SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes earned a point at Avaya Stadium Wednesday night with a 1-1 tie with Orlando City SC and remain undefeated at home this season (3-0-3). The Quakes are currently riding an eight-game unbeaten streak at Avaya Stadium dating back to last season.
Carlos Rivas gave Orlando City SC the lead in the 80th minute, but the Quakes leveled the scoreline just three minutes later. One minute after entering the match as a substitute, Earthquakes homegrown midfielder Tommy Thompson provided the assist on forward Chris Wondolowski’s fifth goal of the season in the 83rd minute. It marked Thompson’s first career assist.
Wondolowski has now scored 126 career goals in MLS and is just 19 away from tying Landon Donovan’s all-time league record (145).
The Quakes will hit the road to face FC Dallas on Saturday, May 20 at 5 p.m. PT. The match will air live on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1– 1 Orlando City SC
May 17, 2017 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, CA.
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary: ORL – Carlos Rivas (Victor Pagliari Giro, Kaka) 80; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (Tommy Thompson) 83.
Misconduct Summary: ORL – Leo Pereira (caution) 25; SJ – Anibal Godoy (caution) 44; SJ – Marco Ureña (caution) 62; SJ – Nick Lima (caution) 68; SJ – Darwin Ceren (caution) 70.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Kofi Sarkodie (Tommy Thompson 82), Florian Jungwirth, Victor Bernardez, Nick Lima; Jahmir Hyka, Anibal Godoy, Fatai Alashe (Darwin Ceren 65), Simon Dawkins (Danny Hoesen 64); Marco Ureña, Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 11, SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 18; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 3.
ORLANDO CITY SC: Joe Bendik; Leo Pereira, Victor Pagliari Giro, Jose Aja, Scott Sutter; Luis Gil (Carlos Rivas 63), Servando Carrasco (Cristian Higuita 85), Will Johnson, Giles Barnes (Kaka 63), Matias Perez Garcia; Cyle Larin.
SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 7; OFFSIDES: 1.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
Overall thoughts on the game:
“I thought this was the first game at home that we haven’t put a solid attacking performance. We were hoping to rebound from the 3-0 Colorado game to get something good. Obviously we had a feeling that [Orlando City SC head coach] Jason [Kreis] was going to rest some players, which he obviously did. We just couldn’t get going. I think we were a little bit off all over the field, in the attacking areas, I think it was just an off night for us.”
On first hour of play:
“They did sit deep, and it took away our ability to run in behind them. In order for us to be dangerous we need to pass the ball sharper, move the ball a bit better. I thought them sitting deep kind of caused some problems because we were sitting on the ball a bit too much not moving it quicker. I think whenever we picked up our intensity and attacked them, with a good bit of pace, I think we caused some problems. We were a little bit too few in that department.”
On improvements from last game:
“The big part of that one that hurt us was giving the ball away in our own area. If you watch the game, that was obviously the big error on our part. With them sitting deep, it didn’t really cause us that many problems. I think to go from Portland, we were hoping to build on that and then obviously in Colorado, I think the heat and elevation really got ahold of us and really knocked us back in our tracks and losing a second goal before halftime. Coming here tonight, you’re hoping for a good rebound. I thought our energy wasn’t at 100%, but I thought our focus and concentration was better than it was at Colorado.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On scoring another late goal:
“Scoring a goal never gets old. I do really enjoy that. I wish it was a game-winner instead of just tying. It’s good to get a point but we feel they were points dropped here just because we’re at home. We feel confident with this group anytime we step out there to get three points.”
On the energy the team came out with:
“We were just discussing. We really can’t put our finger on it. It was a weird game. It was a little bit lackluster. It wasn’t quite as sharp as we’re accustomed to with connecting our passes. We’re used to being sharper around the offensive third both in possession and in creating opportunities. We didn’t do a very good job of that. A lot of credit goes to Orlando. They executed a game-plan and made it difficult for us, but we still weren’t sharp enough.”
On a six-game unbeaten streak at Avaya Stadium:
“We don’t want to rely on late goals. When we get off to a good start and find a goal early, we tend to play with a little bit better and more confident and dictate the game a little bit better. We find it a lot better than chasing the game, so we have to make sure we do that.”
On Tommy Thompson’s performance:
“I’m glad Tommy Thompson got his first assist and got the monkey off of his back. I’m proud of him because he came in and added a good spark for us.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER TOMMY THOMPSON
On securing his first professional assist:
“It’s been a long time coming, but I’m glad it fell to Wondo tonight. I’m hoping to build on that and get more assists moving forward. There have been a couple of opportunities where I thought I would get an assist, but soccer isn’t always fair. It felt good to get the monkey off my back tonight, and now it’s time to prepare for Dallas on Saturday.”
On his assist to Chris Wondolowski:
“I saw Wondo at the back post. Anytime the ball bounces out off of a corner kick, you want to keep it in a dangerous area. That’s Wondo’s game so I was happy to see it fall to him and see him put it in the back of the net.”
