When the Earthquakes signed midfielder Anibal Godoy in the middle of last season, there were high hopes for success, both individually and with the team as a whole. Although fans were unfamiliar with the Panamanian, he was well known and scouted internally by general manager John Doyle and head coach Dominic Kinnear, who watched him play at various international competitions including each of the last three CONCACAF Gold Cups. While other high-prized acquisitions, such as Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, Kaka, Giovani dos Santos, Frank Lampard, etc., grabbed the attention of national and international media outlets, Godoy’s impact for his respective club has matched or exceeded all of them.
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“I have always said I think he makes players around him better,” explained head coach Dominic Kinnear. “He always wants the ball, whether he’s under pressure or not. He’s a good defender. He’s a smart guy.”
Acquired by the Quakes on Aug. 6, 2015, Godoy was thrown right into the fire, starting against the Rapids the day he arrived in San Jose without having so much as a single training session with his new teammates. The Earthquakes were desperate for a spark, taking a total of one point from their previous six matches combined.
As the Earthquakes continued to spin their tires, Godoy’s infusion into the club immediately triggered San Jose’s best stretch of the season, winning each of their next four matches by outscoring opponents 9-0. The Quakes defeated the Rapids, who were in the midst of a hot streak, before defeating three of Major League Soccer’s top teams in Sporting KC, D.C. United and the LA Galaxy, all by shutout.
“When I first got here I didn’t know anyone,” said Godoy through a Spanish translator. “It was difficult to communicate because of the language barrier, but after time, confidence grows with your teammates and that transfers onto the field.”
In the 10 games he featured for San Jose last season, the Quakes held a nearly spotless record of 6-1-3. The team’s only loss came on the road to NYCFC on a Saturday night after playing at home against the Montreal Impact on Wednesday, due to a scheduling change earlier in the season.
The Quakes rode the momentum caused by Godoy’s signing to re-enter the playoff picture, a task that once seemed rather unrealistic with two months remaining, to take the field on Decision Day with their playoff hopes still alive. Godoy was unable to make the trip to the Lone Star state due to yellow card accumulation and the Earthquakes ultimately came up just short, falling to Supporters’ Shield runner-up FC Dallas.
“It’s not necessarily a leadership role I see myself in, but I always want to be there for my teammates on a day-to-day basis,” explained Godoy. “I’m always trying to add something positive to the team.”
Fast-forward to 2016 and the Quakes continue to win, jumping out to their first 2-0-0 start in club history. After opening the season with a victory against the Colorado Rapids, who would go on to defeat the LA Galaxy in Week 2, San Jose snapped Portland’s 10-game unbeaten streak (7-0-3) dating back to last season, including playoffs. The club is one of three teams to win both of its first two matches, and the only score the team has allowed was an 89th-minute consolation goal against the defending MLS Cup champions.
“We’re off to a good start,” said Godoy. “If we continue this way, I feel we can win the championship, but first we have to eye the playoffs.
“I want to be a champion with the Earthquakes. These are goals that I’ve placed on myself and I know that I need to put in my grain of sand as part of the team to help us win.”
In addition to his play on the field, Godoy has helped the club in other ways. He was instrumental in the acquisition of fellow Panamanian midfielder Alberto Quintero on loan just weeks before the start of the 2016 season. The Quintero loan has already paid dividends, with the diminutive Panamanian tallying a game-winning assist in the season opener.
If San Jose can continue to maintain their winning ways, the rest of the 2016 season will surely be one to watch.
