CANCÚN, Mexico – The San Jose Earthquakes opened their 2020 preseason with a 4-1 defeat to Columbus Crew SC in Cancún, Mexico. The two teams played four 30-minute periods and several players made their Earthquakes debut, including Mexican center back Oswaldo Alanís.
San Jose took the lead in the seventh minute when second-round SuperDraft selection Jack Skahan buried his long-range shot past Columbus keeper Eloy Room. Columbus responded with two goals before halftime.
San Jose had the majority of chances in the second half, including a penalty kick and a shot that caromed off the crossbar, but were unable to convert their opportunities into goals. Crew SC scored in the opening and closing minutes of the second half.
The Earthquakes will remain in Cancún for another week before playing one more friendly on Monday, Feb. 10 and flying home that evening.
2020 Preseason
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 4 Columbus Crew SC
Feb. 3, 2020 – Universidad La Salle Cancún in Cancún, Mexico.
Scoring Summary:
SJ – Jack Skahan; 7
CLB – Fanendo Adi; 20
CLB – Pedro Santos (PK); 36
CLB – Jordan Hamilton; 63
CLB – Trialist; 117
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
FIRST HALF: Matt Bersano; Jon Bell (Jacob Akanyirige 51), Tanner Beason, Florian Jungwirth, Paul Marie; Siad Haji, Eric Calvillo, Gilbert Fuentes, Jack Skahan; Chris Wondolowski, Cade Cowell.
SECOND HALF: JT Marcinkowski; Nick Lima, Oswaldo Alanís, Guram Kashia, Tommy Thompson; Vako, Luis Felipe, Magnus Eriksson, Cristian Espinoza; Danny Hoesen, Andy Rios.
COLUMBUS CREW SC
FIRST HALF: Eloy Room, Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Vito Wormgoor, Milton Valenzuela, Darlington Nagbe, Artur, Pedro Santos, Lucas Zelarayan, Youness Mokhtar, Fanendo Adi.
EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER MAGNUS ERIKSSON
On playing in a match for the first time following the long offseason:
“It was fun. It was fun to be out there again. It was a pretty dry pitch, but it was fun.”
On what the focus for the team was:
“You want to win every game, but the result was not the most important thing today. We wanted to see the things we have been working on in training. We have been working really hard. I think we did a lot well, but it feels like it’s been a few weeks since we played a game, for sure.”
On what the team could take away as a positive:
“I think it’s good to get some minutes in the legs. I think everyone was happy out there. Everybody got some play time. It was good for the squad; it was good for the group. Now we’re looking forward. We have a day off tomorrow and then training again.”
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