SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC played to a scoreless draw on Friday night at PayPal Park. The draw extends the Quakes’ unbeaten streak to a league-best eight matches and sees them climb to eighth place in the Western Conference.
San Jose and Vancouver finished with 12 shots and 11 shots, respectively, including three shots on target apiece, but neither could find the back of the net. The best scoring opportunity for either side came in the 62nd minute when forward Jeremy Ebobisse, making his first start for the Quakes, hit a powerful low shot from 25 yards out. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau dove to his left and got his fingertips to the ball, sending it off the post.
The Earthquakes will now prepare for their third straight home match against Minnesota United FC on Tuesday, Aug. 17, presented by Clover. The match kicks off from PayPal Park at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports California Plus, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 5-7-7 record (22 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season and are currently in 8th place in the Western Conference.
The Quakes extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches (2-0-6). It marks the club’s first unbeaten stretch of 8+ matches in a single season since the final nine matches of 2012 (5-0-4).
San Jose is now 8-9-10 all-time against Vancouver, including a 5-1-7 record at home and a 4-1-3 record at PayPal Park.
The Quakes have now allowed one or fewer goals in seven consecutive matches.
Forward Jeremy Ebobisse made his first start for San Jose since joining the team via trade with Portland on Aug. 5, playing all 90 minutes.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski secured his third shutout of the season and seventh of his MLS career.
Forward Andy Rios made his 50th MLS appearance, entering the match in the 77th minute.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 0 – 0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Aug. 13, 2021 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 11,967
Michelob Man of the Match: Oswaldo Alanis
Scoring Summary: None.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Chofis (caution) 43; SJ – Marcos Lopez (caution) 72; VAN – Cristian Dajome (caution) 88; SJ – Cade Cowell (caution) 90+6.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Tanner Beason (Marcos Lopez 59), Oswaldo Alanis, Nathan, Luciano Abecasis (Carlos Fierro 68); Shea Salinas (Cade Cowell 59), Judson, Jackson Yueill, Chofis (Andy Rios 76), Cristian Espinoza (Chris Wondolowski 76); Jeremy Ebobisse.
Substitutes not used: Paul Marie, Eric Remedi, Jack Skahan, Daniel Vega.
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC: Maxime Crepeau; Ranko Veselinovic, Andy Rose, Javain Brown (Bruno Gaspar 90+3), Jake Nerwinski, Deiber Caicedo; Leonard Owusu (Ryan Gauld 59), Janio Bikel (Michael Baldisimo 85), Russell Teibert; Brian White (Tosaint Ricketts 85), Ryan Raposo (Cristian Dajome 60).
Substitutes not used: Caio Alexandre, Thomas Hasal, Florian Jungwirth, Patrick Metcalfe.
SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 3
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On the pace of the match:
“I think in tonight’s match, we were missing more energy. We had our chances. They [Vancouver Whitecaps FC] had a chance in the first half. We had two or three, not very clear chances, but we were able to get shots off. We knew that Vancouver has been improving match after match, especially on the road. I think they were good defensively. I think in some moments, we messed up in our way to the attack. I still think it’s important to keep adding points even though we wanted to win. The team is still showing a positive face.”
On taking full advantage of upcoming matches:
“We will hope for some favorable results. We have been recovering in terms of football. There was a moment in which the team went through a bad streak and weren’t able to get points, and that set us further back from the playoff spots. We have two tough matches this upcoming week. We are thinking more about the game-to-game, rather than the playoffs. We want to play well and win. Surely up until the last game, it will be decided where and how far we go.”
On Cade Cowell’s impact on the match:
“I think our two outside players put in a huge effort. The idea was put in Cade and Carlos Fierro to get more energy and win out wide. We wanted to win the match. There was a clear message in our substitutions. We took the risk of becoming vulnerable to counterattacks. We ended up playing with almost all the forwards that we have. We weren’t able to win but we still added points.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER TANNER BEASON
On playing left back and the result overall:
“Playing in a slightly different position, but a position I’ve played over the course of my career growing up a lot. Whatever’s asked of me, that’s what I’m happy to be doing. Happy to be on the field and try to help the team. Obviously, a bit a disappointed not to have three points at home in front of our fans but sometimes that’s how it goes. Fortunately, we were able to keep a clean sheet so that’s something to be proud of. We’ve got to turn the page and take the positives and the things we can improve on and get ourselves ready to go again because Tuesday will be here quickly.”
On his responsibility in the team’s new formation:
“Yeah, I think anytime you’re on the field, particularly as a defender, there’s responsibility to be a presence and organize people around you, communicate, and help the people in front of you defend because you can see things that they maybe can’t. Each time we play, however we’re lined up, however we’re going to press, defend, attack, we just need to go out there with a lot of conviction and try to get three points. As you said, we’re starting to build a confidence that we can compete each night.”
