KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Sporting Kansas City 2-1 Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park during their first road game of the 2017 season. Florian Jungwirth scored his first goal for the Quakes in the 91st minute, while Danny Hoesen earned his first assist and Jahmir Hyka made his first start.
The Earthquakes will now play a friendly match on Wednesday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. PT against Sacramento Republic FC at Bonney Field. Following the international break, the Quakes will return to MLS action on the road at New York City FC on Saturday, April 1 at 11 a.m. PT.
MLS Regular Season
Sporting Kansas City 2 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
March 18, 2017 – Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
Attendance: 19,282
Scoring Summary: KC – Benny Feilhaber (Graham Zusi) 37; KC – David Bingham (Own goal) 89; SJ – Florian Jungwirth (Danny Hoesen, Anibal Godoy) 90+1.
Misconduct Summary: KC – Dom Dwyer (caution) 16; SJ – Marco Ureña (caution) 52; KC – Graham Zusi (caution) 84.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: Tim Melia; Seth Sinovic, Ike Opara, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi; Roger Espinoza, Llie Sanchez, Benny Feilhaber (Soni Mustivar 85); Gerso Fernandes, Dom Dwyer, Jimmy Medranda (Soony Saad 78).
SHOTS: 15, SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 6; OFFSIDES: 0.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Shaun Francis, Victor Bernardez, Florian Jungwirth, Nick Lima; Jahmir Hyka (Shea Salinas 61), Anibal Godoy, Fatai Alashe (Tommy Thompson 80), Simon Dawkins; Marco Ureña (Danny Hoesen 68), Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 5; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 11; CORNER KICKS: 2; OFFSIDES: 2.
Note: Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear fell ill Saturday morning and was unable to attend the match.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES ASSISTANT COACH JOHN SPENCER
On the match:
“We planned all week and watched a couple of Kansas games and we knew that as the first whistle was going to go they were going to press us, and press us high like we have done to teams at home. I think in the first half we were a little bit tentative and our fullbacks could have moved forward and joined in the attack a little bit more. When we go into the final third, especially in the first half, we could not keep the ball enough. In the second half things changed a little bit and we started to dictate possession, but as you well know possession does not win you games, goals do.”
On the last effort:
“I think when we scored the late one, they got a little bit nervous and we started putting balls in the box. I think Melia has a great save from Simon Dawkins’ shot down the bottom left hand side, which could have tied the game up.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER FLORIAN JUNGWIRTH
On importance of rebounding from this road loss:
“It’s very important. With two weeks time, we will do video next week to see what we can do better and what we did bad, but I think the first two games have shown that we are good and I’m confident that we will continue that and hopefully we will start in New York with the next road trip game.”
SAN JOSE EARHTQUAKES FORWARD MARCO UREÑA
On the match:
“It was a difficult first half, they pressed really high and then they got an amazing goal. After that, the second half was great, we kept the ball and got possession. I think we played wide too much and not deep enough which why I think we did not have many chances in the second half. Then we got the goal, it was an amazing goal.”
