 draw with the Houston Dynamo. Minnesota is on the outside looking in as they are tied for 11th place in the conference with Sporting Kansas City with 38 points.

Minnesota FC (9-11-11-38 points) controlled the first 15 minutes of the match as they generated scoring chances from Emanuel Reynoso and Bongokuhle Hlongwane only to have both players miss their targets.

San Jose (10-10-12-42 points) generated two scoring chances late in the opening 45 minutes when shots from Cristian Espinoza and Matthew Hoppe were off target against Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

Minnesota FC broke the seal in the 56th minute on a counterattack. Bongokuhle tried to dribble through two ‘Quakes defenders inside the box when the ball deflected off Carlos Akapo. Teemu Pukki cleaned up the loose ball and buried a shot past ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel for his sixth goal of the season.

“In the first half, I thought we did have some moments of possession, but not enough. I thought we could have connected more and been a little more patient in our build up. I thought it was a pretty fair and even game. We started the second half quite well, but they hurt us in transition. We were down 1-0, and we responded with some aggressive subs with guys who could give us some verticality and speed and take the game to another gear,” Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzlez said.

Espinoza, who has been the catalyst for San Jose’s offense all season, set up the late match heroics when he made a move around Franco Fragapane just outside the box before depositing a cross to the left side where an unmarked Marie one-timed the ball with an arial volley into the upper right corner of net for his third goal of the season.

“Starting or not, (Marie) has been in rotation and involved. He’s important. I think he’s a starting caliber fullback/wingback, not just for us but for the league. I am proud of his mentality, being ready no matter what, starting or not. Knowing the game will have a role for him, and he came in showed that. I am very proud of him, and that shows what kind of a teammate he is to this group,” Gonzalez said.

Both goalies had one save on two shots on target to each the draw.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with seven corner kicks. Minnesota FC has four.

The Quakes now hold a 5-4-4 record against Minnesota United FC, including a 2-2-2 record on the road.

Espinoza tallied his 11th assist of the season and 56th of his MLS career. Akapo tallied his fourth assist of the season and of his MLS career.

UP NEXT: San Jose finishes its regular season road schedule against FC Dallas in a battle for 8th place in the West on Saturday 10/7 at 5:30pm at Toyota Stadium.