SAN JOSE, Calif. –
The San Jose Earthquakes returned to their winning ways on Sunday afternoon, defeating Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at Avaya Stadium. Forward Chris Wondolowski buried a second-half penalty kick, his seventh goal in eight matches, to earn San Jose three points.
San Jose got a chance to break the deadlock in the 25th minute. Midfielder Alberto Quintero broke free to set up an odd-man attack. He sprinted downfield and attempted a cross to Quincy Amarikwa, but his pass was intercepted by defender Nuno Coelho and cleared.
Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham kept the match scoreless with a diving save four minutes later. Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer got a head on midfielder Benny Feilhaber’s chipped pass and Bingham fully extended to his left to tip the ball out of bounds.
Wondolowski gave San Jose the lead in the 60th minute. Midfielder Simon Dawkins dribbled around keeper Tim Melia, but was taken down inside the box. Wondolowski drilled the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net, giving the Quakes a 1-0 advantage.
Bingham snuffed out a few late chances for Sporting, finishing with five crucial saves and earning his third shutout of the season.
San Jose plays the first of back-to-back road contests on Saturday, April 30 against the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium. The match kicks off at 1:00 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CSN Plus, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
Notes:
- Since 2013, the Earthquakes have amassed a 4-1-0 record against SKC, shutting them out in all four of their victories. The Quakes have outscored Sporting 8-1 in those five contests. The club is also riding a three-game winning streak against KC, while not allowing a single goal [W 5-0 (8/19/15); W 1-0 (10/16/15); W 1-0 (4/24/16)].
- San Jose currently holds a 16-4-6 record against Sporting KC at home, keeping clean sheets in 14 of the last 21 such matches.
- No team in Major League Soccer history has shut out Sporting Kansas City more than the Earthquakes – a total of 20 times.
- The Quakes have scored at least one goal in 21 consecutive matches dating back to last season, the longest active streak in MLS.
- San Jose is now 11-3-6 all-time at Avaya Stadium, keeping 11 clean sheets. The club has allowed just 11 goals in the 20 games at Avaya Stadium since its opening last season.
- The Earthquakes are currently riding a 10-game unbeaten streak at home (6-0-4).
- Chris Wondolowski has scored in seven of the first eight matches of the season, becoming the first Earthquakes player to ever accomplish the feat.
- Wondolowski’s seven goals currently lead MLS this season.
- Wondolowski tallied his 116th career MLS goal, fourth most in MLS history.
- Wondolowski scored his 20th career goal via penalty kick, which moves him into a tie with Jeff Cunningham for fourth most in league history.
- For the 14th time as a member of the Earthquakes, Wondolowski tallied the lone goal in a 1-0 victory.
- Wondolowski’s goal was the 38th game-winner of his career, third most in MLS history. He is now three shy of the all-time record (Landon Donovan – 41; Jeff Cunningham – 40).
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 Sporting KC
April 24, 2016 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary:
SJ – Chris Wondolowski (penalty) 59.
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Anibal Godoy (caution) 1; SKC – Matt Besler (caution) 33; SKC – Benny Feilhaber (caution) 59; SKC – Amadou Dia (caution) 81.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES:
David Bingham; Shaun Francis, Andres Imperiale, Victor Bernardez, Marvell Wynne; Simon Dawkins (Shea Salinas 77), Anibal Godoy, Fatai Alashe, Alberto Quintero (Tommy Thompson 90); Chris Wondolowski, Quincy Amarikwa (Adam Jahn 71).
SHOTS:
9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; SAVES: 5; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 1.
SPORTING KC:
Tim Melia; Amadou Dia (Diego Rubio 86), Matt Besler (Ike Opara 75), Nuno Coelho, Saad Abdul-Salaam; Roger Espionza, Lawrence Olum, Benny Feilhaber; Brad Davis, Dominic Dwyer, Graham Zusi.
SHOTS:
13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 20; CORNER KICKS: 4; OFFSIDES: 1.
