They turned on the lights at Avaya Stadium Saturday night, and Earthquakes midfielder Sanna Nyassi provided his own burst of electricity in a 1-0 triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Nyassi scored the emphatic winner in the 75th minute in the first night game at the new stadium, and the Quakes worked their first shutout at Avaya – no small feat against the explosive Western Conference leaders.
A native of Gambia, Nyassi received a well-deserved standing ovation from the sell-out crowd and a pat from coach Dominic Kinnear when he was replaced by Mike Fucito in stoppage time.
“It is great to open my account with the Earthquakes, and it came at the right time. We’d lost two games in a row,” said Nyassi, who has 17 goals in seven MLS seasons. “It’s good to bounce back.”
Nyassi’s big finish came as a result of steady attacking pressure by the Quakes. Classy Matias Perez Garcia fed a delicate pass to a pushed-up Cato on the left. Cato cut inside before his hard shot was deflected out. Shea Salinas’ follow attempt was also knocked out, but Nyassi shot past goalkeeper David Ousted with his left foot.
A soft-spoken speedster, Nyassi looked dangerous working in combination with right back Marvell Wynne, who made a strong return from an injury. Kinnear thought the Quakes moved the ball more quickly in the second half and created gaps in the attacking third.
Indeed, the Whitecaps were on their back foot for much of the final 45 minutes.
"It felt like we were in command of this game,” Wynne said. “We came in at halftime and the feeling amongst us was we can win this game. We knew we did not let them get any shots up to that point, so we tried to keep it going. We felt our play deserved three points, and we just went for it."
The Quakes (3-3-0) received another hearty effort from rookie midfielder Fatai Alashe, who battled hard and effectively for 90 minutes. The back four also kept Whitecaps star Octavio Rivero, the league’s scoring leader, from getting a shot on goal. The Whitecaps were blanked for the first time this season.
“It was big for us,” Alashe said. “Credit to guys like Clarence Goodson, Victor (Bernardez), Marvell and Cordell. David (Bingham) did a great job out there communicating with the backline. The defenders were winning balls in the air; getting in on good tackles. The shutout is a credit to them, but also to the whole team collectively. … It feels good to get that first shutout. Hopefully there are many more to come."
As usual, Perez Garcia dictated the tempo with his dissecting passes and knifing runs. Popular Tommy Thompson, a U.S. under-20 international and the Quakes first homegrown signing, replaced the savvy Argentine in the 80th minute and received a loud cheer – a moment that captured the essence of the team’s depth and blend of veteran stars and up-and-comers.
“We knew coming in to this match that it was going to be a test,” Perez Garcia said. “In the first half, we weren't sharp and running without assignment. We knew in the second half that we needed to play better, and it showed. We created multiple chances and I feel that calmed us down a bit.”
Bingham, who worked his first clean sheet of the season, didn't have a whole lot to do in terms of saves, but was typically active coming off his line to receive passes and make clearances.
The back line was exceptional for 90 minutes, with Goodson and Bernardez looking increasingly comfortable working together. Cato, at left back, used quickness, determination and good judgment, playing effectively out of position.
"I thought the whole back four played well,” Kinnear said. “Cordell, being an emergency left back, looked comfortable. Everyone talked about their speed out wide before the game. So for us to counter it with speed was a good idea, and Marvell and Cordell had good games. Through the middle, Victor and Clarence have been playing good together. It's a pretty solid partnership."
Kinnear added that Fatai Alashe had a "really good game. He was on and around (Pedro) Morales as much as possible, and that's what we wanted him to do. He broke up a lot of plays. To see Bingham facing no shots on goal is obviously a great thing for us."
Salinas gave a passionate and effective effort on the left flank, varying his runs to keep the Whitecaps on their heels.
“I thought he was very good,” Kinnear said of Salinas. “He was picking his spots to come inside and receive the ball well. And when he did receive the ball, he didn't lose it, which was a real good thing. As the game was going on, I think he got a little bit more confident, and he was taking his moments to run at their outside back.
We talked to him at halftime about, ‘Drive at the guy.’ He's good when he's running at people.”
The Quakes will travel to face the New York Red Bulls on Friday at Red Bull Stadium.
