SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Saturday night at PayPal Park. San Jose is now 3-1-0 in all competitions under interim head coach Alex Covelo, including a 2-1-0 record in MLS play. The Quakes also extended their home unbeaten streak in all competitions to six (3-0-3).
After a scoreless first half, San Jose took the lead through Nathan in the 64th minute. A corner kick taken short was driven into the box by Cristian Espinoza. Nathan beat his man to the ball and volleyed it past goalkeeper William Yarbrough.
The Earthquakes will now prepare for two away matches this week, first facing Seattle Sounders FC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday, May 11 in Tukwila, Wash. Kickoff from Starfire Sports Complex is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes currently hold a 2-5-3 record (9 pts.) during the 2022 MLS regular season.
San Jose is now 3-1-0 in all competitions under interim head coach Alex Covelo, including a 2-1-0 record in MLS play.
The Quakes now hold an 31-24-18 overall record against the Colorado Rapids, including a 18-9-9 record at home.
The Earthquakes won 1-0 for the first time since July 31, 2021 at Seattle, and for the first time at home since July 6, 2019 vs. Real Salt Lake.
Defender Nathan scored his first goal of the season and third of his MLS career. His goal also marks the first game-winning goal of his MLS career.
Midfielder Cristian Espinoza tallied an assist on Nathan’s goal, marking his fourth assist of the season and 34th of his MLS career. He is now one assist away from tying Eddie Lewis (35) for fifth-most in assists in club history.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski recorded his first shutout of the season and 11th of his MLS career. He made five saves during the match.
MATCH INFORMATION
2022 MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 0 Colorado Rapids
Saturday, May 7, 2022 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 14,077
Man of the Match: Nathan
Scoring Summary:
SJ (1-0) – Nathan (Cristian Espinoza) 64’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Francisco Calvo (caution) 74’
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Marcos Lopez, Francisco Calvo, Nathan, Paul Marie (Tommy Thompson 76); Jackson Yueill (C), Jan Gregus; Cade Cowell (Benji Kikanović 77), Jamiro Monteiro (Eric Remedi 77), Cristian Espinoza; Jeremy Ebobisse
Substitutes not used: Oskar Ågren, Matt Bersano, Tanner Beason, Ousseni Bouda, Jack Skahan, Niko Tsakiris.
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 5
COLORADO RAPIDS: William Yarbrough (C); Keegan Rosenberry, Auston Trusty, Lalas Abubakar (Drew Moor 53), Lucas Esteves; Max (Michael Barrios 65), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Nicolas Mezquida 80), Bryan Acosta, Collen Warner (Gustavo Vallecilla 52); Jonathan Lewis, Gyasi Zardes
Substitutes not used: Sebastian Anderson, Steven Beitashour, Clint Irwin, Anthony Markanich, Darren Yapi.
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH ALEX COVELO
On tonight’s performance and comparisons to the last home game vs. Seattle:
“In the last match against Seattle, it went to the last moment due to a penalty. Emotionally, [tonight] was a little bit different, but we knew that we needed this victory, to be stronger at home, to confirm what we are doing during the week, and I think the players deserve it. I think we deserved to score a couple more [goals], but now we celebrate and keep working tomorrow because we have two important games next week.”
On the contributions from every player:
“The contribution was fantastic. We got a clean sheet at home, won against Colorado, created chances against Colorado who was [the top seed] of the Western Conference [in 2021]. I think the players gave it their all. Obviously, we can talk about certain moments of the game where we could be better offensively and defensively, but in general we are happy.”
On the team’s adaptation and his coaching run so far:
“I feel very good, just like all of our staff: [Chris] Wondolowski, Steve Ralston, Luciano [Fusco], and the rest of the guys. I think the guys are responding very well. During training sessions many of them are very different, it’s going to take a little bit more time to memorize those concepts, but the guys are working hard. They are improving step by step and memorizing the concepts that we want for the team.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER JT MARCINKOWSKI
On if tonight is a sign of things to come:
“Yeah, absolutely. I think the guys have done a great job during the transition. It’s definitely not easy. We owe a lot to Matias [Almeyda] and his staff. A lot of the way that we pressure and the way that we defend can be credited to them for teaching us over the past three and a half, four years. But, with [Alex] Covelo’s system, I think it’s a little more structured, a little more less-is-more approach, I would say. I think this is a good indication of how we’ll play moving forward. I think every game presents a different challenge, so it’s not going to be exactly the same thing every single time, but just adjusting on the fly. We’ll look back on the film and there’s plenty of things to correct and there’s plenty of things to work on, and we’ll get right back on it tomorrow.”
On the team’s first shutout of the season:
“I think the clean sheet is a great representation of how well the team defended. I thought we really worked together tonight, and we clicked on a lot of cylinders that we’d kind of been missing. I think having a zero in the back is just a culmination of all the effort the guys put in in front of me. I’m just out there to try and help the team in any way that I can, whether that’s a clean sheet or whether that’s a 4-3 victory, doesn’t really matter to me as long as we get a win.”
