SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell 3-0 to Minnesota United FC on Saturday afternoon at Avaya Stadium.
The two teams played a scoreless first half, thanks in large part to a strong performance by Quakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega. Minnesota would then tally a trio of goals in the second frame, including a penalty kick that required video review and an own goal.
The Earthquakes now take on the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, March 16 at 12:30 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast nationally on Univision, as well as on KNBR 1050 (English radio) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish radio).
2019 MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 0-3 Minnesota United FC
March 9, 2019 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 16,411
Scoring Summary: MNU – Darwin Quintero (penalty) 49; MNU – Miguel Ibarra (Darwin Quintero) 52; MNU – Harold Cummings (own goal) 75.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Magnus Eriksson (caution) 3; SJ – Anibal Godoy (caution) 61; MNU – Rasmus Schuller (caution) 65.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel Vega; Marcos Lopez (Danny Hoesen 64), Harold Cummings, Guram Kashia, Nick Lima (Tommy Thompson 56); Judson, Anibal Godoy; Vako (Shea Salinas 64), Magnus Eriksson, Cristian Espinoza; Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON TARGET: 4; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 13; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 4
MINNESOTA UNITED FC: Vito Mannone; Ike Opara, Francisco Calvo, Michael Boxall, Romain Metanire; Osvaldo Alonso, Jan Gregus, Rasmus Schuller (Ethan Finlay 78); Miguel Ibarra, Romario Ibarra (Angelo Rodriguez 62), Darwin Quintero (Hassani Dotson 90+1)
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON TARGET: 6; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 11; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 0
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On the overall match:
“In the first half, I saw a team with doubts, a team with a lot of defensive errors, and in the second half, early on, came the penalty and the game started to change completely. There was the penalty, then came a distraction on one of our corners. They came at us on a counter-attack that we had already studied and trained, and then the third goal, an own goal. Then we became desperate to depend on crossing the ball, even though we knew their aerial game was strong. We made mistakes, we have to watch the game and get a lot better.”
On the team’s game plan:
“We made many mistakes. The game play should have been on the ground and we planned to not send in aerial crosses because both of their center backs are well positioned and strong in the air. So, we wanted to make combo plays on the outside, cut in with our wingbacks and forwards, and send low, strong crosses. We managed to do this two or three times; one I think hit the post in the first half, the other one missed by only 10 centimeters. But then we sent in 20 aerial crosses which wasn’t our style.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On whether the loss was due to poor performance or bad breaks:
“Don’t get me wrong, there were some bad breaks, but to be honest it has nothing to do with our skills or our attributes. We need to think our game, think our way through a game and understand what it takes to play 90 minutes mentally. I think physically, we are fine. I think physically, we can do great things.”
On the lack of offense:
“Hit a post. I should have finished one late as well. I think we’re just missing that final pass, final shot, and be a little bit sharper and have a deadly finish.”
On straying from the game plan:
“I remember two low crosses and one hit a post and one came to me and I missed it; I scuffed it. Those were the two low crosses I remember. Everything else was high crosses that were against our game plan.”
