Tired Quakes improve; then fade; then fall
FC Dallas 1 : 0 San Jose Earthquakes
John Marshall, San Jose
The San Jose Earthquakes started the second tenure of head coach Dominic Kinnear with a loss at Toyota Stadium in Dallas, extending the team’s 15 game winless streak to 16.
The Quakes came out of the blocks looking much more confident than last season, immediately showing FC Dallas that they were a capable opponent, forcing Dallas keeper Chris Seitz into an uncomfortable save in the 7’ and another more routine save in the 8’ from a long, knuckling shot from Matias Perez Garcia.
The first 15 minutes was a breath of fresh air for Quakes fans after seeing a much more competitive team capable of winning possession and then maintaining it compared to last year’s counter-attack game plan. No longer playing “bunker ball”, the midfield pressure applied by San Jose was able to force Dallas mistakes which lead to multiple scoring chances.
The next few minutes exposed some of San Jose’s weaknesses in defense. When under pressure from the Dallas attack, the back four seemed to lose attackers and commit unnecessary fouls in dangerous areas. This lead to two golden scoring opportunities for Blas Perez, the second only kept out of the net by fantastic awareness from Paulo Renato who covered the far post and cleared the shot off the line.
New San Jose keeper, David Bingham, was shaky early in the match, showing his youth in his indecision and, at times, poor positioning. The communication between Bingham and his defenders needs improvement as well after miscommunication almost lead to a Dallas chance.
By the second half, both teams’ tempers were high as the fight to break the tie raged on and both teams found quality scoring chances. Again miscues by the Quakes’ back four nearly lead to goals, one shot just sliding past the far post. The Earthquakes would have their fair chances as well from Dallas miscues; Wondolowski put a shot in the box high and wide and a Perez Garcia cross found Sanna Nyassi’s head but the shot was over the crossbar.
San Jose seemed to struggle with fitness as the match went on and the late game plan became pack the box and play for the tie. As well as the attack had been playing for most of the game, this approach seems to have been more a response to the team’s fitness than a lack of offensive ability.
Parking the bus was not enough to keep Dallas off the board though as a poor decision to come off his line by Bingham to punch a ball away lead to an open net for Blas Perez to head home the winner.
A last ditch effort by San Jose to steal back a point looked dangerous but ultimately proved fruitless as Dallas held on to the win.
Regardless of the result, the play was definitely a step in the right direction for the Earthquakes and new signings Nyassi, Renato, and Marvell Wynne all had solid games. The speed the Nyassi and Wynne bring on the wing is a welcome site to the offense and Renato held the center of the defense very well to keep Dallas stifled for 90+ minutes.
San Jose travels to Seattle next week to face off against reigning Supporters’ Shield winners, Sounders FC.
