When the Earthquakes’ performance reaches the team’s competitive nature, look out.
A 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on Sunday came with near-misses on offense, high drama on defense, a controversial call and an unfortunate no-call at sold-out Avaya Stadium.
But the Quakes weren’t doling out excuses like Easter Eggs. They know their overall performance needed a little refinement.
“Tough way to lose a game, but we have to keep fighting and not let this result break us,” center back Victor Bernardez said. “We may have lost our heads after a couple of no calls, but we can never blame the result on what we can't control.”
Coach Dominic Kinnear continues to appreciate the effort from his squad, which has opened with two wins in five one-goal games.
The line between victory and defeat is wafer thin in MLS.
“The guys are giving it their all, and that for me is a good thing,” Kinnear said. “They’re not giving up during the game, which is a sign of a good group. What would I like to see? A little more quality. I think we’re defending pretty well. I don't think Salt Lake had a ton of chances.”
Maybe the breakout effort will come against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday at Avaya Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m., making it the historic first night game at the new digs.
“We're going to figure it out,” Kinnear said. “You always strive for consistency in a positive fashion. But the most important thing -- besides results -- is the competitive attitude of the team, which I do think we have. We just have to be a little bit better.
Overall, a makeshift back line played very well against RSL.
Bernardez and Clarence Goodson were sturdy and at times spectacular in the center, and regular midfielders Cordell Cato and JJ Koval showed versatility and gumption playing out of position against a dangerous opponent.
But the Quakes could not overcome a “wonder goal” by Javier Morales, who might as well have bought a lottery ticket before RSL left town.
Morales’ initial attempt on a free kick bounced off the wall right back to him, and he blasted his second-chance shot into the goal off the crossbar in the 44th minute. The free kick was awarded after a controversial call against Innocent, who appeared not guilty of a foul on a 50-50 ball in the air against RSL’s Luke Mulholland.
The Quakes’ chances also took a hit in the 58th minute when what looked like a clear handball by RSL in the box was not called.
Rookie Fatai Alashe, a U-23 international, nearly had the equalizer goal in the final seconds, but his acrobatic shot went high. Alashe, who scored the first-ever goal at Avaya Stadium in a 2-1 win over Chicago on March 22, gave another passionate and polished effort.
But he knows it’s all about getting three points.
“Like I said, played well or not, we lost, and that's what matters,” Alashe said. “So we'll look at the positives and negatives of the game and we'll come back stronger next week."
In typical style, Goodson and Bernardez sacrificed their bodies to keep the ball out of the net in the 70th minute. After Real forward Olmes Garcia hit a ball across the box, Goodson made a diving header to keep the ball from an attacker. The ball drifted toward the net, and Bernardez cleared it out with a bicycle kick. The stunning defensive sequence offered another snapshot of the team’s collective drive.
"I thought Victor, Clarence and Fatai were amazing,” Chris Wondolowski said. “They shored up our defense, especially because JJ and Cordell played out of position.”
Forward Adam Jahn, who nearly equalized in the 54th minute with a clever attempt off a low cross, thought the team responded well after Morales’ goal. The Quakes rode the energy of their fans in the final stages.
“We’re playing at home and having these fans behind really helps us put the pressure on them,” he said. “The shots just didn't fall our way. I think you saw in the second half the potential our attack has. We're fit, we train hard and we are giving it our (all) out there. Now we have to continue to improve by finishing.”
The Quakes will close out April with two of three at home, an inviting stretch for a team that seems poised to spring forward.
