SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Western Conference foes Real Salt Lake 1-0 at Avaya Stadium on Saturday night. Danny Hoesen scored the game-winning goal three minutes into stoppage time to extend the Quakes' home unbeaten streak to eight (7-0-1).
Saturday night marked San Jose's fourth match in just 11 days, with the Quakes earning nine of a possible 12 points in that stretch (3-1-0) and utilizing the same starting XI in every match. All three recent victories came by way of a shutout.
Heading into stoppage time scoreless, a pair of second-half substitutes in Paul Marie and Hoesen combined on a quick free kick to give the Quakes the lead. It marked Marie's first career assist in MLS. Goalkeeper Daniel Vega made five saves to keep his sixth clean sheet of the season.
The Earthquakes now head to southern California to take on the rival LA Galaxy on Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on UniMas, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
MATCH NOTES:
The Earthquakes are now 7-2-4 in their last 13 MLS regular season matches.
The Quakes extended their unbeaten streak at home to eight matches (7-0-1). It marked the club's first eight-match home unbeaten streak in a single season since 2016.
The Earthquakes are now unbeaten against Real Salt Lake in three consecutive league matches (1-0-2) and have lost just one of their last nine in the series (4-1-4).
Forward Danny Hoesen now has four goals this season and 21 for his MLS career. It marked his second game-winning goal of the season and sixth of his MLS career.
Defender Paul Marie was credited with the assist on Hoesen's goal. It marked his first career assist and game-winning assist.
Goalkeeper Daniel Vega has now recorded six shutouts this season and three in his last four games. He currently has a 295-minute shutout streak at home.
Earthquakes midfielder Magnus Eriksson made his 50th MLS appearance, starting and playing 90 minutes.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake
July 6, 2019 - Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 15,339
Scoring Summary: SJ - Danny Hoesen (Paul Marie) 90+3.
Misconduct Summary: RSL - Sebastián Saucedo (caution) 86;RSL - Corey Baird (caution) 89.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel Vega; Marcos Lopez (Shea Salinas 66), Florian Jungwirth, Guram Kashia, Tommy Thompson (Paul Marie 71); Jackson Yueill, Judson (Danny Hoesen 75); Vako, Magnus Eriksson, Cristian Espinoza; Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON TARGET: 3; SAVES: 5; FOULS: 7; CORNERS: 9;OFFSIDES: 2
REAL SALT LAKE: Nick Rimando; Aaron Herrera, Donny Toia, Marcelo Silva, Erik Holt, Brooks Lennon; Jefferson Savarino (Albert Rusnák 69), Damir Kreilach (Sebastián Saucedo 81), Kyle Beckerman, Nick Besler; Corey Baird.
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON TARGET: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 13; CORNERS: 7;OFFSIDES: 1
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On his thoughts on the match:
"I have positive thoughts about this match. We faced a team that tried from the very first minute to follow through on a plan where they can cause damage while being very patient. We were able to hold them off from start to finish. That's why we came away with the win. We strengthened our side by making changes to be more offensive and take more risks, and we earned the three points."
On the changes he made:
"We had to take risks. The players that went in had more energy. It was impossible to attack from within because they were good at closing in on our offense, so we had to look for combinations from the outside. If we analyze the match, we really had two defenders in the end. It's rare in soccer to do that, but we were after the three points. It turned out well. The match could have gone differently but we took chances and we got what we wanted."
On Danny Hoesen's goal:
"It means a lot; we deserved the match because the other team waited for us to commit mistakes and counter-attack and we played and found a way to win the match. They were good at closing us in, but we knew at some point they would fall, and they did. This win is good for us because the match was very even. We are still looking to make this team much more competitive as we promised. That will hopefully get us into playoffs. If not, we'll beginning preparing for the next season."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD DANNY HOESEN
On the motivation to score the game-winner tonight:
"Obviously I was very motivated. Being out a little while with a hamstring injury, that was very frustrating. I didn't really practice with the team and was always on the sideline, so it was pretty frustrating. The team is doing well, and everybody's happy and enjoying it and I want to be a part of this. You're always motivated to come in, and luckily I could help today."
On the pressure in the final minutes to score the game-winner:
"If you're in my position, you're the closest to the goal and you always have to be sharp even if it's the first minute or the last. Especially in the end, they got tired and I'm with fresh legs, so just stay sharp."
On Matias Almeyda's tactics and what it does for the team's confidence:
"He's a coach like that. He believes in what he does and gives a huge signal to the team that we are going for the win. He gives us a lot of confidence and we want to win.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On the key factor to get the win:
"Being the captain, being a teammate, being a friend of these guys, I'm so proud of them. To a man, amazing. I think the guys that came in for the subs made a huge difference - Paul Marie, Danny [Hoesen] scored the goal. To be in tune with it the whole game and wait for your chance and that's kind of been our mentality this whole year, is just next man up and take the most of it. I thought our defense played really well, another shutout, and I'm proud of those guys."
On the team's comfort the importance of this win come playoff time:
"I think that's kind of what pushed us. It wasn't easy, but at the same time I thought Salt Lake were very organized, were hard to break down. I thought we possessed the ball well, we were patient, but again I'm so proud to be a part of this team and to have a coach who just goes for it. He went for the win. You sub in Danny [Hoesen]. I think at the end, we were joking around in the locker room that we had two defenders in Shea Salinas and Paul Marie as our outside backs, we had Danny, myself, Cristian [Espinoza], Vako, and Magnus [Eriksson], and Jackson [Yueill] up there as well. We're telling [Daniel] Vega we're open when he gets it. But again, I love that we're going for the win. I love that and I love that he gets rewarded for that and he gets rewarded. It's special."
