SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes held Mexican side Cruz Azul to a scoreless draw at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. Cruz Azul currently sits atop the Liga MX standings with an 8-2-2 record and +11 goal-differential after 12 matches.
Both sides mixed up their usual lineups in the friendly. Among San Jose’s starters were 16-year-old Homegrown Gilbert Fuentes, the Quakes’ youngest-ever player, and 20-year-old Eric Calvillo.
The Quakes will play their final home game of the 2018 MLS regular season on Sunday, Oct. 21 against the Colorado Rapids (2:00 p.m.). Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski needs just one goal to tie the all-time MLS goal-scoring record currently held by Landon Donovan (145).
Click here for photos from the match
International Friendly
San Jose Earthquakes 0-0 Cruz Azul
Oct. 13, 2018 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary: None.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Luis Felipe (caution) 14. SJ – Florian Jungwirth (caution) 67, CA – Antonio Sanchez (caution) 76, CA – Pablo Aguilar (caution) 78.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
First Half: JT Marcinkowski; Nick Lima, Yeferson Quintana, Francois Affolter, Joel Qwiberg; Chris Wehan, Gilbert Fuentes, Luis Felipe, Eric Calvillo, Magnus Eriksson; Chris Wondolowski.
Second Half: Andrew Tarbell; Shea Salinas, Francois Affolter, Jimmy Ockford, Paul Marie; Florian Jungwirth, Eric Calvillo, Luis Felipe; Danny Hoesen, Chris Wondolowski (Tommy Thompson 61), Dominic Oduro.
SHOTS: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 0; OFFSIDES: 3.
CRUZ AZUL
First Half: Jose Corona; Pablo Aguilar, Jose Maduena, Julio Dominguez, Adrian Aldrete; Martin Cauteruccio, Javier Salas, Walter Montoya, Angel Mena; Edgar Mendez, Andres Renteria.
Second Half: Guillermo Allison; Julio Dominguez, Pablo Aguilar, Jordan Silva, Jose Maduena, Adrian Aldrete (Antonio Sanchez 74); Angel Mena, Ivan Marcone, Rafael Baca; Elias Hernandez, Milton Caraglio.
SHOTS: 8; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 7; CORNER KICKS: 9; OFFSIDES: 3.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH STEVE RALSTON
Overall thoughts on the game:
“It was OK. It’s a friendly but you still want to compete, and you want to try to win. Overall, considering we mixed up the lineup and played everybody, I’m happy with how it went.”
On if any players stood out with their performances:
“A few guys did actually. It’s hard to single out just one guy, but a lot of guys who didn’t have a chance to play a lot this year played and played pretty good. They helped their cause going forward for sure.”
On playing Cruz Azul:
“They’re a good team. I was a little nervous coming into this game to be honest. They’re the best team in Mexico and we have the worst record in our league right now. I still thought that we actually played against them really well. They have a lot of talent. I know a lot of those names, and I know those players. They’re a good team.”
On the players being motivated:
“I’m happy that they were. It’s been a difficult week with a lot of stuff happening. For those guys to come out and play the way they did, I’m really pleased.”
On Tommy Thompson’s game:
“Tommy was good on the ball. Obviously, he’s always crafty and does some fancy things to get in good positions. For him, it’s the final third and picking out the right pass. He did well, Eric Calvillo did well, Francois Affolter and Yeferson Quintana did well. I thought a lot of guys had really good games.”
On Gilbert Fuentes’ performance:
“I was really happy that we were able to get him on the field to play. He played well. He’s 16 years old. We also unfortunately couldn’t play Jacob Akanyirige, our other 16-year-old. He got a bit of a knock in practice the other day. It was nice to see these guys play against a talented team like that and hold their own. It was really good. It’s something for the future to see Gilbert. He has a bright future ahead of him.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER GILBERT FUENTES
On how he felt during his first Earthquakes start:
“Well I felt like I got used to it fast, you have to at this level. It was really incredible afterwards just looking back at it right now. It’s a dream come true.”
On how he feels about playing the best team from Mexico:
“Most of my family supports Cruz Azul, so it was an honor. Just playing against them knowing that my family was in the stands, watching me play against their favorite team.”
On the difference between his appearances against Manchester United and Cruz Azul:
“Cruz Azul is definitely a more aggressive team. It’s more of a battle.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER ERIC CALVILLO
On if he grew up watching Cruz Azul:
“Yeah, I mean I grew up watching the league itself overall. As a kid, it was basically the only soccer channel I really had. So I grew up watching the league and I know competitive and great players come out of there to Europe and other places. It was a big honor to play a big club like Cruz Azul and the players that were here. Honestly, I just wanted to take my opportunity and the confidence that I had to give me the 90 minutes I had and just go off with that.”
On what he learned about Cruz Azul:
“They have great players, they have a great team. There’s a reason why they have so much success and they’re at the top of their league. Other than that, they fight, they’re competitive, they’re not scared of anybody and that’s the mentality that we should all have.”
