SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at PayPal Park.
San Jose jumped out to an early lead in the 12th minute. After VAR awarded a penalty kick for a handball in the box, Cristian Espinoza converted the attempt. It marked the sixth consecutive match in which the Quakes scored first.
Real Salt Lake responded less than 10 minutes later when Jasper Loffelsend capitalized on a breakaway.
The Earthquakes regained the lead in the 62nd minute. Cristian Espinoza played a through ball to Jeremy Ebobisse and his low shot slid through the keeper’s legs. Espinoza and Ebobisse lead the team in assists (8) and goals (12), respectively.
RSL scored the equalizer in the final moments of the match. Six minutes into stoppage time, a cross fell to Jefferson Savarino at the back post and his volley snuck past goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.
The Earthquakes will now prepare to host Inter Miami CF in a midweek match on Wednesday, Aug. 3. The match will kick off from PayPal Park at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 (English), and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes currently hold a 5-9-8 record (23 pts.) during the 2022 MLS regular season.
San Jose is now 9-16-5 all-time vs. Real Salt Lake, including a 7-5-4 record at home.
The Earthquakes are now 5-4-5 in MLS play under interim head coach Alex Covelo.
Forward Jeremy Ebobisse scored his 12th goal of the season and the 39th of his MLS career. He ranks tied for fourth in MLS with 12 goals this season and he has now set a new single-season career-high.
Midfielder Cristian Espinoza scored his sixth goal of the season and 14th goal of his MLS career. His goal marked his fourth goal of the season via penalty. Espinoza is one of three players in MLS with 6+ goals and 8+ assists this season (Luciano Acosta – CIN, Carlos Vela – LAFC).
Defender Tanner Beason made his 50th MLS appearance, starting and playing 90 minutes. Beason was selected by San Jose in the first round (12th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
MATCH INFORMATION
2022 MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 2 – 2 Real Salt Lake
Saturday, July 30, 2022 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 12,411
Man of the Match: Cristian Espinoza
Scoring Summary:
SJ (1-0) – Cristian Espinoza (penalty) 12’
RSL (1-1) – Jasper Loffeisend (Andrew Brody) 21’
SJ (2-1) – Jeremy Ebobisse (Cristian Espinoza) 62’
RSL (2-2) – Jefferson Savarino (Justin Meram, Anderson Julio) 90+5’
Misconduct Summary:
RSL – Justen Glad (caution) 12’
RSL – Zac MacMath (caution) 15’
RSL – Maikel Chang (caution) 37’
SJ – Cristian Espinoza (caution) 45+2’
SJ – Jackson Yueill (caution) 85’
SJ – Jan Gregus (caution) 90+5’
SJ – Jefferson Savarino (caution) 90+6’
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Marcos Lopez, Tanner Beason, Nathan, Tommy Thompson (Paul Marie 65); Eric Remedi (Jan Gregus 65’), Jackson Yueill ©, Jamiro Monteiro; Benji Kikanović (Ousseni Bouda 79), Jeremy Ebobisse (Shea Salinas 90+2), Cristian Espinoza (Cade Cowell 79).
Substitutes not used: Matt Bersano (GK), Oskar Ågren, Judson, Jack Skahan.
SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 11; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 3
REAL SALT LAKE: Zac MacMath; Andrew Brody, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Marcelo Silva ©; Justin Meram, Jefferson Savarino, Nick Besler (Scott Caldwell 63), Maikel Chang (Anderson Julio 63), Jasper Loffeisend (Diego Luna 75); Sergio Cordova (Rubio Rubin 75).
Substitutes not used: Tomas Gomez (GK), Bode Hidalgo, Erik Holt, Johan Kappelhof.
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 17; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH ALEX COVELO
On the approach moving forward to improve defensively:
“There is a moment when you cannot apply enough pressure to recover the ball high and then you have to have a more compact team, you have to recover behind the ball and have a good structure there, avoid crosses and understand that’s a team you need to control very well. As a game, as soccer goes, it’s a collective component that we are working on. We know we need to shift the lines, our midfielders need to control situations, and our wingers have to help. Then there is an individual component, the technical and tactical action that the player has to read. I think it is very clear, we need to read and understand it better.”
On the team morale in the locker room:
“Right now, all of us are very frustrated and sad because they scored on the last play. Those are three points that would’ve helped us. We have to recover and recover mentally; soccer provides you with opportunities. We play Wednesday against Inter Miami CF which is an important game, and we have to stand up and fight again with the mentality to win the game because we have done it before, and we can do it.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER CRISTIAN ESPINOZA
On what the team must do to avoid these outcomes again:
“Clearly, we need to be a little bit more intelligent when we are winning and play with that nervousness from the other team especially when playing at home which is what all teams do in the league when they have a lead. We need to defend that lead on all plays no matter how little they may seem. It is always important to maintain that lead no matter what. We need to learn from that, and it needs to happen quick because there are less and less games as the season goes on. Even though things may not be going well, our mentality stays the same: to try to reach the playoffs. And as long as there is a chance to qualify, our objective stays the same.”
On if he’s fatiguing from heavy minutes:
“I actually feel really good. I like to be part of the starting 11. Physically and mentally, I am okay, ready to go for the rest of the season. But if the coach thinks I should start on the bench, it is a coach’s decision and we have to take in those decisions. For me, I’ll tell you that I want to play every single game and every single minute.”
