SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes earned a point at home Sunday afternoon in a scoreless draw with the Colorado Rapids.
Earthquakes Homegrown goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski earned his first career MLS shutout, and midfielder Eric Calvillo earned his first MLS start. Homegrown midfielder Gilbert Fuentes, just 16 years old, made his MLS debut, and is now the youngest player in Earthquakes history to earn MLS minutes with the club.
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski’s chase for the MLS all-time goals record continues, as he needs two goals to break the record currently held by Landon Donovan (145). Wondolowski had eight shots in the match, tying his single-game career-high (March 3, 2013 vs. Real Salt Lake). San Jose took 20 total shots, a new season-high.
The Quakes close out the 2018 MLS regular season on Sunday, Oct. 28, when they travel to take on Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field (1:30 p.m.). The match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
Click here for photos from the match
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 0-0 Colorado Rapids
Oct. 21, 2018 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 17,474
Scoring Summary: N/A
Misconduct Summary: COL – Bismark Boateng (caution) 51; COL – Kortne Ford (caution) 77.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Shea Salinas, Jimmy Ockford, Francois Affolter, Nick Lima; Anibal Godoy, Jackson Yueill, Eric Calvillo (Magnus Eriksson 76), Tommy Thompson (Gilbert Fuentes 89); Danny Hoesen (Vako 81), Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON TARGET: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 13; OFFSIDES: 0.
COLORADO RAPIDS: Tim Howard; Deklan Wynne (Samuel Vines 45), Marlon Hairston, Axel Sjoberg, Kortne Ford; Jack Price, Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett (Giles Barnes 84); Bismark Boateng, Dillon Serna; Shkelzen Gashi (Niki Jackson 62).
SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON TARGET: 2; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 6; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 1.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH STEVE RALSTON
On the team’s last game at Avaya Stadium this season:
“Disappointed we didn’t win. I thought we actually played pretty well.”
On San Jose’s performance for the entire game:
“I thought the performance was really good by the entire crew. I haven’t seen the stats or anything like that, but I thought we out-possessed them, they sat deep and unfortunately we couldn’t really break them down in the final third.”
On the team’s shape:
“It’s a 4-4-2 diamond. I felt like with the players I wanted to play, it kind of suited those guys. So, that’s the reason. It was a 4-4-2 against the 4-4-2 diamond.”
On wanting to get that first win as a head coach:
“I mean, I wanted three [points]. I wanted more than one point by this stage of these games, and I thought there were a few games we played well enough to get points and we didn’t. Tonight, I thought we deserved more than just the one.”
On JT Marcinkowski’s performance:
“I’m happy JT got a shutout. We haven’t had too many of those this season. It’s not just JT, I thought a lot of it was just because of the group in front of him. We didn’t allow too many opportunities, too many chances, but the one or two times he was called upon, he did what he needed to do, so it was nice to see. And then for me also, to give Eric Calvillo a start, his first Major League start, and then also for Gilbert [Fuentes] to come on and play the last little bit as well.”
On his message to Chris Wondolowski:
“Just do what he always does. I mean, what do I need to tell Wondo? He’s going to come out, he’s fiery, he wants to come out and play, he wants to score, he wants to win. He’s the one guy that I’ll never have to say a thing to get motivated to play.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On the result:
“We didn’t, to be honest, test Tim [Howard] enough. I think there were some pretty easy saves for him, being a world-class keeper in net. So, very frustrating.”
On if he felt that he was marked tighter than usual, given his pursuit of the record:
“No. I’m sure they know where that is and they don’t want that against them, but they’re always very organized. They keep two banks of four. They’re always pretty deep in that sense and try to counter. We were able to keep possession, but our final pass was not even close.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD DANNY HOESEN
Overall thoughts on the game:
“I think we were much better, much better than them. They were very narrow and kept dropping back toward their own goal so it was tough to find space. We tried to score, but it didn’t happen.”
On the team’s determination to win the last home game:
“Of course you want to play well for the fans, to thank them and obviously you want to do that with a win, but we didn’t do it today.”
On the team talk at halftime:
“When you play 4-4-2 with a diamond against a 4-4-2 with a diamond, it’s always interesting where the spaces are. Most of the time, they buried it back inside and you have to play quick from side to side and commit crosses, but they had a very tall defender, center back, and he kept heading everything away. Sometimes a little bit unlucky, but I think we were better today.”
On wanting Wondolowski to get the goals record:
“Obviously everybody hopes he gets the record, but it’s still a team sport, so it’s impossible to keep finding one person because he will be marked as well. If he breaks the record or ties it, then obviously everybody will be happy. We want to end with a win.”
