Wild Second Half Sees Quakes On The Short End; Playoffs Doubtful

 

Playing at the storied Yankee stadium, the San Jose Earthquakes came up short against NYCFC, losing 3-2 and dealing their playoff hopes a crippling blow.

Fielding the usual 4-4-2 formation, the Quakes struggled early on.  In the early minutes of the match, they could barely string together two or three passes.  A Quakes corner in the 8^th minute yielding nothing, and it led to a NYCFC breakaway, which was snuffed out by rapid Quakes defending.  An Andrea Pirlo free kick in the same minute did not produce a shot on goal.  Much like in their two previous matches, the Earthquakes exhibited a tendency to move the ball either laterally or back to the defense, a tactic that exacerbated the lack of attacking opportunities.

The Quakes attack came alive in the 15^th minute, with a Matias Perez Garcia run down the right-hand side leading to a cross, which was tipped away by NYCFC keeper Josh Saunders.  The ball found its way to the boots of Sanna Nyassi, who followed up with a shot, which was also saved by Saunders.  A Pirlo corner kick in the 19^th minute found the head of Chris Wondolowski, which led to a Quakes counterattack and an apparent foul on NYCFC’s Jason Hernandez.  Replay showed that Quincy Amarikwa made contact with Hernandez, and could have easily been a red card.  Conversely, the referee appeared to miss an apparent foul on Matias Perez Garcia shortly thereafter.

The match referee continued to keep the cards in his pocket, as David Villa clearly fouled Clarence Goodson in the 24^th minute.  The Quakes pressed the action in the 25^th minute, as Nyassi crossed the ball to an on-rushing Wondolowski, but he could not put head on ball.

The referee finally produced a booking in the 30^th minute, with Andrea Pirlo shown a yellow card for misconduct.  In addition, Clarence Goodson fouled NYCFC’s Frank Lampard in the 34^th minute.  There was a bit of a dust-up between the two players, but Goodson is on the short end, for he will miss the Quakes’ next match due to yellow card accumulation.  The 37^th minute saw Sanna Nyassi chip in the NYCFC box nearly found the back of the net.  Time and again, the Quakes’ goal-scoring opportunities proved sporadic, and Quincy Awarikwa’s overzealous play led to an Andrea Pirlo free kick in the 39^th minute, but NYCFC was ruled to be offside.  A quick Quakes counterattack led to a Wondolowski effort, but his low shot sailed wide left of the goal.  Uninspired play in the last five minutes of the first half preserved the 0-0 scoreline.

The second half began with a spirited run by Nyassi, but he was dispossessed, he was made one touch too many.  He was brought down in the box, but no penalty kick was given.  The Quakes attacked again, this time with Quincy Amarikwa, whose bicycle kick in the 48^th minute went wide of goal.

The deadlock was broken in the 51^st minute, with NYCFC’s Ned Grabavoy getting off a shot on goal that took a deflection, sailing past David Bingham into the back of the net.  A foul by Quincy Amarikwa on Pirlo, yet again, led to a Quakes free kick in the 54^th minute.  The subsequent effort by Perez Garcia went right into the hands of Josh Saunders.  Shea Salinas came on for Nyassi in the 57^th minute, as Dominic Kinnear attempted to fire up the Quakes’ attacking prowess.  Almost right after the substitution, NYCFC re-established control of the match, as Frank Lampard got off an attempt, but it did not threaten Bingham.

A Quakes free kick in the 61^st minute yielded corner kick, which appeared to find the hand of an NYCFC player.  No call was given in the Quakes’ favor.  Grabavoy earned his brace in the 63^rd minute, as a Frank Lampard cross found Grabavoy all alone in the Quakes box.  The floodgates opened after that goal, as David Villa struck in the 65^th minute with a lightening-quick header.  Within a span of five minutes, the game appeared to get away from San Jose, but Quincy Amarikwa pulled one back in the 72^nd minute, as he headed the ball in off a corner kick.

Amarikwa had a golden opportunity in the 74^th minute, as he got behind the NYCFC defense, finding himself in a one-on-one situation with the NYCFC keeper.  Unbelievably, his chip hit the right post, and dribbled out of play.  The Quakes pulled within one in the 76^th minute, as they got a deserved penalty.  Wondolowski sent Saunders the wrong way, and he drilled the ball into the left side of the net.  Wondo’s PK goal put him fifth on the MLS goal-scoring list.  Curiously, Kinnear subbed Shaun Francis on for Marc Pelosi in the 78^th minute, as the Quakes continued to press for an equalizer.

Another Pirlo free kick in the 83^rd minute sailed way over the Quakes goal, giving Kinnear his opportunity to make his final substitution of the match.  Adam Jahn came on for Anibal Godoy.  Surely, Kinnear’s personnel decisions should come into question now, for after Jahn came onto the pitch, the Quakes fell asleep.  Andrea Pirlo slipped behind the Quakes defense, but he was unable to get a shot off due to the efforts of a solid Clarence Goodson.  Goodson came up big again in the 89^th minute, kicking away an NYCFC effort right at the goal line.

At minute 91, a lack of ball control by Marvell Wynne allowed for a NYCFC corner, and Pirlo almost put his effort into the Quakes goal.  Bingham was beaten, but the right post prevented the ball from going in.

A relentless pursuit by the Quakes in the last four minutes of the game proved fruitless, and the Quakes now find themselves completely out of the playoff picture.