Ever since the San Jose Earthquakes hired general manager Jesse Fioranelli, the club has made a statement of intent to be more youthful and put an emphasis on developing players for the future.
Head coach Matias Almeyda has played a vital role in the movement, offering increased playing opportunities for younger players and giving Academy members regular chances to train with the first team. A great example would be the increased reliance on players such as Jackson Yueill and Tommy Thompson, who quickly went from off-the-bench role players to bona fide starters week in and week out. Yueill, now 23, was named the team’s captain for the first time last weekend.
On Saturday vs. the LA Galaxy, fans got to see two new young players in the Starting XI: 16-year-old winger Cade Cowell and rookie defender Tanner Beason. Cowell, who had made two prior appearances, was earning his first start. Meanwhile, Beason, the team’s 2020 first-round SuperDraft pick, made his MLS debut.
Cowell scored a tremendous goal, earning a nomination for MLS Goal of the Week. Playing as an inverted winger, the right-footed attacker cut onto his dominant foot, separated himself from the defender, and blasted a low curling shot just inside the far post.
“It felt really good tonight,” said Cowell postgame. “No better feeling to have my first start. I was really excited, and on top of that, to have a goal and put my team in the lead, it was a great feeling.”
Beason, 23, has a winning pedigree, helping lead the Stanford Cardinal to three National Championships during his time on the farm. Saturday, he made his professional debut and showed well, even making a miraculous goal-line save.
“I felt good out there,” said the North Carolina native. “It’s just exciting to be out there. Happy to get a chance to compete with the guys. Everyone was super helpful and encouraging me, helping me feel confident. I look forward to watching the video and see more technically how I did.”
Almeyda has given the green light for team prospects to fight for playing time and has said on multiple occasions that this COVID-shortened season will be a good opportunity for players to prove themselves for 2021 and beyond.
“With the remaining time in the season, I’m going to try things out,” Almeyda said on Saturday. “There’s a situation with contracts ending. Thinking about next year, I want things to be very clear when I decide who I can count on and who I will stop counting on. And these two young players [Cowell and Beason] who have been training well, who have been playing well, I thought it was time to give them playing time to start developing them for the future.”
Could Almeyda continue with Cowell and Beason in the lineup on Wednesday vs. LAFC? The 2019 Supporters’ Shield winners haven’t had quite the same level of success in 2020. After being eliminated by Orlando City SC in the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back Tournament, the SoCal side has returned home to two multi-goal defeats against the LA Galaxy (2-0) and Seattle Sounders FC (3-1). LAFC will be without the reigning MLS MVP Carlos Vela, who suffered a knee injury vs. the Galaxy. However, the team has more than enough offensive firepower to be dangerous on Wednesday, including star forward Diego Rossi, who has been linked to clubs such as Italy’s Fiorentina, and Designated Player Brian Rodriguez.
Kickoff from Banc of California Stadium takes place at 8 p.m. and the match, presented by Michelob ULTRA, will be broadcast on TUDN/Unimas, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
