San Jose, CA – April 13, 2016. San Jose Earthquakes beat New York Red Bulls 2-0 at Avaya Stadium
Football is a marathon, not a sprint. Although the game is just ninety minutes the level of detail and precision that it takes to succeed can take days, weeks, months, even years. After a year and a half of trying it appears that the San Jose Earthquakes have finally found themselves. Buoyed by Fatai Alashe and stalwart Chris Wondolowski the Quakes secured three vital points against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night in front of 18,000 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California.
With both sides featuring some new pieces, possession and attacking chances were hard to come by at the beginning of the first half. With both sides facing a compressed schedule in the coming days (the Earthquakes and the Red Bulls have three matches in eight days) experimental lineups were all the rage at Avaya Stadium. Although that gave supporters a chance to see some of the bright young stars of Major League Soccer (including Earthquakes midfielder Tommy Thompson and Red Bulls midfielders Tyler Adams and Sean Davis) the trade-off was a lack of chemistry on both sides.
To counter the inexperience both the Red Bulls and Quakes attempted to use their speed on the outside to gain the early advantage. The Red Bulls had the first real opportunity in the 22nd minute when Lloyd Sam’s cross into the box for forward Anatole Abang appeared promising. However, Abang was unable to connect with a surging Shaun Wright-Phillips.
After surviving an early scare the Quakes would send tremors into the Red Bulls defensive third. Midfielder Matias Perez-Garcia would help jumpstart the Earthquakes attack by finding small seams in between Karl Ouimette and Conor Lade, using his speed and first touch to cause problems. His probing balls early on would help set up later success for San Jose.
The Earthquakes nearly had the lead in the 28th minute when Perez-Garcia’s free kick entered the Red Bulls penalty box. Forward Chris Wondolowski nearly had his fifth goal of the season but his header went wide of the goal.
Wondo had another opportunity in the 32nd minute after seizing on a slip up by Abang. The U.S. Men’s National Team striker found himself all alone against Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles. Robles took a diagonal run which gave Wondolowski only a narrow goal-scoring window. Despite what appeared to be an excellent chance to gain the advantage Wondolowski’s shot would go wide.
After a couple of near goal-scoring opportunities the Earthquakes would finally gain the advantage late in the first-half. Perez-Garcia would lay in another cross deep into the Red Bulls penalty area. Although Thompson was unable to capitalize, midfielder Fatai Alashe would smash home his first goal of the season.
Marsch would attempt to give the Red Bulls attack a bit of life in the second half, bringing on regulars Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kjlestan. The move nearly pays off in 47th minute with Wright-Phillips slipping in a low shot past the Quakes defense. But as has happened so many times this season he was denied by a hot goalkeeper.
The Earthquakes would put the game out of reach in the 55th minute when Wondolowski would finish off a cross in by midfielder Shea Salinas. After receiving tremendous service in the box, Wondolowski would slip in between the Red Bulls back-line and head home his fifth goal in sixth matches. The goal also places him in a tie with Ante Razove for fourth all-time among Major League Soccer’s goal-scoring leaders (114 goals).
With the three points, the Earthquakes (3-1-2, 11 points) have lifted themselves up to third place in the Western Conference. They will travel up to the Rose City to take on the Portland Timbers on Sunday.
Meanwhile for the New York Red Bulls (1-5-0, 3 points) their scoring problems continue. The club’s fifth loss is also their fourth shutout of the season and puts them on a dangerous path early in this 2016 campaign. The Red Bulls West Coast swing will not get any easier on Saturday in their road tie against the Colorado Rapids.
MATCH SUMMARY
San Jose Earthquakes– David Bingham, Marvell Wynne, Andreas Imperiale, Shaun Francis, Matias Perez Garcia (Alberto Quintero 70′), Shea Salinas, Fatai Alashe, Tommy Thompson, Chris Wondolowski, and Quincy Amarikwa (Adam Jahn 86′).
Goals: Alashe (41′) and Wondolowski (55′)
Yellow Card: Perez- Garcia (41′)
New York Red Bulls–Luis Robles, Sal Zizzo, Kemal Lawrence, Karl Ouimette, Connor Lade, Sean Davis, Tyler Adams (Sacha Kjlestan 45′), Lloyd Sam, Felipe, Shaun Wright-Phillips (Bradley Wright-Phillips 45′), and Anatole Abang (Mike Grella 61′).
Yellow Card-Kjlestan (62′)
ATTENDANCE: 18,000
