HARRISON, N.J. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell 4-1 to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon at Red Bull Arena.
The Quakes took an early lead in the fifth minute when Argentine midfielder Cristian Espinoza scored his first career MLS goal, assisted by Magnus Eriksson. Holding a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Earthquakes were unable to maintain their advantage in the second frame.
At least six Quakes players will now join their respective national teams, including Harold Cummings (Panama), Anibal Godoy (Panama), Guram Kashia (Georgia), Nick Lima (USA), Marcos Lopez (Peru) and Vako (Georgia).
The Quakes will face C.F. Monterrey in an international friendly at Avaya Stadium on Saturday, March 23 at 4:45 p.m. They will return to MLS action to host LAFC on Saturday, March 30 at 12:30 p.m., broadcast live on Univision, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
MLS Regular Season
New York Red Bulls 4 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
March 16, 2019 – Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
Attendance: 15,621
Scoring Summary: SJ – Cristian Espinoza (Magnus Eriksson) 5; NY – Alex Muyl (Daniel Royer) 51; NY – Alex Muyl (unassisted) 71; NY – Bradley Wright-Phillips (Sean Davis, Vincent Bezecourt) 85; NY – Daniel Royer (Michael Murillo, Marc Rzatkowski) 89.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Chris Wondolowski (caution) 45+2; SJ – Anibal Godoy (caution) 47; SJ – Marcos Lopez (caution) 65; NY – Michael Murillo (caution) 81.
NEW YORK RED BULLS: Luis Robles; Michael Murillo, Aaron Long, Tim Parker, Kyle Duncan; Florian Valot (Alex Muyl 35), Sean Davis, Vincent Bezecourt, Daniel Royer (Andreas Ivan 90+2), Marc Rzatkowski; Bradley Wright-Phillips (Mathias Jorgensen 86).
SHOTS: 23;SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; SAVES: 0; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 9; OFFSIDES: 3.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel Vega; Nick Lima (Marcos Lopez 62), Harold Cummings, Guram Kashia, Tommy Thompson; Anibal Godoy, Judson (Danny Hoesen 79); Vako (Jackson Yueill 78), Magnus Eriksson, Cristian Espinoza; Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 8;SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 4; OFFSIDES: 2.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On the match:
“We had two games in one. The first half was excellent, and the second half was bad against an unforgiving team. They’ve been working together for five years now and have an established style of play. We are looking to win, establish our playing style and build mentality. It’s going to take a while.”
On the goals conceded:
“Of the nine goals that we have conceded, not one has been because of our opponent’s virtue. It’s because of our mistakes. This means that we need to keep working to get where we want to be.”
On improving as a team:
“I have confidence in our team. It’s not easy to change the style of play after the team is accustomed to a different one. We want to fight for the ball, mark zones and be the protagonists in each game. In the first half, we were able to do that. If we are able to maintain that for longer, the team will be able to get out of the hole that we are in.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On the outcome of the match:
“I think it was a bit of a combination of things. They came out, they changed the game plan, executed a lot better. We got a lot more relaxed on our marks and they are extremely deadly and lethal. When they get a little bit of room, they punish us as they should. I felt in the first half, we created similar opportunities but only finished one. They came out and were absolutely deadly with it and punished us rightfully so.”
On what the team needs to work on:
“We’re missing that killer instinct. I think if you’re able to get a second one, a third one, it changes the game. It changes their game plan, it changes our game plan, it changes the game. If you’re at 1-0, they’re in it, they’re full of energy and I’m sure they got a good talking to and they came out firing and punished us rightfully so.”
On what was said after the match:
“It was just a team meeting with everyone. A quick analysis of it and he told us it was two different halves. First half is how we want to play and need to play and play for 90 minutes. You can’t only play for 45 minutes. That’s not enough and especially if you play for 45 minutes and don’t execute the right way, you’ll get punished.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER NICK LIMA
On the team’s game plan:
“It’s a process and there’s things we have to go back and look on. We are all just working as hard as we can and that’s what we have to continue to do day in and day out.”
On moving forward:
“Like I said, it’s going to take work from the whole team and guys are working hard and we can see it and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
On learning from mistakes:
“Again, for me you learn as much as you can every day. You learn as much as you can from members of the coaching staff and players. We have to stick together if we want to succeed.”
On the Red Bulls’ game play in the second half:
“They came in and they pressed. They look more like the Red Bulls we’ve seen. They made some changes and they found some confidence. They’re a good team.”
