The San Jose Earthquakes nearly rallied from a late three-goal deficit, but ultimately fell 3-2 to New York City FC on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. Forwards Chris Wondolowski and Quincy Amarikwa tallied one goal apiece for San Jose in their first road contest since Aug. 22. Wondolowski’s score, the 108th of his career, moved him into a tie with Jason Kreis for the fifth most goals in MLS history.
The Earthquakes return to Avaya Stadium to host Real Salt Lake on Sunday, September 27, presented by Shane Co. The match starts at 4:00 p.m. and will air live on FOX Sports 1, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
Last MLS Match
Earthquakes 2, New York City FC 3; Sept 19, 2015; Yankee Stadium, New York, NY
The San Jose Earthquakes fell behind by three goals in the second half but nearly made a spectacular comeback before falling 3-2 to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. The Quakes almost broke through 16 minutes into the match, but NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders made a big save to keep the game scoreless. Matias Perez Garcia eluded two defenders on the right wing and crossed a ball to the back post. Saunders could only get a touch on it and the ball fell to Sanna Nyassi in the heart of the box. He hit a low shot, but a recovering Saunders dove to block the shot. The Earthquakes were unfortunate not to score in the 30th minute after a quick counter attack. Bingham sent a long ball over the top for Amarikwa, who had snuck behind both central defenders. Amarikwa took a slight nudge and his shot was then knocked out for a corner by Saunders. Just before the half, San Jose applied some heavy pressure but could not open the scoring. First, Wondolowski got the ball on the right side of the box with just the goalkeeper in front of him, but his shot rolled past the far post. Minutes later, Cordell Cato got free in the same spot and dribbled past a defender, but his near post shot was saved by Saunders. Early in the second half, Perez Garcia had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock. Amarikwa stole the ball and then moved into the box with Perez Garcia to his right. After drawing a defender, he slid a pass to Perez Garcia, but the Argentine’s right-footed shot was parried by Saunders and the Quakes could not finish the rebound. NYCFC took command of the game with three goals in the span of 14 minutes midway through the second half. First Ned Grabavoy took a pass from David Villa and his shot deflected past Bingham into the far post. Twelve minutes later, Grabavoy doubled the lead, this time with his head. He nodded a cross from Frank Lampard past Bingham. Villa scored a header of his own moments later from an Angelino cross for a 3-0 advantage. Amarikwa started the comeback for the Quakes in the 72nd minute with a powerful header after a poor clearance by the NYCFC defense. Perez Garcia curled a corner from the left side that was headed up into the air. Amarikwa out-jumped a defender and slammed a header into the lower corner to make it 3-1. A flurry of action soon after the goal led to another goal for the Quakes to cut the deficit to one goal. First Amarikwa intercepted a pass and broke free on goal, but his shot slammed off the post and out of danger. After a turnover, Amarikwa got the ball on the right wing and broke into the box, only to be brought down by Angelino. Wondolowski finished off the penalty kick for his 15th goal of the year and the Quakes were down only 3-2. Despite heavy pressure over the final 10 minutes of the match, San Jose could not find the equalizer.
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MLS Regular Season
New York City FC 3 – San Jose Earthquakes 2
September 19, 2015 – Yankee Stadium
Attendance: 28,321
Scoring Summary: NYC – Ned Grabavoy (David Villa) 51; NYC – Ned Grabavoy (Frank Lampard) 63; NYC – David Villa (Angelino, Ned Grabavoy) 65; SJ – Quincy Amarikwa (unassisted) 72; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (penalty) 76.
Misconduct Summary: NYC – Andrea Pirlo (caution) 33; SJ – Clarence Goodson (caution) 34; NYC – R.J. Allen (caution) 44; SJ – Marc Pelosi (caution) 45+1; NYC – Chris Wingert (caution) 66; NYC – Andrew Jacobson (caution) 86.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham, Marvell Wynne, Fatai Alashe, Clarence Goodson, Cordell Cato, Matias Perez Garcia, Marc Pelosi (Shaun Francis 78), Anibal Godoy (Adam Jahn 84), Sanna Nyassi (Shea Salinas 58), Chris Wondolowski, Quincy Amarikwa.
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 6; OFFSIDES: 2.
NEW YORK CITY FC: Josh Saunders, R.J. Allen (Angelino 57), Shay Facey, Jason Hernandez, Chris Wingert, Mix Diskerud, Andrew Jacobson, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo, Ned Grabavoy (Kwadwo Poku 80), David Villa (Patrick Mullins 70).
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 15; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 2.
OPPONENT INFORMATION
Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 7-9-8
Home: 4-5-3 (21 GF, 18 GA)
Away: 3-4-5 (10 GF, 18 GA)
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 31, Salt Lake – 36
Last Game vs. Real Salt Lake
Earthquakes 1, Real Salt Lake 1; May 1, 2015; Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah.
The San Jose Earthquakes departed Rio Tinto Stadium with a valuable road point after drawing with Real Salt Lake 1-1. The first scoring threat of the match came by way of Quakes midfielder Sanna Nyassi in the 11th minute. After evading a tackle near the center of the pitch, Nyassi dribbled towards the 18-yard box and blasted a right-footed shot towards net. The strike forced a leaping effort by RSL keeper Nick Rimando, but missed just high. San Jose got on the board in the 19th minute. Midfielder Shea Salinas used a sequence of moves to get into a dangerous position just outside of the penalty area. After creating space for himself, Salinas ripped a shot, but his attempt on goal was blocked. The loose ball deflected to forward Chris Wondolowski, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net for his team-leading fourth goal of the season. The two teams entered the locker rooms at halftime with the score 1-0. The Quakes created another chance four minutes into the second half. Midfielder Matias Perez Garcia drove a left-footed free kick into the box, which drifted untouched to the back post, where Wondolowski stood alone. He did well to bring the ball down and fired a shot towards goal, but his effort was parried away by a last-ditch tackle. RSL drew level in the 71st minute after a long ball from the back was inadvertently played into the Quakes net by defender Victor Bernardez. The two sides were unable to break the deadlock before the final whistle sounded and the match finished in a 1-1 stalemate.
History of the Quakes – Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake joined MLS as an expansion side prior to the 2005 campaign … The two teams played to a 2-2 draw in their first-ever meeting on April 30, 2005, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, with Alejandro Moreno providing a late equalizer for San Jose … After going 2-0-2 over their first four MLS regular-season meetings, the Quakes dropped their first league tilt to RSL, 3-1, on May 31, 2008, at Rice-Eccles … The Quakes suffered two straight home defeats in league play in shutout fashion in back-to-back season openers in 2010 (3-0) and 2011 (1-0) … On March 19 the Quakes and RSL kicked off the 2011 season at Buck Shaw Stadium in a match later dubbed The Great Deluge as RSL took a 1-0 decision in a driving rainstorm through a 64th-minute Kyle Beckerman strike from 25 yards out that glanced off the left post and went in … That game marked Simon Dawkins’ MLS debut for the Quakes as a 66th-minute substitute … Real Salt Lake swept the 2011 season series with a 4-0 triumph in Utah on July 23 … The Quakes win against RSL on April 21, 2012 snapped a six-game winless streak in all competitions, including an 0-3-2 mark in the five prior MLS regular-season match-ups, and a loss via penalty-kick shootout in a 2010 US Open Cup play-in contest at Buck Shaw Stadium … The Quakes again beat RSL on June 23, 2012 by a 2-1 scoreline behind late goals from Alan Gordon and Chris Wondolowski for their first-ever win at RSL’s Rio Tinto Stadium … RSL was the last Quakes opponent to play a regular-season match at Spartan Stadium, earning a 2-2 tie on Oct. 8, 2005 … San Jose was 3-0-0 against RSL in 2012, outscoring them 9-2 in the process … The Earthquakes dropped their first two games of 2013 against RSL, losing 2-0 on March 3 at Buck Shaw Stadium and 3-0 on June 1 at Rio Tinto Stadium, but bounced back for a key 2-1 win at Rio Tinto on Sept. 21 thanks to a brace from Steven Lenhart … The San Jose Earthquakes rallied from a two-goal first-half deficit to tie Real Salt Lake 3-3 in the club’s 2014 MLS opener on Saturday, March 15 at Buck Shaw Stadium … Sam Cronin scored for the second time in as many games to lead the Earthquakes to a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Aug. 30 … The Earthquakes were defeated by Real Salt Lake by a score of 2-0 on October 11, 2014 at Rio Tinto Stadium … San Jose was defeated by Real Salt Lake 1 – 0 on April 5, 2015 at Avaya Stadium … The Quakes drew with Real Salt Lake 1-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 1, 2015 in large part due to.
Earthquakes – Real Salt Lake Connections
Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski played with RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman and RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil … San Jose defender Clarence Goodson has also represented the U.S. on the international stage … Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski suited up alongside RSL defender Tony Beltran in the USMNT’s 0-0 draw against Canada on Jan. 29 at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium … Quakes midfielders Matias Perez Garcia and Leandro Barrera along with RSL midfielder Javier Morales and forward Sebastian Jaime are all from Argentina and played in the Argentina Primera Division … Quakes defender Clarence Goodson (2000-03) and RSL midfielder John Stertzer (2009-12) both attended the University of Maryland … Goodson and RSL head coach Jeff Cassar were teammates with FC Dallas from 2004-06 … Earthquakes defender Shaun Francis and midfielder Khari Stephenson, as well as RSL defender Demar Phillips, were all born in Jamaica and played on the country’s national team … Khari Stephenson also played for Real Salt Lake during the 2013 season …. Earthquakes midfielder Jordan Stewart and RSL’s midfielder Luke Mulholland both are from England … Earthquakes midfielder Sanna Nyassi and Salt Lake defender Abdoulie Mansally were both born in The Gambia.
EARTHQUAKES IN THE COMMUNITY
Player Appearance
Who: Earthquakes midfielder Fatai Alashe
What: Speaking to high school students and signing autographs/taking photos with fans
Where: Foothill High School – 230 Pala Ave., San Jose, CA
When: Tuesday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Player Appearance
Who: Earthquakes forward Quincy Amarikwa
What: Signing autographs and taking photos with fans
Where: BMW of Mountain View –150 E El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA
When: Wednesday, September 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Player Appearance
Who: Earthquakes defender Jordan Stewart
What: Signing autographs and taking photos with fans
Where: Avaya Stadium – 1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose CA
When: Wednesday, September 23 at 6 p.m.
Player Appearance
Who: Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski
What: Signing autographs and taking photos with fans
Where: Wells Fargo Bank – 60 W. Hamilton Ave. Campbell, CA
When: Friday, September 25 at 1:30 p.m.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Wondolowski Scores Again
Chris Wondolowski converted a penalty kick against NYCFC on Saturday night, marking his 15th goal of the season and 108th of his career. He moved into a tie with Jason Kreis for fifth on the league’s all-time leaderboard. Wondolowski has now scored in five of the last seven matches, notching six overall goals in that span.
Road Warrior
Wondolowski scored his 55th career road goal on Saturday night. Wondolowski, the current leader among all active players, has now passed Ante Razov and scored the third most road goals in Major League Soccer history [Landon Donovan – 62; Jeff Cunningham – 57].
Amarikwa Back on the Board
Amarikwa tallied a goal against NYCFC on Saturday, marking his fifth goal of the season and first since Aug. 8 at HOU.
Back in the Starting XI
Midfielder Sanna Nyassi was in the starting XI against NYCFC, his first start since Aug. 8.
Looking Ahead
The Quakes are in search of their first win of the season over Real Salt Lake in what is the third and final meeting between the clubs. San Jose has dropped just two matches on national TV at Avaya Stadium this season, holding a 3-2-3 record in those contests overall and going 2-0-1 in their last three [D 0-0 vs. POR (8/2); W 1-0 vs. COL (8/14); W 1-0 vs. LA (8/28)].
Wondo Against RSL
Wondolowski has scored seven career goals against Real Salt Lake, third most against the club in MLS history [Edson Buddle – 10; Landon Donovan – 9].
Quakes Among MLS Leaders
Currently, several Earthquakes rank near or at the top of numerous statistical categories. Among them are:
• Matias Perez Garcia – 4 game-winning assists (t-2nd in MLS)
• Matias Perez Garcia – 74 fouls suffered (2nd in MLS)
• Matias Perez Garcia – 111 corner kicks (2nd in MLS)
• Quincy Amarikwa – 70 fouls suffered (t-3rd in MLS)
• David Bingham – 96 saves (3rd in MLS)
• David Bingham – 10 shutouts (t-3rd in MLS)
• David Bingham – 11 wins (t-6th in MLS)
• David Bingham – 71.1 save pct. (t-6th in MLS)
• Chris Wondolowski – 15 goals (t-4th in MLS)
Greatest Six-Year Span in MLS History
Including 15 goals so far this year, Chris Wondolowski has tallied 101 goals since the start of the 2010 season, the most by any player over a six-year span in MLS history. Wondolowski still has the remainder of this season to add to his league record. Only three other players ever registered more than 80 goals in a six-year span – Taylor Twellman (91 from 2002-07), Roy Lassiter (88 from 1996-01) and Carlos Ruiz (81 from 2002-07).
MLS Goals Since 2010
Chris Wondolowski has been by far the league’s most efficient striker since 2010, leading the league in goals during that time span:
1. Chris Wondolowski - 101 goals
2. Robbie Keane – 68
3. Alvaro Saborio – 65
4. Kei Kamara – 58
T5. Thierry Henry – 51
T5. Sebastien Le Toux – 51
T7. Landon Donovan – 48
T7. Fabian Espindola – 48
9. Dominic Oduro – 45
10. Dwayne De Rosario – 42
Halftime Success
Since the beginning of the 2000 season, the Quakes are 111-4-23 when leading at the half, including a 7-1-2 mark so far in 2015. They were 6-0-2 in 2014, 6-0-3 in 2013 and an impressive 12-0-1 in 2012, with the only draw coming against Portland on Oct. 27 at JELD-WEN Field. In 2011, the club was 4-2-2, 7-0-2 in 2010, 4-0-3 in 2009, 6-1-0 in 2008, 7-0-3 in 2005, 7-0-1 in 2004 and 8-0-1 in 2003. Despite holding a 1-0 halftime lead on May 10, 2008, vs. Columbus, the Quakes were edged by the final score of 3-2. That game marked the team’s first loss since 1999 when holding a halftime advantage.
Making the First One Count
The Earthquakes are 110-14-33 since 2001 when scoring the first goal. The club is 9-2-3 so far in 2015, after going 5-1-4 in 2014. They were 11-1-3 when scoring first in 2013. In 2012, San Jose was 14-2-2, their two losses coming at Vancouver (2-1) on May 5 and at Montreal (3-1) on Aug. 18. The club was 7-4-5 in 2011, 12-0-2 in 2010, 6-1-5 in 2009 and 8-1-3 in 2008. Prior to 2010, San Jose also went undefeated in 2001 (13-0-2), 2003 (11-0-1) and 2005 (14-0-5) when scoring first. The Earthquakes were 12-2-0 in 2002 when finding the back of the net first, only giving up leads two times in losing 2-1 at the LA Galaxy on July 4, and falling at Kansas City by the same score on July 27. In 2004, the Quakes went 8-1-1 when scoring first, the best mark in MLS. The Quakes surrendered a 1-0 advantage and dropped a 2-1 decision at the LA Galaxy on July 4, 2004, losing for just the first time since July 27, 2002, when striking first. The Quakes are also impressive in the playoffs when scoring first, posting an 8-0-1 record all-time.
Alashe and Pelosi Called to U.S. U-23s for CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship
San Jose Earthquakes midfielders Fatai Alashe and Marc Pelosi were among 20 players called by U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Andi Herzog to compete in the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, which will be played across the United States from Oct. 1-13. Both Alashe and Pelosi have competed for the U-23s in the past, including playing alongside one another at the 2015 Toulon Tournament in France, which ran from late May to early June. Alashe has appeared in 24 games (23 starts) for San Jose this season, tallying two goals and one assist. Pelosi, who signed with the club on July 17, has made nine appearances, including four starts.
Earthquakes to Participate in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month During September
The San Jose Earthquakes will participate in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at their four home matches during the month of September to recognize and honor children fighting cancer, celebrate those who have defeated the disease, and organizations working to find a cure. The Earthquakes have partnered with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Austen Everett Foundation and will host children from each of these groups over the course of the month. The children will participate in the high five tunnel as the players walk onto the field, pre game warm ups, first goal and the starting XI experience. San Jose’s four home matches during the month are against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Sept. 5, Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, Sept. 12, the Montreal Impact on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and Real Salt Lake on Sunday, Sept. 27.
