SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes earned a 1-1 draw against Columbus Crew SC at Avaya Stadium on Saturday night. The result sees San Jose jump to second place in the Western Conference with an 11-7-5 record.
The draw extends the Quakes' unbeaten streak at home to 10 games (8-0-2). It marks the club's first such streak since 2013.
Magnus Eriksson gave San Jose the lead by converting the team's first penalty kick of the season just before halftime. Columbus equalized in the second half on a header by Gyasi Zardes.
The Earthquakes hit the road to take on the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
MATCH NOTES:
San Jose now holds a 11-7-5 record this season and sits in second place in the Western Conference.
The Earthquakes are now 10-2-5 in their last 17 matches and 6-1-1 in their last eight.
The Earthquakes have a home unbeaten streak of 10 matches (8-0-2) dating back to April 6. San Jose has outscored opponents 24-6 in that span, while recording five shutouts. The Earthquakes have a 10-match unbeaten streak at home for the first time since 2013 (5/18/2013 - 10/26/13).
San Jose were awarded their first penalty kick of the season. It was the first time the Earthquakes were awarded a penalty since Sept. 29, 2018.
Midfielder Magnus Eriksson converted the penalty, marking his fifth goal of the season and 11th of his career. Throughout his MLS career, Eriksson has scored all four penalty kicks he's taken.
San Jose is now 2-0-1 all-time against Columbus at Avaya Stadium.
The Quakes are now 3-3-2 against Eastern Conference this season, including a 2-0-2 record in their last four.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1 - 1 Columbus Crew SC
Aug. 3, 2019 - Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 17,088
Scoring Summary: SJ - Magnus Eriksson (penalty) 41; CLB - Gyasi Zardes (Luis Diaz) 65.
Misconduct Summary: CLB - David Accam (caution) 75; SJ - Magnus Eriksson (caution) 83.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel Vega; Nick Lima, Florian Jungwirth, Guram Kashia, Tommy Thompson (Shea Salinas 72); Jackson Yueill, Judson; Vako, Magnus Eriksson, Cristian Espinoza (Chris Wondolowski 79); Danny Hoesen.
SHOTS: 19; SHOTS ON TARGET: 5; SAVES: 0; FOULS: 15; CORNERS: 10;OFFSIDES: 2
COLUMBUS CREW SC: Eloy Room; Hector Jimenez (Jonathan Mensah 9), Aboubacar Keita (Romario Williams 76), Alex Crognale, Harrison Afful; Artur, Will Trap; Luis Argudo (David Accam 62), Pedro Santos, Luis Díaz; Gyasi Zardes.
SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON TARGET: 1; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 10; CORNERS: 1;OFFSIDES: 0
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On managing the pressure of making playoffs:
“I think, from my perspective of the game, we faced an opponent that plays some of the best soccer in the league, aside from the position they are currently in. We knew the match would be difficult, but the intensity, the courage and the style of play our team has are some of the best takeaways from the match. We got the lead. They were an opponent that closed in well at the back, but we were never impatient. We had the patience to control the match and be prepared for possible counterattacks. In general, I’m very pleased; if we compare the start we had to the present, we’ll see different players and I am very happy for them, for the club, the directors, the owner, the fans, and the people at my side.”
On what could have been better from his side:
“If we scored on certain chances, we would have won the match because we had more shots on goal, we created more chances, but we know a game of soccer is won by scoring goals. It’s hard to score three goals in every match, and it’s hard to avoid conceding goals in this type of soccer that is very active, very dynamic. The way the opponent played, they have great attributes, a great system of play. But in general, our side knew how to play this match against an opponent that has great players, they have speed up top, they have defenders with good technique, and we knew how to attack them, from one side, the other or from the middle. We were lacking in our definition. While the team is producing, it means the team is doing well.”
On the decision to start Danny Hoesen over Chris Wondolowski:
“Chris was not with us for three days because of the reward for his career, the success he’s had. It made us happy to see him be in this [MLS All-Star] game, and I thought Danny would be better than Chris and that’s why I made that decision.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER TOMMY THOMPSON
On managing Columbus’s pressure:
“I give credit to Columbus. They were a great team tonight. They were difficult to play against. It was an entertaining game with chances on both ends, but we can’t focus too much on the results week to week. We have to have a longer-term mindset and get ready for Colorado next weekend.”
On what made Columbus difficult to break down:
“They did a good job of occupying spaces and pressing us well. They didn’t give up after we went up. It could have gone either way. We could’ve had a couple of goals to put them away early on, but things don’t always go your way.”
On lessons to learn from tonight’s game:
“We don’t focus too much on the other team. We have a style that’s been working really well for us, so we have to focus on our game week-to-week and put in the effort that we’ve been putting in. The results will come.”
On the upcoming road trip:
“Playing on the road is never easy in Major League Soccer. We’ve done a good job of playing the way we do at home on the road as well. We have to focus on doing the little things right and continuing to play the way we’ve been playing.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER FLORIAN JUNGWIRTH
On the result moving San Jose to second in the Western Conference standings:
“I don’t care about it. There are still 11 games left. Of course it’s nice to be second, but tomorrow we can be third and tied with Minnesota. It’s just momentum.”
On earning the draw at home:
“It’s a nice feeling because right now everyone expects us to win. Four months ago it was just a nice imagination. It’s a good thing that you tie and feel like you lost the game. I don’t think it was a bad game at all. To be honest, except for LAFC, that was the best team that we’ve played this season. They had a good plan and defended really good with nice counter attacks. I think we expect to win every game at home, but still the last 10 games at home we won eight and loss two. We’re on the right way, and a tie is not a loss.”
On lessons to learn from tonight’s game:
“Everybody has to have a great, great day now to beat us. That’s a good thing. Once again, they were really good tonight. It was a great game and a great commercial for the league. We knew what to do. We conceded the equalizer but it was just one goal. If we would have scored, everyone would have said what a great night. They had a good plan, but we knew what to do. We had the better chances. All in all, this will not drop us down.”
