SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes tied 1-1 with Seattle Sounders FC Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Avaya Stadium. Chris Wondolowski gave the Quakes the lead in the first half, but Seattle equalized in the second.
In the 18th minute, Jordan Stewart came dangerously close to scoring the first goal of the match. Marvell Wynne crossed the ball and found the head of the English defender. With Stewart's header beating Seattle keeper Stefan Frei, Sounders FC captain Osvaldo Alonso cleared the ball off the goal line.
Two minutes later the Quakes earned a 1-0 advantage when Wondolowski finished Stewart's assist, marking his 10th goal of the season. After a poor touch by Seattle defender Tyrone Mears, Stewart crossed the ball to Wondolowski for an easy tap in.
With the start of the second half, Sounders FC had a chance on goal when Jordan Morris found Andreas Ivanschitz in the box in the 51st minute, but the shot went well over the crossbar.
Sounders FC equalized in the 80th minute on a set piece taken by Nicolas Lodeiro. His in-swinging free kick froze keeper David Bingham, who anticipated contact, but then continued untouched inside the far post.
Despite searching for the last-minute goal to secure the three points, the referee's final whistle marked the conclusion of the match and both teams walked away with one point.
The Quakes hit the road to take on the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, September 17. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CSN Plus and 1370 KZSF.
Notes:
- San Jose is now 7-8-12 on the season and 6-2-6 at home.
- San Jose now has a 10-7-4 all-time record against Seattle, including a 5-1-3 record at home.
- The Earthquakes are now 8-3-3 in their last 14 games against Sounders FC dating back to 2012.
- Andres Imperiale started in consecutive games for the first time since April 16 at Portland and April 24 vs. Sporting Kansas City.
- Marvell Wynne started at right back for the first time since April 24, making each of his last 17 starts at center back.
- Cordell Cato started in the midfield for the first time since Sept. 12, 2015, also against Seattle.
- Starting and playing 90 minutes, Fatai Alashe made his 50th career MLS appearance, all with the Earthquakes.
- Chris Wondolowski scored his 10th goal of the season and 119th of his MLS career. He became the first player in MLS history to score 10 or more goals in seven consecutive seasons. No other player has ever accomplished the feat in six consecutive seasons and only Carlos Ruiz (2002-06) and Juan Pablo Angel (2007-11) have done so in five.
- Wondolowski's goal was his 10th all-time goal against Seattle, extending his lead as the all-time leading scorer against Seattle. Wondolowski is now three goals ahead of Portland's Fanendo Adi.
- Wondolowski's goal marked the eighth consecutive season that the forward has scored against Seattle.
- Wondolowski has now scored 10 or more goals against four MLS clubs: Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- The Earthquakes are now 4-2-4 this season when Wondolowski finds the net. They are also 6-1-2 all-time against Seattle when the captain scores.
- Jordan Stewart's assist was his first of the season, third of his career and first since May 16, 2015 against Columbus.
- The Earthquakes have now held their opponents scoreless in the first half of 17 out of 27 games this season, including 11 of 14 at home.
- The Earthquakes are now 4-2-3 at home against Western Conference clubs this season.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1 - Seattle Sounders FC 1
Sept. 10, 2016 - Avaya Stadium in San Jose, CA
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary: SJ - Chris Wondolowski (Jordan Stewart) 20; SEA - Nicolas Lodeiro (unassisted) 80.
Misconduct Summary: SJ - Jordan Stewart (caution) 44; SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 54; SJ - Simon Dawkins (caution) 58; SJ - Marvell Wynne (caution) 69; SJ - Alberto Quintero (caution) 84.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Jordan Stewart, Andres Imperiale, Victor Bernardez, Marvell Wynne; Alberto Quintero, Darwin Ceren, Fatai Alashe, Cordell Cato (Shea Salinas 75); Simon Dawkins (Chad Barrett 80), Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 12, SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; SAVES: 0; FOULS: 15; CORNER KICKS: 6; OFFSIDES: 2.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC: Stefan Frei; Chad Marshall, Tyrone Mears, Joevin Jones (Oniel Fisher 55), Roman Torres; Andreas Ivanschitz, Cristian Roldan (Nelson Valdez 80); Nicolas Lodeiro, Erik Friberg (Alvaro Fernandez 65), Osvaldo Alonso; Jordan Morris.
SHOTS: 5; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 0; OFFSIDES: 1.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On the first half:
"I thought we had a really good first half, the best we've had in a while. It's good to see us get a goal. We could've been good for another. The first half I thought we played really well."
On the second half:
"We weren't switching the ball as much as we were. In the beginning I thought our passing was really good. The better possession you have, it allows you to get further up the field, especially your outside backs. At times we were sitting too deep and looking for one pass rather than two or three to get pressure."
On the difference between the two halves:
"If we can play like that first 25 minutes for 90 then it will be pretty special. I thought we were really good. (Nicolas) Lodeiro (will) get his touches and bring his influence into the game, so there will be swings in momentum. We had a good spell of momentum to start the game. In the second half they were getting into it a little more, finding Lodeiro's feet, dropping deeper and getting the ball and connecting passes. I don't think we played poorly in the second half, but I thought our passing was better in the first half than the second."
On three points in the last four home games:
"It hurts. The New England game at home I don't think we played particularly well. You look at New York, Houston and tonight, to walk off the field with two points out of those three games hurts you in the standings. It hurts because you think we should've had more."
On starting Simon Dawkins and Chris Wondolowski up top:
"I was just trying to get what I thought would be a good team to put on the field at the beginning. Simon was finding some really good gaps in the middle of the field. Like I said, in the second half we weren't finding his feet and he started drifting up higher. It took us a little bit out of our good passing, but at the beginning of the game I thought it worked out pretty well for us."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER DAVID BINGHAM
On Seattle's equalizer:
"We set our line. He whips in a pretty good ball around head height. There were three or four players around the ball, so I had to hold my line. I couldn't go anywhere. It was a good hit and goes in the side netting."
On team's recent play at home:
"Defensively, we were fantastic. We outplayed them tonight. We were the better team. It's extremely frustrating at home especially those couple of games and now this one. We've outplayed those opponents. We are finding ways to not pick up points at home."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER ANDRES IMPERIALE
On the match:
"It was a frustrating to lose the lead. We lined up the way we wanted to, but there was just some confusion. We have to play with the drive to keep moving forward. We ultimately didn't play like that and they equalized. That was the only way they were going to score tonight. They didn't have many chances. They are a great team with great players. We did a great job against them, but we didn't do enough to get the win."
On his role:
"The plan is to contribute. That's why I came here. I play with that in mind. I want to lead by example. We need to keep fighting. We are in the last slate of matches for the season. We will all unite to continue to push for the playoffs."
