SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 Friday night at Avaya Stadium in an international friendly. Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez, forward Chris Wondolowski and forward Quincy Amarikwa each scored in the Quakes’ first match against a Bundesliga side since 1996. With the result, the Quakes are 11-9-8 in international exhibition matches.
Bernardez and Amarikwa both notched their first international friendly goals for the Quakes, while Wondolowski became the club’s all-time leading goal scorer in exhibition matches, scoring his fourth career goal in the 18th minute.
Earthquakes new Designated Player Vako made his Quakes debut in the match, as did Jimmy Ockford, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Darwin Espinal and Boxi Yomba who joined the Quakes from USL affiliate Reno 1868 FC. Marc Pelosi and Amarikwa also returned to the playing field after missing extensive time due to injury.
The Earthquakes will now travel to the East Coast to take on the New York Red Bulls in MLS play on Wednesday, July 19 at 4:30 p.m. PT.
International Friendly
San Jose Earthquakes 4 – 1 Eintracht Frankfurt
July 14, 2017 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, CA.
Attendance: 14,355
Scoring Summary: SJ – Victor Bernardez (Jahmir Hyka) 13; SJ – Chris Wondowloski (penalty) 18; SJ – Danny Da Costa (own goal) 61; SJ – Quincy Amarikwa (penalty) 75; SGE – Danny Blum (Renat Dedashov) 83.
Misconduct Summary: SGE – David Abraham (caution) 18.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Andrew Tarbell; Nick Lima (Fatai Alashe 63), Victor Bernardez, Andres Imperiale (Jimmy Ockford 33); Jahmir Hyka (Lindo Mfeka 33), Simon Dawkins (Quincy Amarikwa 63), Tommy Thompson (Luis Felipe Fernandes 33), Cordell Cato (Thomas Janjigian 33), Shea Salinas (Marc Pelosi 63); Danny Hoesen (Darwin Espinal 33); Chris Wondolowski [Boxi Yomba 33 (Vako 63)].
SHOTS: 11,SAVES: 4; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 2; OFFSIDES: 7.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT: Lukas Hradecky; Jonathan De Guzman (Danny Blum 64), Gelson Fernandes (Max Besuschkow 64), Luka Jovic (Sebastien Haller 47), David Abraham (Makoto Hasebe 64); Marco Russ (Timothy Chandler 64), Danny Da Costa (Anderson Ordoñez 29), Slobodan Medojevic (Nelson Mandela Mbouhom 64), Branimir Hrgota, Taleb Tawatha; Daichi Kamada (Noel Knothe 64).
SHOTS: 6;SAVES: 3; FOULS: 19; CORNER KICKS: 2; OFFSIDES: 3.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH CHRIS LEITCH
On the appearances of Quincy Amarikwa and Marc Pelosi:
“Great game for them to get some minutes in. I think one of the highlights of this game for sure is to see these guys – it’s not easy when you’re on the shelf and you’re not able to play, to come in every day, sometimes twice a day, and really put in the work so that when this time comes where they get real meaningful minutes, they can perform. Really valuable to get those minutes. I think it’s a testament to those guys and how hard they’ve worked and also the performance team and the trainers and doctors to getting them back on the field, for the most part ahead of schedule.”
On Vako’s first appearance with the team:
“Vako’s just into us. So you know how that is, to get integrated into not only a new team but a new organization, a new area, a new country. All those things are not easy to do. All those things make it increasingly more difficult to put your best foot forward from the start, but I think Vako has done just that since he’s arrived. He seems like a very humble player, willing to work and sacrifice for this team. And then as he demonstrated tonight, has the quality to go with it. So, really excited to continue to work with Vako on what he can bring to the squad.”
On how scoring the first two early goals changed the game’s dynamic:
“I think any time you can get a goal, or two, it changes the game. And so it will change any dynamic of any game. We did well to get on the front foot and try to assert ourselves in the game and not just move the ball and possess it, but come away with something at the end of it. I think that’s really important.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER VAKO
On his debut:
“It was a great feeling. I didn't want it to finish. I was feeling good and it was really nice to play here.”
On his next goals:
“For me, I want to feel good, that I can play 90 minutes. Physically, I want to feel good and start my first match as soon as possible.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD QUINCY AMARIKWA
On his return to the field following a long-term injury:
“Feels good to be back. I think I'm on track to be hopefully game fit in the next couple of weeks. It's technically my first actual game in a while, but I think we're on the right track. I'm hoping to start being eligible for the 18 soon, start getting some minutes off the bench and hopefully start fighting for a starting spot.”
On his recovery:
“It's good. I think when you get a bad injury like that, you kind of just put playing out of your mind, so for the last 10 or however many months, I was just focused on the process of rehab and getting back out there. ”
