KANSAS CITY, KANS. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Sporting Kansas City 3-0 on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. The result snaps San Jose’s unbeaten streak at four.
Sporting Kansas City would open the scoring early in the match. Goalkeeper Daniel made a strong diving save to deny a long-range strike in the 16th minute. Kansas City scored two more goals, and the Quakes had a penalty opportunity saved in the final minutes to complete the match.
The Earthquakes will now prepare for two home matches next week, first facing the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday, August 30, presented by PayPal. Kickoff from PayPal Park is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed globally on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app, as well as on local radio via 810 AM The Spread (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold an 9-8-8 record (35 pts.) during the 2023 MLS regular season and currently sit in sixth place in the 14-team Western Conference, only two points from second place.
San Jose currently holds an 26-30-10 record against Kansas City, including an 8-23-2 record on the road.
Forward Matthew Hoppe made is MLS debut, entering the match as a sub at the start of the second half.
Defender Paul Marie made his 100th career appearance for the Quakes, entering as a sub in the 67’ minute.
MATCH INFORMATION
Sporting Kansas City 3 – 0 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, August 26, 2023 – Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS
Attendance: 18,892
Scoring Summary:
SKC (1-0) – Daniel Salloi (Johnny Russell) 3’
SKC (2-0) – Johnny Russell (Nemanja Radoja) 42’
SKC (3-0) – Erik Thommy (Nemanja Radoja) 69’
Misconduct Summary:
None.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: Tim Melia; Andreu Fontas, Dany Rosero, Jake Davis, Logan Ndenbe; Nemanja Radoja (Roger Espinoza 84’), Erik Thommy, Remi Walter; Johnny Russell (C) (Khiry Shelton 54’), Alan Pulido (Willy Agada 77’), Daniel Salloi (Marinos Tzionis 77’)
Substitutes not used: John Pulskamp (GK), Danny Flores, Felipe Gutierrez, Tim Leibold, Robert Voloder
SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 8; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel; Miguel Trauco, Tanner Beason, Rodrigues, Carlos Akapo (Paul Marie 67’); Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill (C), Jamiro Monteiro (Jack Skahan 66’); Cristian Espinoza (Niko Tsakiris 75’), Jeremy Ebobisse (Ayo Akinola 67’), Cade Cowell (Matthew Hoppe 46’)
Substitutes not used: JT Marcinkowski (GK), Michael Baldisimo, Jonathan Mensah, Tommy Thompson
SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 7; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 3
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH LUCHI GONZALEZ
On tonight’s result against Sporting Kansas City:
“I thought we got good pressure on the ball, we caused issues, we won the ball multiple times in their half. We created offensive transition. We created volume attacking the box and in offensive transition and in winning the ball. We just didn’t reward ourselves. That’s the risk in getting pressure on the ball higher up the field. I thought we started strong in the second half. Credit to [Sporting] Kansas City, they scored early and they are a very good team”
On the positive takeaways from tonight’s match:
“Our performance overall wasn’t poor. We had xG, we created in offensive transition. We won the ball in their half many times, more times than we normally we do away from home. We didn’t reward ourselves on the scoresheet. We have to have more pride in having a more complete game, attacking and defending the boxes. We are very disappointed in the score. It wasn’t our night. It’s done. Let’s move on and respond to the next moment, it is what this team has been doing all season. I believe they will be ready to fight again.”
On preparing for a mid-week match against the LA Galaxy next week:
“We made substitutions earlier in this game than typical, based on the circumstances of this game and knowing that we also had a game mid-week against the Galaxy at home. It’s hard when you want to do your best in the moment and also have an eye on the horizon to what’s coming up. At the end of the day, guys like Cristian [Espinoza], Jebo [Jeremy Ebobisse], and Miro [Jamiro Monteiro] put in good minutes and have done well with those minutes. We felt it was an opportunity to give other guys some opportunities, get some fresh legs in and push the game.”
