SAN JOSE, Calif. – In their second match of the MLS is Back Tournament, the San Jose Earthquakes erased a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the final 20 minutes to win 4-3 over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday evening at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The victory sees San Jose move into first place in Group B with an undefeated 1-0-1 record (4 pts.) through two games.
San Jose conceded twice in the first 22 minutes of the match, including an own goal, before forward Andy Rios scored in first-half stoppage time to halve the deficit. Vancouver then extended their lead in the 59th minute, scoring three goals on a total of two shots on target.
Head coach Matias Almeyda made four substitutions simultaneously in the 63rd minute, sparking three unanswered goals over the final 20 minutes plus stoppage. Chris Wondolowski and Oswaldo Alanis scored a pair of goals less than 10 minutes apart, before Shea Salinas’ game-winner eight minutes into stoppage time.
San Jose held 68% possession, completed more than twice the number of passes as their opponent, and set a new MLS record with 22 corner kicks.
San Jose now prepares for their third group stage match against Chicago Fire FC this Sunday, July 19 at 5:00 p.m. PT, presented by Sutter Health. The match will be broadcast live on FS1, TUDN, KNBR 1050, 1370 KZSF and TuneIn Radio.
MATCH NOTES:
The Earthquakes now have an 1-1-2 record in the 2020 MLS season and an 1-0-1 record in the MLS is Back Tournament.
The Earthquakes now hold a 7-8-9 all-time record against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
San Jose took 17 shots in the first half, the most in an MLS match since the Quakes took 25 against Vancouver on Aug. 24, 2019. The Quakes’ 31 total shots are fourth most in club history, with three of the top four coming against Vancouver since the start of the 2019 season.
The Quakes took 22 corner kicks, a new MLS record.
Wednesday’s victory marked the Quakes’ first comeback from two goals down since March 11, 2017, also against Vancouver.
Midfielder Shea Salinas scored his first goal of the season and 20th of his MLS career. It also marked his sixth career game-winning goal.
Forward Chris Wondolowski scored his first goal of the season and 160th of his MLS career, extending his own MLS record. He has now scored in 12 consecutive seasons (2009-20). Wondolowski has now scored 14 career goals against Vancouver, most in MLS history.
Defender Oswaldo Alanis scored his second goal of the season and of his MLS career. He has now scored in two of his first four matches since joining the Quakes and is one of just three defenders in MLS with multiple goals this season.
Forward Andy Rios scored his second goal of the season and third of his MLS career. Two of his three goals have come against Vancouver.
Midfielder Cristian Espinoza tallied the assist on Andy Rios’ goal, his second assist of the season and 15th of his MLS career.
Midfielder Magnus Eriksson tallied the assist on Oswaldo Alanis’ goal, his first assist of the season and 14th of his MLS career.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 4 – 3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
July 15, 2020 – ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
Man of the Match: Shea Salinas
Scoring Summary: VAN – Ali Adnan (unassisted) 7; VAN – Judson (own goal) 22; SJ – Andy Rios (Cristian Espinoza) 45+2; VAN – Cristian Dajome (David Milinkovic) 59; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (unassisted) 72; SJ – Oswaldo Alanis (Magnus Eriksson) 81; SJ – Shea Salinas (unassisted) 90+8.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Cristian Espinoza (caution) 56; VAN – Jasser Khmiri (caution) 76; SJ – Jackson Yueill (caution) 90+3; Carlos Fierro (caution) 90+10.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel Vega; Nick Lima (Shea Salinas 63), Oswaldo Alanis, Guram Kashia, Tommy Thompson (Carlos Fierro 63); Jackson Yueill, Magnus Eriksson, Judson (Chris Wondolowski 63); Cristian Espinoza (Paul Marie 87), Vako (Danny Hoesen 63), Andres Rios.
Substitutes not used: Tanner Beason, Eric Calvillo, Cade Cowell, Luis Felipe, Florian Jungwirth, JT Marcinkowski, Jack Skahan.
SHOTS: 30, SHOTS ON GOAL: 11; SAVES: 0; FOULS: 11; CORNER KICKS: 22, OFFSIDES: 1.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC: Maxime Crepeau; Ranko Veselinovic, Jasser Khmiri, Jake Nerwinski, Ali Adnan; Inbeom Hwang, Leonard Owusu (Patrick Metcalfe 90+1), Russell Teibert; David Milinkovic, Cristian Dajome (Theo Bair 81), Yordy Reyna.
Substitutes not used: Michael Baldisimo, Derek Cornelius, Cristian Gutierrez, Thomas Hasal, Ryan Raposo, Damiano Pecile.
SHOTS: 7, SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; SAVES: 8; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 4, OFFSIDES: 2.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On tonight’s team performance:
“I am proud of coaching this team. I believe in each one of them. They showed a great level of play last season, despite the bad start at the beginning of the season. We’re a sporting family, like the way that I try to coach and transmit to my teams everywhere I go. This team goes beyond just football, they have important values. But I am not saying that today because we won 4-3. I say it and I would’ve said it if we would’ve lost because I train them every day. I bore them sometimes, but I told them that I would not stop on insisting so that each one of them becomes a better player and in consequence they will make me a better coach. We work together and with joy. It’s a joyful group, a group that knows that they can mess up, as long as they insist on becoming better. I hope I can transmit that, and they are giving me these kinds of nights, with football happiness that are marked forever. This match will stay with me in my mind and in my heart.”
On the positive impact of tonight’s substitutes:
“In this tournament, the substitutions are fundamental for our team. I told every single player how I feel about every one of them. As a coach, I don’t want to depend on one or two single players. I look for equality and for them to be even and they have to know what they play for. It was hard going into the 3-1 [scoreline]. But they gave it everything they had and what they didn’t have while maintaining order. I think the substitutions were very important, but I take away the teamwork.”
On his confidence with the offensive risk-taking from today’s match:
“At the end of the first half, besides our own mistakes, there was virtue from the opponent. We had a lot of control in the game. We tried to play it from one side to the other, and we were playing a team that shuts down very well in the back. That’s why I take the patience that our players had, the confidence in what we planned, and in life when one insists with what he plans and practices, surely you will have your gift. The team played well, very well. But I want to highlight that is not easy to come back from a 3-1 when we had our own mistakes. And I also want to highlight how all the teammates corrected their mistakes and they kept going forward, insisting and supporting their teammates that made mistakes.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER OSWALDO ALANIS
On his effort and contribution for the team’s victory, despite cramping:
“Obviously we’re happy to get the result, but given the conditions that we have here, I think it’s something that is expected to face cramping and certain injuries like that.”
On his reactions from tonight’s win:
“Very happy with tonight’s result, happy for the team, for how [our work] reflects, for how we celebrate, how we fight and how you earn a good result, for the teamwork and the belief that we were going to earn good things. We had that clear prior to the match and even when we were losing, we still had that mindset. You live with a lot of euphoria after winning tonight, but we’re also conscious that we still have work to do.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER SHEA SALINAS
On the match:
“Yeah, it was crazy. What a team effort tonight. We never quit. It was incredible. I’m thankful to God for this team, for the ability to play, for my family and for my teammates. It was an awesome night; something we’ll remember for a long time.”
On the comeback:
“I’m proud to be a part of this group. What you saw tonight was a team that perseveres through adversity. We made mistakes; we didn’t hang our head down. We kept fighting. It was a crazy game to be a part of, but I’m proud of the way we play. We play with a ton of fight. We play an honest game. It was a fun thing to be a part of.”
