The San Jose Earthquakes shut out Western Conference adversary Real Salt Lake 1-0 at Avaya Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Midfielder Matias Perez Garcia helped secure the win for the Quakes after notching a late game-winning goal in the 87th minute. With the goal, the Earthquakes have scored first in eight of their last nine matches dating back to August 14, holding a 5-1-2 record in those contests. Perez Garcia’s goal was his third of the season, as well as the first game-winner of his MLS career.
San Jose plays their second of three consecutive matches at Avaya Stadium against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, October 3, presented by Gyft. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CSN Bay Area, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
Last MLS Match
Earthquakes 1, Real Salt Lake 0; Sept 27, 2015; Avaya Stadium, San Jose, CA
The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake 1-0 at Avaya Stadium on Sunday afternoon thanks in large part to a late game-winning goal by midfielder Matias Perez Garcia. The Quakes created a slew of chances throughout the match, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 87th minute. It marked the Quakes second goal of the season after the 80th minute and first since July 26 at Vancouver. The win snapped a four-game winless streak and brought San Jose back to within one point of the red line for the MLS playoffs. In the 20th minute, San Jose was off and running on a counter attack after forward Quincy Amarikwa slid a through ball that reached midfielder Shea Salinas on the left side of the field. Salinas was able to send a low cross through the box, but it was cleared by Real Salt Lake for a corner kick. The Quakes created another chance in the 25th minute after a Perez Garcia corner kick nearly snuck into the net, but was parried by a lunging Nick Rimando. Wondolowski’s follow up attempt was blocked, and Anibal Godoy’s subsequent attempt missed wide. In the 35th minute, Salinas’ left-footed strike beat Rimando at the near post, but caromed off the woodwork. A flurry of chances ensued after the rebound, but the Quakes were unable to grab the lead. Six minutes later, a Perez Garcia corner kick found Amarikwa at the far post, but Amarikwa’s headed attempt bounced just wide. Wondolowksi almost put the Quakes ahead again in the 52nd minute after finding himself on the receiving end of a Salinas pass through the box. However, Rimando was able to bail out the RSL defense with a diving save. San Jose finally broke the deadlock in the 87th minute. A long ball played by defender Victor Bernardez was brought down by Amarikwa and played into the path of Perez Garcia. He took a one-timed shot, which deflected off of a Real Salt Lake defender and into the net.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake
September 27, 2015 – Avaya Stadium
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary: SJ - Matias Perez Garcia (Quincy Amarikwa, Victor Bernardez) 87.
Misconduct Summary: SJ - Anibal Godoy (caution) 34; RSL – Kyle Beckerman (caution) 63; SJ – Marc Pelosi (caution) 73; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (caution) 74; SJ – Matias Perez Garcia (caution) 77; SJ – Matias Perez Garcia (ejection) 88; RSL – Aaron Maund (caution) 90.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham, Marvell Wynne, Victor Bernardez, Fatai Alashe, Shaun Francis (Sanna Nyassi 83), Matias Perez Garcia, Anibal Godoy, Marc Pelosi (Tommy Thompson 87), Shea Salinas, Chris Wondolowski, Quincy Amarikwa (JJ Koval 89).
SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 8; OFFSIDES: 4.
REAL SALT LAKE: Nick Rimando, Jamison Olave, Jordan Allen (Demar Phillips 55), Aaron Maund, Tony Beltran, Luis Silva (Olmes Garcia 59), Luke Mulholland, Kyle Beckerman, Joao Plata, Juan Manuel Martinez, Devon Sandoval (Sebastian Jaime 84).
SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 18; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 0.
OPPONENT INFORMATION
Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 2-6-5
Home: 2-0-4 (7 GF, 4 GA)
Away: 0-6-1 (6 GF, 15 GA)
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 13, Vancouver – 19
Last Game vs. Vancouver
Earthquakes 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3; July 26, 2015; BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia
The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 at BC Place. Forward Quincy Amarikwa tallied his third goal in three matches since joining San Jose and midfielder Marc Pelosi made his MLS debut, entering the match as a second-half substitute and logging 20 minutes. The match also saw the return of leading-scorer forward Chris Wondolowski and versatile midfielder Cordell Cato returning to the Earthquakes starting XI. Both players were with their respective national teams at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup and haven't suited up for the Quakes in an MLS match since they each found the back of the net in the team's 3-1 victory over the LA Galaxy on June 27. Wondolowski started and played 60 minutes in the United States' third-place game in Pennsylvania just one day prior. Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. A deflected ball rolled to midfielder Mauro Rosales at the top of the penalty area and his left-footed shot snuck past Quakes keeper David Bingham. The Earthquakes were forced to use an early substitution when three-time MLS Team of the Week selection defender Clarence Goodson exited with an injury in the 13th minute. Whitecaps FC found the net again in the 32nd minute. Defender Kendall Waston headed home a Rosales corner kick to extend the home side's lead to 2-0 and an Octavio Rivero penalty kick later gave Vancouver its third goal in the 56th minute. San Jose was able to find a goal late, as Amarikwa blasted a shot into the back of the net in the 90th minute off a feed by midfielder Shea Salinas. Amarikwa has now scored three goals in the last two matches, both of which were on the road.
History of the Quakes-Vancouver Whitecaps FC Rivalry
The Quakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC drew in each of their first two all-time meetings in 2011 … The teams tied 1-1 at Empire Field in Vancouver on May 11 as Chris Wondolowski scored a 39th-minute goal on a back-heeled flick that earned MLS Goal of the Week consideration, with Ryan Johnson assisting … The ‘Caps equalized in second-half stoppage time when Davide Chiumiento scored for a share of the points … The return fixture inside Buck Shaw Stadium on July 20 ended in a 2-2 tie with dueling braces by Wondolowski and Vancouver’s Eric Hassli as San Jose was unable to hold on to a pair of one-goal leads … In the first of three meetings in 2012 back on April 7 at Buck Shaw, the ‘Caps took a 1-0 lead early in the second half through a Sebastien Le Toux strike, only to see the Quakes storm back for three goals within a 10-minute span from the 68th to the 78th … Wondolowski tallied two more around what proved to be a game-winning header from second-half substitute Alan Gordon in the 72nd from a Ramiro Corrales cross … In the second meeting of the 2012 season at BC Place in Vancouver on May 5, the Whitecaps came out victorious off a stoppage time goal from forward Eric Hassli. Wondolowski opened the scoring in the 15th minute off a Marvin Chavez cross, but Vancouver answered with a goal from Gershon Koffie shortly before halftime … Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1 at B.C. Place in the final matchup of 2012 between the two teams thanks to a Barry Robson 61st minute penalty kick. Whitecaps FC Dane Richards opened the scoring just 20 minutes into the match. Earthquakes Alan Gordon knotted the score at 1-1 just seven minutes before halftime with a header into the back post … The two sides drew 1-1 in their first meeting of 2013 with Chris Wondolowski and Corey Hertzog scoring goals at Buck Shaw Stadium … Vancouver won their next match of the campaign 2-0 at BC Place … The two teams drew 0-0 in their final meeting of the season on Sept. 14, 2013 at Buck Shaw Stadium … Chris Wondolowski scored twice to rally the San Jose Earthquakes to within one goal of their hosts, but Vancouver Whitecaps FC ultimately took the win 3-2 at a sold-out BC Place on May 3, 2014 … The San Jose Earthquakes fell 2-0 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 at BC Place … The Quakes tied Whitecaps FC 0-0 in San Jose’s final game at Buck Shaw Stadium on October 18, 2014 … San Jose defeated Vancouver 1-0 in the first-ever night match at Avaya Stadium on April 11, 2015 … Vancouver was able to take the second meeting of the 2015 season, defeating the Earthquakes 3-1 at BC Place in Vancouver on July 26.
Earthquakes-Vancouver Whitecaps FC Connections
Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Steven Beitashour played for San Jose from 2010-2013 … Beitashour was born in San Jose … Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas played for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011 after being selected by the club during the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft … Salinas was traded from Vancouver to San Jose on Nov. 30, 2011, in exchange for allocation money … Salinas and Vancouver defender Jordan Harvey played together with the Philadelphia Union in 2010 … NBA All-Star Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC ownership group, played basketball at Santa Clara University … Whitecaps FC forward/midfielder Erik Hurtado attended Santa Clara University where he was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2012 … San Jose defender Jordan Stewart and Whitecaps FC defender Sam Adekugbe both were born in England … Quakes defender Victor Bernardez and Vancouver Deybi Flores both are from Honduras … San Jose midfielders Leandro Barrera and Matias Perez Garcia and Whitecaps midfielders Matias Laba and Mauro Rosales were all born in Argentina … Quakes midfielder Khari Stephenson and defender Shaun Francis, as well as Vancouver midfielder Andre Lewis are all from Jamaica … Francis and Whitecaps goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi both played together on the Chicago Fire during the 2013 season … San Jose midfielder Sanna Nyassi and Whitecaps defender Pa-Modou Kah and midfielder/forward Kekuta Manneh are all from Gambia … Vancouver defender Christian Dean’s hometown is East Palo Alto, Calif. … Dean and San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham both played at UC Berkeley.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Crucial Three Points
Following Portland’s 2-1 victory over Columbus on Saturday, the Earthquakes needed all three points against Real Salt Lake on Sunday to keep pace in the race for the postseason. San Jose came through, earning a 1-0 victory at Avaya Stadium, and now sit one point behind Portland for the six seed, two points behind Sporting Kansas City for the five seed and three points behind Seattle Sounders FC for the four seed.
Game-Winning Goal
Quakes midfielder Matias Perez Garcia scored the match’s lone goal on Sunday, marking his second goal of the season and first career MLS game winner. Forward Quincy Amarikwa and defender Victor Bernardez were credited with an assist each. It marked Amarikwa’s fifth assist of the season, tying his career high (2014).
Late-Game Magic
Perez Garcia’s goal in the 87th minute against RSL marked San Jose’s second goal this season after the 80th minute, and first game winner, joining Amarikwa’s 90th-minute strike against Vancouver on July 26.
Rookie Status, Veteran Presence
Quakes midfielder Fatai Alashe has started each of the past four matches at center back, despite being one of the team’s regular center midfielders for much of the season. He paired with Clarence Goodson for three matches during Victor Bernardez’s recovery from injury, and paired with Bernardez on Sunday during Goodson’s one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Nearing Shutout Record
Earthquakes keeper David Bingham has recorded 11 shutouts this season and is just the second San Jose net minder to tally a single-season double-digit shutout total in club history. He now sits just one shutout shy of Pat Onstad’s club record of 12 shutouts in a season, set in 2005. Onstad was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year that season.
Tough Defense at Home
The Earthquakes have played 15 matches at home so far this season, consisting of 13 at Avaya Stadium (6-3-4), one at Levi’s Stadium (0-0-1) and one at Stanford Stadium (1-0-0), for an overall home record of 7-3-5. In those contests, San Jose has recorded seven shutouts, allowed one goal in six games and two goals in two games. The club hasn’t allowed more than two goals in any home match this season.
Roster Shuffling
The Quakes will have to shuffle their roster quite a bit from the team that defeated RSL on Sunday. Midfielders Fatai Alashe and Marc Pelosi will miss the club’s next match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC due to call ups to the U.S. U-23 for the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship. Also, midfielder Matias Perez Garcia will serve his one-game suspension for a red card. However, defender Clarence Goodson will likely return to the starting XI, after sitting out the last match due to yellow card accumulation.
Together Again
With Goodson likely returning to the starting XI against Vancouver, Bernardez and Goodson would start together for the first time since Sept. 5 vs. PHI. San Jose is 4-1-0 with four shutouts in its last five matches when the two big center backs start alongside each other. In addition, the one loss came in a match that Bernardez exited after just 39 minutes due to injury.
Rubber Match vs. Vancouver
The Earthquakes and Whitecaps FC have faced off twice this season, with each team winning their home match. The third and final match of the season series is Saturday at Avaya Stadium in an important battle of Western Conference foes as the season winds down.
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 – 78 fouls suffered (t-1st in MLS)
• Matias Perez Garcia – 119 corner kicks (2nd in MLS)
• Quincy Amarikwa – 74 fouls suffered (t-4th in MLS)
• David Bingham – 97 saves (4th in MLS)
• David Bingham – 11 shutouts (t-2nd in MLS)
• David Bingham – 11 wins (t-5th in MLS)
• David Bingham – 71.3 save pct. (t-4th in MLS)
• Chris Wondolowski – 15 goals (5th 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 – 69
3. Alvaro Saborio – 65
4. Kei Kamara – 59
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 111-14-33 since 2001 when scoring the first goal. The club is 10-2-3 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.
ACADEMY NOTES
The Earthquakes U-14 Academy squad routed Placer United 7-0 on Saturday at John Mise Park in San Jose. Fabian Rodriguez was the first Quake to score, doing so within the first 25 seconds of the match. The U-14 team’s next match will be against East Bay United on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the College of Alameda.
The Earthquakes U-16 and U-18 teams did not play last weekend. They both return to action on Saturday, Oct. 3 when they each take on the Santa Cruz Breakers at San Jose State University.
