The San Jose Earthquakes fell to the defending MLS Cup champions New York City FC 3-0 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday morning.
The Earthquakes held NYCFC’s high-scoring offense off the board for 73 minutes before the home side was able to break through. NYC then added two more goals in the 78th and 88th minute, respectively.
The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose to host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, May 7, presented by Audi. Kickoff from PayPal Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050, and 1370 KZSF.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes currently hold a 1-5-3 record (6 pts.) during the 2022 MLS regular season.
The Quakes now hold an 0-5-1 overall record against New York City FC, including a 0-4-0 on the road.
The Earthquakes are now 2-1-0 in three games in all competitions under interim head coach Alex Covelo.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made a season-high six saves.
MATCH INFORMATION
2022 MLS Regular Season
New York City FC 3 – 0 San Jose Earthquakes
Sunday, May 1, 2022 – Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y.
Attendance: 17,174
Scoring Summary:
NYC (1-0) – Keaton Parks (Talles Magno) 74’
NYC (2-0) – Gabriel Pereira (Santiago Rodriguez, Talles Magno) 78’
NYC (3-0) – Chris Gloster (Maxi Moralez) 88’
Misconduct Summary:
NYC – Alexander Callens (caution) 77’
NYC – Valentin Catellanos (caution) 80’
NYC – Santiago Rodriguez (caution) 82’
NEW YORK CITY FC: Sean Johnson; Thiago Martins, Alexander Callens, Malte Amundsen (Chris Gloster 56), Tayvon Gray, Nicolas Acevedo (Gabriel Pereira 65); Thiago (Maxi Moralez 65), Santiago Rodriguez (Gedion Zelalem 90+1), Talles Magno, Keaton Parks; Valentin Catellanos.
Substitutes not used: Luis Barraza, Maxime Chanot, Justin Haak, Andres Jasson, Vuk Latinovich.
SHOTS: 23; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 13; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Marcos Lopez, Tanner Beason, Francisco Calvo, Paul Marie, Jamiro Monteiro (Cade Cowell 71), Jackson Yueill, Eric Remedi, Jan Gregus (Ousseni Bouda 85), Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse (Benji Kikanović 71)
Substitutes not used: Oskar Ågren, Matt Bersano, Will Richmond, Shea Salinas, Jack Skahan, Tommy Thompson.
SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 7; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 6
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH ALEX COVELO
On the positive takeaways from today’s match:
“I take some positive things. I think we were well organized in the first 70 minutes, trying to point out those passing lines in sight on their best players, the collective effort that our guys did trying to close the field again and keep New York City without options. For the most part we defended well in the box, and offensively, there was a moment when we saw that San Jose that we would like to see more.”
On why the team conceded goals in the final stretch of the game:
“From my understanding there is a mental element, but we need to keep doing what we did. I think that a lot of times in the first half, and if the opponent scores, you have to keep going, be focused, and keep working. I think that the guys did an amazing job doing what we were asking for. It’s a matter of time and finding more minutes doing what we did in the first half. I think it’s that. We were there until the first goal. After the first goal, I think mentally the focus was difficult to handle.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER JACKSON YUEILL
On making training adjustments due to field differences at Yankee Stadium:
“Well first, [NYCFC] is a really good team. I think we prepared pretty well. We made our training field a little bit smaller. We tried to play in tight spaces during training throughout the week. We tried pressing a little bit differently with our forwards going up into their field and we thought that they can jump. I think our game plan was really good. I think we had to do it for about 70 minutes and in the last 20 minutes we got away from it a little bit. I think that’s when the game kind of slipped away from us.”
On adapting to interim head coach Alex Covelo’s game strategies in recent matches:
With Alex [Covelo]’s system, we emphasize a lot about spaces and being not so man-oriented as we have been in the past few years. I think that allows for you to get in front of your mark and be more connected to your teammates than it is to worry about the other players. I think that’s allowed us to close the lines a little bit and allow our back line to step up and not feel so worried about the gaps. I think that’s kind of helped with winning the ball higher. The coaches do a great job on anticipating and maybe we can get Jamiro [Monteiro] and Cristian [Espinoza] to press and be our triggers. With their speed and their aggressiveness and their timing, I think we can put back lines under pressure and I think we did a good job of winning balls today. I think they were able to press well for the game. We’re still learning, it’s still processing. We’re getting better with the press and understanding Alex a lot more.”
