SAN JOSE, Calif. -
The Earthquakes had two great goals and a typically determined effort in an impressive 2-0 win over the Western Conference-leading Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field.
The game marked David Bingham’s fifth shutout of the season and seemed like a perfect primer for the California Clasico against the arch-rival LA Galaxy on June 27 at Stanford Stadium.
Ex-Sounder Sanna Nyassi broke the scoreless tie in 28th minute with a smash into the far corner off a hustling assist by Matias Perez Garcia.
Then Garcia added his first goal of the season with a breathtaking finish in the 73rd minute, in which he took a Cordell Cato pass on a quick counterattack, weaved through the defense, got the ball on his favored left foot and took a quick hit into the near corner.
"I am happy to get the first one,” Garcia said. “I knew that if I stayed relaxed that the goal would come this year. I am glad that I was able to score in a big win for the team."
Coach Dominic Kinnear said the team played with “great determination” over the final 45 minutes.
“Both goals were good,” Kinnear said. “It has happened a lot this year that we have sat on a 1-0 lead and it becomes fingernail-biting time. Matias’ goal was beautiful. Cordell’s run to get up the field and get his some territory was great, and obviously Matias was fantastic in tight space on the goal.”
Nyassi’s goal, the Gambian’s second this season, came off an Earthquakes’ takeaway on the left after three players converged on a Sounders player. Garcia tapped a pass to Shea Salinas, who took on the defense and dropped a pass back to Garcia. He raced across the middle and managed to find Nyassi alone on the right. He tapped the ball twice with his right foot and then left Seattle keeper Stefan Frei no chance.
It was a terrific team goal.
“It feels great to score against your former club,” Nyassi said. “It was a great build up on the goal.”
Nyassi agreed with his coach that scoring first was of vital importance.
“There was a lot of pressure on us right before that, but we stayed compact defensively,” Nyassi said. “When we scored that goal, it changed everything. We have a lot of respect for Seattle and we matched their intensity today and hit them well on the counter. Today was an important win for us.”
In the 33rd minute, Bingham made a clutch reflex save at the near post to keep the lead intact.
Garcia’s clinching goal began about 100 yards away on a Quakes clearance. Garcia gained possession and passed to Cato, who drew three defenders toward him as he sped down the right wing before finding Garcia in a seam.
The Argentine did the rest.
Cato said he held the ball to allow Garcia to catch up, and it was “magic.”
"It was a counterattacking goal,” Garcia said. “I got the ball and was going to shoot, but I had to move around one defender and that got me into the box with just one man to beat. I knew that they could not foul me since I was in the box. I got the ball onto my good foot and I found the back post.”
Garcia also enjoyed an epic scoring celebration. He leaped into the arms of Adam Jahn, kissed his wrists and received hugs from Jahn, Chris Wondolowski, Victor Bernardez and others.
Both teams were playing without key components on offense. The Quakes were without injured Designated Player Innocent, who scored in a 3-2 win over Seattle at CenturyLink on March 14, and target forwards Steven Lenhart and Mark Sherrod. The Sounders were without star strikers Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, but the Quakes were more opportunistic on offense and stubborn in the back.
The victory equaled the team’s six-win total for all of the previous season.
“Really happy,” Kinnear said. “It was a good week for us with the Open Cup win and then to come in here and get the full three points.”
