It’s been an eventful year for San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski, highlighted by the quartet of goals tallied against the Chicago Fire on May 18 that saw him become Major League Soccer’s all-time greatest goal scorer (158 goals). Wondolowski scored four more goals in the following three matches (at TOR 5/26, at DC 6/1, vs. DAL 6/8), and is now up to 14 goals this season, making him the only player in league history to record 10+ goals in 10 consecutive seasons.
Along with his scoring achievements, Wondolowski has appeared in over 350 MLS fixtures. He registered 300 games as an Earthquakes player in a road match against the New England Revolution on May 11. A start against Atlanta United FC on Saturday, Sept. 21 would see Wondolowski become the 18th player in MLS history to reach 300 career starts.
The reigning MLS Cup champions suffered two consecutive defeats for the first time since May after Saturday’s home defeat (3-1) to Columbus Crew SC. It marked Atlanta’s second defeat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2019.
Forward Josef Martinez recorded his seventh multi-goal game on Wednesday, inspiring Atlanta United FC to a 2-0 road win over FC Cincinnati. Martinez tallied a brace in span of eight minutes. Atlanta hold on to third in the Eastern Conference, but they’ve reduced the gap between themselves (51) and the Philadelphia Union (52) to a single point.
The Five Stripes are back on their turf on Saturday, looking to persuade their supporters that they can make a convincing case for a second-straight MLS Cup championship.
Forward Josef Martinez is set on extending his newest MLS record of scoring in consecutive matches. Martinez has tallied a goal in 15 straight league games, matching a record set in 2003 by former Flora Tallinn forward Tor Henning Hamre of 15 matches. FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi set the world record at 21 matches in the 2013-14 season.
Saturday’s match against Atlanta United FC will be the first of San Jose’s last four regular-season matches. It is one of the obstacles the Quakes will have to overcome in order to lock in a spot in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Quakes are sixth (13-12-5) in the Western Conference following a defeat to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. Wondolowski has tallied four goals in his last four matches and is expected to lead the Quakes when they set foot in Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the very first time.
Saturday’s match is set for 12:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on Univision, Twitter, 560 KSFO and 1370 KZSF.
