SAN JOSE, Calif. - On July 31st, the San Jose Earthquakes were ninth in the Western Conference. The Quakes, who were at one point running steady at mid-table, went 0-7-0 in all competitions in July, including four MLS contests, two International Champions Cup games and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup contest in the process.
Over that timespan, San Jose had lost leading goal scorer Chris Wondolowksi and midfielder Cordell Cato to international duties during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Designated Player Matias Perez Garcia was sidelined at the beginning of the month due to a leg injury, and three out of the Quakes four MLS matches were away from the friendly confines of Avaya Stadium. Although the playoffs were not yet out of reach, the deficit and strength of the impending schedule seemed improbable to overcome.
And then came a month to remember.
After a 0-0 draw against Portland and a tough loss on the road in Houston, the Quakes closed out August by shocking Major League Soccer. San Jose went on to record four consecutive shutout victories – which included blowing out a Sporting Kansas City side 5-0 that had not lost at home all season, blanking Supporter’s Shield contenders D.C. United at RFK Stadium just three days later and shutting out the hottest team in the league, the LA Galaxy, 1-0. The run squarely put them back into playoff contention with a majority of their remaining games being held at home.
“I think August was the result of us figuring each other out,” said forward Quincy Amarikwa. “And that was the main difference between the two. I think the effort was there in both months and guys were working equally hard, but it was a matter of bringing it all together. So hopefully we can maintain the form, carry it on for the rest of the season and make the playoffs.”
While the team had suffered through the absence of Wondolowksi, newly acquired Amarikwa was able to step up in his absence, scoring three goals in his first two games with the Quakes. However, he was the lone San Jose player to find the back of the net in the entire month of July. Then, in August, the team’s offense exploded and six different players beat the opposing keeper. The Earthquakes effectiveness in August also came from their ability to score goals early and were able to take the lead in each of their last three games by finding the back of the net within the first 20 minutes.
“We have quality to score goals across the board and once we figured out how to play together, now we are able to turn that into our advantage and exploit defenses where they are weakest,” said Amarikwa. “And because of that, everyone is reaping success and getting goals as a result of it.”
To help bolster the team’s midfield, the Quakes also picked up defensive midfielder and Panamanian international Anibal Godoy, whose accurate passing has been instrumental in settling the team down both on offense and defense. Although Godoy was immediately thrown into the Quakes lineup with little to no prior time with the club, he fit almost seamlessly and has led San Jose to a 4-0-0 record since. Godoy also chipped in to the Quakes goal scoring in August, netting a highlight-reel goal against Sporting Kansas City.
Although prospects for a playoff run once looked bleak, the Earthquakes hot streak in August has not only kept them in contention, but has them right in the thick of things to contend for an MLS Cup. The Quakes will look to continue their run to the playoffs and extend their shutout streak to five games when they take on the Philadelphia Union at Avaya Stadium this Saturday, September 5. A win would propel San Jose from seventh to anywhere from third to fifth place in the Western Conference. Tickets to the match, which will celebrate longtime team captain Ramiro Corrales’ induction into the Earthquakes Hall of Fame, are available here. The match will be broadcast live on CSN Plus, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF and kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
