SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1 on Wednesday night at Avaya Stadium behind a trio of goals from Panamanian midfielders Alberto Quintero (two) and Anibal Godoy (one). Forward Chris Wondolowski tallied a pair of assists, marking his second career multi-assist game.
The Earthquakes took the lead less than three minutes into the match. Receiving a feed from Dawkins, Wondolowski sent a low cross to Quintero, who got just enough on the ball to slip it past Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric (watch).
Houston leveled just before halftime on a long-range strike by midfielder Ricardo Clark. Defender Agus took a shot that was punched out of the box by Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham. The loose ball fell to Clark, who drilled a one-timer into the corner of the net.
The Quakes retook the lead five minutes into the second half. Quintero and Godoy, who are also teammates on the Panama National Team, combined
on a give-and-go, sending Godoy in alone on the keeper. He calmly slotted his left-footed strike into the back of the net for his first goal of the season (
watch
).
San Jose doubled their advantage in the 70th minute. Shielding his defender from the ball with his back to goal, Wondolowski found Quintero unmarked at the back post. Quintero quickly redirected the pass goal-ward and into the net (watch).
Houston went down to 10 men in the 79th minute, when Deric impeded Dawkins’ path to a loose ball. Having already used all three substitutes, defender Jalil Anibaba stepped in to play the final 11 minutes in goal.
San Jose hosts Real Sociedad of Spain’s La Liga at Avaya Stadium on Wednesday, May 18. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and constitutes Bonus Game A for season ticket holders. The Quakes then return to MLS action against the rival LA Galaxy on Sunday, May 22 at the StubHub Center as part of Heineken Rivalry Week. The match kicks off at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast to a national audience on FOX Sports 1.
Notes:
- San Jose is now 12-3-6 all-time at Avaya Stadium, keeping 11 clean sheets. The club has allowed just 12 goals in the 21 games at their home venue since its opening last season.
- The Earthquakes are currently riding an 11-game unbeaten streak at home (7-0-4), dating back to last September.
- Alberto Quintero’s third minute goal was the fastest for the Earthquakes since Cordell Cato found the back of the net in the third minute at Sporting KC on August 19, 2015.
- Quintero is the first Earthquakes player to score two goals in a game since Cordell Cato and Chris Wondolowski both netted braces at Sporting KC on August 19, 2015.
- Chris Wondolowski tallied two assists and Simon Dawkins had one.
- Wondolowski tallied two assists in a game for the second time in his career and the first time since May 4, 2013 against the Montreal Impact.
- Wondolowski’s assists were his first two of the season, and the 24th and 25th of his career.
- Dawkins’ assist was his second of the season and fifth of his MLS career.
- Anibal Godoy’s goal marked his first of the season and third of his MLS career. He becomes the seventh different Earthquakes player to find the net this season.
- Quintero is the first Earthquakes player to tally multiple goals and an assist in a match since Wondolowski notched a hat trick and one assist on July 14, 2012 vs. Real Salt Lake.
- After starting and playing 90 minutes tonight, defender Victor Bernardez eclipsed 10,000 career minutes played, all with the Earthquakes.
- David Bingham made his 50th career MLS appearance, all with the Earthquakes.
- Simon Dawkins started at forward for the first time this season, playing 90 minutes.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 Houston Dynamo
May 11, 2016 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary: SJ – Alberto Quintero (Chris Wondolowski, Simon Dawkins) 3; HOU – Ricardo Clark (unassisted) 43; SJ – Anibal Godoy (Alberto Quintero) 50; SJ – Alberto Quintero (Chris Wondolowski) 70.
Misconduct Summary: HOU – Alex (caution) 21; SJ – Marvell Wynne (caution) 73;HOU – Tyler Deric (ejection) 79.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Shaun Francis, Victor Bernardez, Marvell Wynne, Kofi Sarkodie; Matias Perez Garcia (Shea Salinas 64), Anibal Godoy, Fatai Alashe, Alberto Quintero (Chad Barrett 80); Simon Dawkins, Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 4; OFFSIDES: 2.
HOUSTON DYNAMO: Tyler Deric; David Horst, Agus, Jalil Anibaba, Abdoulie Mansally; Giles Barnes, Cristian Maidana (Boniek Garcia 58), Ricardo Clark, Alex, Andrew Wenger (Leonel Miranda 59); Will Bruin (Erick Torres 59).
SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 10; OFFSIDES: 1.
