HOUSTON, Texas – The San Jose Earthquakes fell 2-1 to Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium in front of 16,184 fans, as two goals by the hosts in the last 10 minutes of regulation would be the difference.
San Jose opened the scoring in the second minute when a Bruno Wilson headed home a Cristian Espinoza corner kick. However, that early lead went into peril in minute 34, as a scuffle away from the ball between Preston Judd and Houston’ defender Erik Sviatchenko led to the Quakes forward being shown a red card, leaving the visitors with 10 men.
William Yarbrough, making his second straight start at goalkeeper for the Quakes for the injured Daniel, answered the call in the second half making multiple saves at point-blank range. But the hosts would finally break through with nine minutes left in regulation when Sebastian Ferreira netted. Houston would score the game-winner in the 85th minute when an unmarked Franco Escobar blasted a ball off a Yarbrough save into the back of the net. San Jose finished the game with nine men after Jackson Yueill received two bookings in succession.
The Quakes’ Texas road trip continues next Saturday against Austin FC on Saturday, April 6. Kickoff from Q2 Stadium is set for 5:30 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).
GAME NOTES
San Jose is 2-13-1 all-time at Houston and has not won there since 2015.
The Quakes’ goal was the first Houston conceded in 212 minutes dating back to their March 2 game vs. the New York Red Bulls.
Jackson Yueill tied Joe Cannon for third most games started in Quakes history (171).
Cristian Espinoza notched his second assist of the season, raising his career all-time club leading total to 60. In nine games against Houston, he now has two goals and four assists.
Bruno Wilson scored his first goal as an Earthquake after tallying his first assist in last week’s win over Seattle.
Wilson’s goal occurred at 0:59, which was the second fastest one in the league all season to Duncan McGuire’s 11-second effort for Orlando City SC against Minnesota United FC on March 9.
In relation to club history, Wilson’s goal was the sixth fastest behind Dwayne De Rosario (0:11; Sept. 27, 2003), Ronald Cerritos (0:48; May 23, 1998), Brian Ching (0:53; Apr. 12, 2003), Eduardo “Chofis” Lopez (0:55; May 1, 2021), and Ronald Cerritos (00:55; May 27, 1999).
MLS SuperDraft first-round choice Jamar Ricketts made his MLS debut in the 56th minute when he came on for Vítor Costa at left back.
MATCH INFORMATION
Houston Dynamo 2 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, March 30, 2024 – Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,184
Scoring Summary:
SJ – Bruno Wilson (Cristian Espinoza) 2’
HOU – Sebastian Ferreira 81’
HOU – Franco Escobar 85’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Paul Marie (caution) 9’
SJ – Preston Judd (ejection) 34’
HOU – Coco Carrasquilla (caution) 45+2’
SJ – Carlos Akapo (caution) 76’
SJ – Carlos Gruezo (caution) 90+5’
SJ – Jackson Yueill (caution) 90+5’
SJ – Jackson Yueill (ejection) 90+5’
HOUSTON DYNAMO:Steve Clark (C); Franco Escobar, Griffin Dorsey, Erik Sviatchenko (Brad Smith 57’), Micael dos Santos; Artur, Ibrahim Aliyu, Coco Carrasquilla, Jan Gregus (Sebastian Kowalczyk 71’); Amine Bassi, Sebastian Ferreira (Gabe Segal 90’).
Substitutes not used: Andrew Tarbell (GK), Ethan Bartlow, Latif Blessing, Brooklyn Raines, Tate Schmitt, Daniel Steres.
POSS.: 74.8%; SHOTS: 16; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; CORNERS: 10; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 13; xG: 1.7
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: William Yarbrough; Paul Marie (Carlos Akapo 46’), Bruno Wilson, Rodrigues, Vítor Costa (Jamar Ricketts 56’); Alfredo Morales (Carlos Gruezo 46’), Jackson Yueill (C), Niko Tsakiris (Tanner Beason 40’); Cristian Espinoza, Benji Kikanović (Jeremy Ebobisse 78’), Preston Judd.
Substitutes not used: Emi Ochoa (GK), Michael Baldisimo, Ousseni Bouda, Tommy Thompson.
POSS.: 25.2%; SHOTS: 2; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; CORNERS: 1; SAVES: 6; FOULS: 10; xG: 0.5
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH LUCHI GONZALEZ
On how the red card changed the game:
“It was working until it didn’t in the 80th minute. I couldn’t be proud and satisfied of the guys’ effort. It’s very disappointing to have the lead the way we were playing against a team that’s one of the best with the ball in the league and one of the best this season defensively, to score on them and jump on them early, was great. But to have a deserved red card off the ball, the VAR catches everything, we can’t do that. It was really disappointing to give that up. It’s really hard to beat Houston in Houston with a man down so early in the game. We shot ourselves in the foot.”
On the team’s performance tonight:
“The stats are a wash, because we were just trying to defend mid- and low block and protect the goal. But I’m happy with the guys’ effort. They gave everything, physically, mentally to keep the score the way it was. … It was hard. Houston had good players and they got their goal, so credit to them. But we’re learning too many lessons. We’ve gone four out of six games getting the first goal, and for us to keep those leads, we have to focus better…and this team has that capacity. So it was disappointing, but we have to get over it quick and show a response against Austin.
“I thought our setup and the changes we made were working until the moment they didn’t. They get a weird, kind of jammed ball in the edge of the 6, and a half-turn shot that goes right into the side netting. But when you’re a man down, our dam broke and they got the second one on a set piece. It’s a tough one to swallow when we had three points, but you’re a man down and we put ourselves in that position and need to prevent that moving forward.”
EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER BRUNO WILSON
On scoring his first MLS goal:
“I’m very happy to score my first goal and hope to score many more, but the most important part was the result, so I can’t be too happy.”
On strategy once the Quakes were down to 10 men:
“I think we started really well, but after the goal, we had to defend [lower] than we wanted. But that’s part of the game. We felt we could hurt them in transition. But after the red card, it was difficult and it changed the game.
“We didn’t try to park the bus, but they have a good team too with a lot of good offensive players. … But it’s part of the game when you’re less one player, you just want to defend, and after you don’t have legs to go up in transition and create opportunities because you get tired, But we did our best, and I’m very proud of my team. We had a very good attitude to try to not lose the game, but it was not possible, and now we focus on the next game to change the situation.
