Whoever said “It is not ho you start a match, but how you finish” clearly never played a soccer match. While it is true that a game can turn around at any point for any team allowing goals early can be a confidence killer. Hours of planning and preparation go out the window in the face of dropping points and losing ground in the standings. But for a team like the San Jose Earthquakes on the road against Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United it was exactly the start that they were looking for. Chris Wondolowski supplied the early finish and helped lead the Quakes past D.C. United 2-0 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.

Chris Wondoloski opened up the match in just the third minute with a right-footed shot past United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra. The Earthquakes attack hit D.C. early and often, using multiple attacking options up front. Quincy Amarikwa provided the service into Wondolowski and helped the San Jose striker net his second goal in three matches.

Earthquakes midfielder would make it 2-0 in the 51st minute with a low shot off of the inside of his foot. Once again Amarikwa would be integral to the Earthquakes attack driving directly at United center-back Kofi Opare and deftly providing a pass on the outside to a surging Salinas. The goal was Salinas’ second of the season.

After having played on Wednesday night, one might have expected the Earthquakes to be a bit low on energy. But the club was emboldened after Wednesday night’s result continuing their aggressive attacking style against D.C. This change in style paid off just three minutes into the match when Wondolowski finished Amarikwa’s pass and gave the Quakes the advantage. The goal was his twelfth on the season.

While a defensive mistake gave the Earthquakes the early lead they nearly gave one back in the 21st minute. Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham, after having saved a shot by Saborio, casually went to punt the ball into safety. However Saborio challenged Bingham’s low kick and got a deflection that landed near forward Michael Farfan. Farfan put the ball in the back of the net but was ultimately denied a goal after lead match official ruled that Saborio’s hand touched the ball when making the deflection.

D.C. continued to press the Earthquakes defense looking for a hole or a flaw in coach Dominic Kinnear’s strategy. United coach Ben Olsen’s game-plan centered around the center-backs with both Saborio and Farfan pressing Clarence Goodson and Victor Bernardez. Their work nearly paid off in the 48th minute with a right-footed shot from Saborio. Ultimately Bingham would make the save, ending any hope of evening up the score.

Before United could mount another challenge San Jose would strike again with Salinas making the lead 2-0. A cross from substitute Jairo Arrieta into the box for Saborio looked promising but was ultimately wide of the mark. Credit to Bernardez who applied consistent pressure to Saborio forcing the Costa Rican international often to rush his shot and get off-balance.

With the victory San Jose moves into a tie with Seattle Sounders FC for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference (Seattle plays later this evening against Real Salkt Lake).  The Earthquakes will host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Friday night at Avaya Stadium at 10pm EST.

For D.C. United the loss certainly makes their lead in the Eastern Conference ever more tenuous. They still hold a five point advantage over the New York Red Bulls but have also played three matches than their I-95 rivals. The Wondolowski goal also highlights a very disturbing trend for D.C.: it was the eighth goal this season that United have conceeded within the first fifteen minutes of the match.

D.C. will host Montego Bay United FC on Tuesday night as part of their adventure in the CONCACAF Champions League. Their next MLS league match will be against the Red Bulls on Sunday.