BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to the Chicago Fire 1-0 on Friday night at Toyota Park. The Quakes got a strong defensive performance from their backline, which featured no natural center backs due to injuries to five defensemen.
- The Quakes host Pride Night at Avaya Stadium next Friday! Special scarf + ticket pack available now!
In the 38th minute, Fire midfielder Joao Meira sent a right-footed blast goal-ward from 25 yards out and Bingham punched the shot over the crossbar for a corner kick.
San Jose nearly broke the deadlock eleven minutes into the second half. Matias Perez Garcia whipped in an out-swinging free kick from the left flank that found Wondolowski at the far post. His attempt on goal rolled just wide.
Two minutes later, the Fire found the back of the net. A header clearance by center back Fatai Alashe from his own penalty area went only as far as Chicago forward John Goossens, who volleyed the ball through traffic and past Bingham.
San Jose’s search for a late equalizer was hindered when Alashe was forced from the match due to a head injury and the team had no remaining substitutes. The Quakes played out the final few minutes of regulation and all seven minutes of stoppage time with just 10 men on the field.
The Quakes return to action on Friday, July 8 when they host FC Dallas at Avaya Stadium during their annual Pride Night, presented by Shane Co. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on UniMas, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
Notes:
- San Jose is now 5-5-7 on the season and 0-5-4 on the road.
- The Earthquakes are now 10-14-11 against the Chicago Fire all-time, including a 2-9-6 record on the road.
- The Quakes fell to 3-2-1 in their last six matches against Chicago. Neither team has dropped a match on home turf in this rivalry since September 29, 2010, a span of seven contests.
- The loss marked the Earthquakes first against an Eastern Conference opponent this season (1-1-3).
- San Jose welcomed back captain Chris Wondolowski, who missed each of the team’s last four MLS matches while with the U.S. National Team at Copa America Centenario.
- Goalkeeper David Bingham made six saves, tied for a season-high (5/7 at SEA).
- The Quakes have now held opponents to no more than one goal in 12 of their 17 matches this season.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 0 – Chicago Fire 1
July 1, 2016 – Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL
Attendance: 16,487
Scoring Summary: CHI – John Goossens (unassisted) 58.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Simon Dawkins (caution) 10; SJ – Shaun Francis (caution) 50; CHI – Michael Stephens (caution) 53; SJ – Fatai Alashe (caution) 66.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Shaun Francis, Fatai Alashe, Marvell Wynne, Kofi Sarkodie (Chad Barrett 76); Matias Perez Garcia (Shea Salinas 64), Anibal Godoy, Simon Dawkins, Alberto Quintero (Cordell Cato 70); Chris Wondolowski, Quincy Amariwka.
SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; SAVES: 6; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 0.
CHICAGO FIRE: Sean Johnson; Jonathan Campbell, Brandon Vincent, Johan Kappelhof, Rodrigo Ramos (Michael Harrington 79); Khaly Thiam (Razvan Cocis 73), Michael Stephens, Joao Meira; David Accam, John Goossens (Nick LaBrocca 79), Kennedy Igboananike.
SHOTS: 16; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 2.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On lack of shots on goal:
“We didn’t play good, simple as that. We just kept giving the ball away; it wasn’t like we were under a tremendous amount of pressure. We just didn’t play good.”
On the status of Fatai Alashe and what it means planning wise:
“I think you are always worried when guys clash heads, your team, opposing team, any guys on the ground and not moving. Obviously you are happy that both players got up, obviously Fatai had to come out but [David] Accam continued. You never want to see guys get injured especially with the amount of knowledge we have with heads and clashes, you just hope both players are okay.”
On being winless on the road:
“Our next game is at home so I am not too bothered by that right now. Obviously if we play like that home or away we are going to have a hard time getting a positive result. I think the overall performances of the team is more important than the stadium we play in. Saying that, I know we are good enough to win a game on the road, we need to stop giving up the first goal and coming from behind. Sometimes we need a little bit of magic and things to go our way and we’re not getting those right now.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER MARVELL WYNNE
On how the new defensive line played:
“Today we didn’t play as well as we expected ourselves to play. We maintained a lot of possession but unfortunately it was fairly slow moving around the back and all that. Didn’t really create enough for the midfielders and the forwards to work off of. But overall I think we defended well.”
On wanting more pace in the second half:
“Of course. After they went up, then comes the time where we need to press forward and start throwing bodies up that way. I believe usually in the first 10 or 15 minutes of every game you try to assess the other team and see how they’re going to play and all that. Both of us seem to be just rather satisfied with maintaining possession and not really penetrating. Unfortunately possession doesn’t win games.”
On looking forward to the next two home games:
“I want to play them now. I don’t like the week after a tough game like this one. I want to be able to redeem myself and get back on the right track.”
