NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The San Jose Earthquakes drew 1-1 with Nashville SC on Saturday night at GEODIS Park in front of 28,984 fans to earn their first road point of the season and snap a four-game losing streak.
Hany Mukhtar opened the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute with a deep blast well outside the box. Nashville almost doubled the lead in the 62nd minute but Sam Surridge’s header did not cross the goal line thanks to some expert positioning from William Yarbrough to secure the ball. The Quakes goalkeeper’s defensive prowess was rewarded seconds later when Rodrigues fed second-half substitute Jack Skahan for the equalizer.
The Quakes also ended a 10-game road regular-season losing streak dating back to last season. San Jose’s last trip that resulted in points was their road finale on October 7, 2023, a 1-1 draw at FC Dallas thanks to a third-minute Jeremy Ebobisse goal.
The Quakes will now return to the Bay Area to host LAFC at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, May 4. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as on local radio via AM 810 The Spread (English) and AM 1370 La Kaliente (Spanish). A pregame Fan Fest for the Biggest Cinco de Mayo Party on the West Coast will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Faithful Mile in front of SAP Tower between Gates A and C.
GAME NOTES
The Quakes remained unbeaten vs. Nashville SC, holding a 0-0-4 overall record against the Coyotes in MLS play, including a 0-0-2 record on the road.
The Quakes’ road record improves to 0-5-1 this season, snapping a 10-game road losing streak in the regular season with tonight’s result.
San Jose’s last road trip that resulted in points was their last regular-season road game of last season on October 7, 2023, a 1-1 draw at FC Dallas thanks to a third-minute Jeremy Ebobisse goal.
Memphis native Jack Skahan returned to his home state of Tennessee, starting the second half for the Black and Blue and providing the game-tying goal in the 63rd minute off a feed from Rodrigues.
Former Quakes midfielder Aníbal Godoy (2015-19) started for the Boys in Gold, playing all 90 minutes.
Nashville SC 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, April 27, 2024 – GEODIS Park; Nashville, Tenn.
Weather: 77° Sunny
Attendance: 28,984
Man of the Match Presented by Coors Light: Jack Skahan
Match Officials:
Referee: Allen Chapman
AR1: Chris Wattam
AR2: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt
4th Official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
VAR: Joe Dickerson
AVAR: TJ Zablocki
Scoring Summary:
NSH (1-0) – Hany Mukhtar (unassisted) 19’
SJ (1-1) – Jack Skahan (Rodrigues) 63’
Misconduct Summary:
NSH – Dan Lovitz (caution) 4’
SJ – Niko Tsakiris (caution) 14’
SJ – Benji Kikanović (caution) 40’
SJ – Vítor Costa (caution) 90’
NASHVILLE SC: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz (Taylor Washington 73’), Jack Maher, Brent Kallman (Walker Zimmerman 77’); Hany Mukhtar (C), Jacob Shaffelburg, Dru Yearwood (Tyler Boyd 77’), Alex Muyl, Aníbal Godoy, Sean Davis (Tah Brian Anunga 73’); Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 88’).
Substitutes not used: Elliot Pannico (GK), Ben Martino (GK), Josh Bauer, Amar Sejdić.
POSS.: 53.6%; SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; CORNERS: 7; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 8; xG: 1.6
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: William Yarbrough; Vítor Costa, Tanner Beason, Rodrigues (Daniel Munie 87’), Carlos Akapo; Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill (C), Niko Tsakiris (Jack Skahan 46’); Cristian Espinoza (Paul Marie 89’), Benji Kikanović, (Amahl Pellegrino 46’), Jeremy Ebobisse (Preston Judd 64’).
Substitutes not used: Emi Ochoa (GK), Michael Baldisimo, Ousseni Bouda, Jamar Ricketts.
POSS.: 46.4%; SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; CORNERS: 5; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 7; xG: 1.4
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH LUCHI GONZALEZ
On takeaways from tonight’s match:
“I think it’s a fair point. I thought it was a deserved point. We’ve had this type of game, I think multiple games where we somehow end up maybe losing the game for whatever reason late, or for a moment, and I'm happy to see the guys grab the point, close the game [and] show a response in the second half.
“I thought we started pretty well, started on the front foot. We had some high possession. Niko [Tsakiris] had some good moments there in and around the box where there was potential for a combination or a triangle that can create a shot or a good high-quality cross, but we just didn't have that end product early. … I thought we could have been a little more vertical in our combination plays and runs. Even coming from the weak side, if we’re building from the right, can we have movement from the left and beyond so there's surprise. I thought we didn't do that as well until the second half.
“I thought the response was good. Guys came in and gave us a little more verticality, gave us some danger. Will [Yarbrough] made a great save, and kept us in the game. We could have even made it 2-1 with [Amahl Pellegrino], with Preston [Judd]. Look, overall fair point. Let’s grab that positive result and end performance, and let’s keep learning and keep trying to get better and pull ourselves up for the next one. Obviously we’ll be very motivated with LAFC and Levi’s [Stadium] with a big turnout. This is an exciting game for us, and we look forward to it.”
On the need to stay disciplined when outnumbered in midfield:
“I think the first 15, 20 minutes, we had good midfield play and control with the ball. Now I think we did a little too much chasing in the midfield. What happens is if our front line and our midfield are not together when we’re building pressure...you create too much space. They have dynamic players that can cover ground, and they were able to play out of it with vertical combos. We needed to organize that and be together and be more compact. ... We did a better job second half with less chasing, more compactness and more about building pressure together with intensity, speed, and duels, and it did improve.”
On defending Hany Mukhtar with the numbers game in the midfield:
“Mukhtar would drop low. He’s a false-winger-slash-vertical-10. He was dropping low, giving them that extra number in the midfield, and that’s not easy to manage. He’s a very good player. He’s smart. I thought we did a better job in the second half of one of the center backs recognizing that, and really getting pressure on him, stepping to him, [and] just slowing him down his ability to get numbers up in the midfield.”
On Will Yarbrough’s crucial save and subsequent game-tying goal moments later:
“I thought Will was really aggressive in a good way on crosses and it makes a difference for us, so it was really good to see his overall performance. It kept us in the game second half. I know he didn't have to move from his position, but he made a great reaction. He was in a good position on the header. It’s a high [expected goals] chance for them and [Sam] Surridge usually doesn’t miss those, so for WIll to make that save, keep us in the game, and then us responding with our own goal was a big-time moment. I know it’s going to help his confidence and the team's confidence moving forward, making plays like that.”
EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER JACK SKAHAN
On turning the tide in the second half and scoring the game-tying goal:
“I think we just decided to play a little more direct, try to play behind them. … That strategy probably fits what I’m comfortable doing, which is getting behind defensive [midfielders] and center backs and that’s how we scored.”
On turning in his best performance of the season so far:
“I started the season pretty slow, not doing what I know I can do, and it was disappointing. But at the same time we have someone like Niko [Tsakiris] and he deserves to play at the same time. Healthy competition’s a good thing. I’m just getting more comfortable receiving the ball and turning. The thing I don’t really need to focus too much on to do is the athletic side of the game like running behind and being physical, but once my feet get more comfortable, and I've [worked on that] the last three or four weeks, the game’s a lot easier.”
On the team’s mindset going into next Saturday’s match at Levi's Stadium vs. LAFC:
“Just focus. Execute our game plan. I mean, look, we haven’t had a good start to our season, but this team is so much better than the points that we have on the table, and I’m sure fans disagree with that, but I see. We know. We know soccer. We know what we see in training. We can score against anybody. We just need confidence and momentum. I think we can win that game. LAFC is a really good team, but we can win that game.”
On forward Amahl Pellegrino’s continuing transition to MLS:
“I think transitioning to MLS is tough and I don’t think people give it enough credit for how difficult that is, especially coming from a league that probably has a super-different style of play. The league is very physical and very fast in terms of the players, but when you ask, ‘What does Pelle have that we see in practice?’... First of all, he’s really fast, and he’s one of the best finishers in front of the goal that I’ve ever played with. Getting him in that spot like he scored against Austin, I think, and like the one tonight he didn’t come off. That’s the spot you want you want him in, and he can win you a game from there. His finishing is for real.”
