SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 Saturday night at Avaya Stadium, earning the home side three vital points. After Simon Dawkins opened the scoring for the Earthquakes, Salt Lake equalized before the end of the first half. Fatai Alashe secured the victory by scoring in the second to make the final score 2-1.
Chris Wondolowski had the game’s first chance on goal in the 17th minute. Midfielder Anibal Godoy’s long-range shot was blocked and corralled by Wondolowski to put him behind the Salt Lake defense. His subsequent left-footed shot was destined for the far post, but keeper Nick Rimando made a diving save to deny the chance.
The Earthquakes capitalized in the 35th minute with a spectacular goal from Dawkins. Building from the midfield, Dawkins played a back-heeled pass to Wondolowski, who returned the ball in the same fashion. The give-and-go sequence set Dawkins up at the top of the 18-yard box, and the forward then fired the ball into the right corner of the net.
Salt Lake equalized five minutes later. After a free kick, Justen Glad shot at the Quakes’ goal. The ball hit the cross bar and bounced off of David Bingham’s back and across the goal line. The first half ended with the score even at one goal apiece.
In the 58th minute, the visiting team had a chance when Juan Manuel Martinez crossed the ball to Joao Plata who headed it at the goal. Bingham saved the shot and Plata had a second attempt, which Bingham saved again. The Quakes quickly countered as Shea Salinas dribbled down the left side of the field and crossed the ball into Salt Lake’s area, but it was cleared by the defense.
The Earthquakes made the score 2-1 in the 72nd minute when Alashe headed in Salinas’ free kick to mark his third goal of the season. His looping header was just far enough away from Rimando, whose fingertip save attempt was not enough to keep it out.
Alashe’s goal sealed the deal for the Quakes, who now have next week off from MLS play as several Quakes players leave to represent their international teams.
Midfielder Cordell Cato (Trinidad and Tobago) and defender Shaun Francis (Jamaica) will join their respective teams for a pair of third round Caribbean Cup qualifying matches, while defender Kip Colvey will connect with New Zealand for two friendlies against Mexico and the United States. More international call-ups may be announced later as rosters are announced.
The Quakes will then head to Colorado to face the Rapids on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast live on CSN California, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
Notes:
- San Jose is now 8-10-13 on the season and 7-3-6 at home.
- San Jose now has a 9-9-9 all-time record against Real Salt Lake, including a 6-5-3 record at home.
- The Quakes are undefeated (2-0-2) in their last four matches against Real Salt Lake, dating back to May 1, 2015.
- San Jose went undefeated on the season (1-0-1) against Real Salt Lake for the first time since 2012.
- The Earthquakes have now held their opponents to one goal or less in 22 of their 31 games this season.
- Simon Dawkins scored his fifth goal of the season and 19th of his career. It marked the first time he has scored in back-to-back MLS appearances since September 2012.
- Dawkins’ 18th career goal with the Earthquakes also moved him into a tie for ninth place with Alan Gordon for goals scored in San Jose’s all-time record books.
- Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski notched his third assist of the season and 26th of his career. It also marked his 24th assist as a member of the Earthquakes, moving him into a tie for ninth overall in club history for assists (Wade Barrett).
- Midfielder Fatai Alashe recorded his third goal of the season and first since May 22 at the LA Galaxy. It was also his fifth career goal and fourth on a header.
- Shea Salinas’ assist on Alashe’s goal was his team-leading fifth of the season. He has now recorded five or more assists in each of the past five seasons.
- With the win, head coach Dominic Kinnear is now 17-9-6 in the month of the October. His .595 winning percentage in October is his best of any month in his career.
- San Jose handed Real Salt Lake their 10th road loss, which is tied for the most in the Western Conference this season (Vancouver).
- Defender Kofi Sarkodie made his first start since July 1 at Chicago.
- Midfielder Tommy Thompson started back-to-back games for the first time since April 9 at FC Dallas and April 13 against the New York Red Bulls at Avaya Stadium.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 2 – Real Salt Lake 1
Oct. 1, 2016 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary: SJ – Simon Dawkins (Chris Wondolowksi) 34; RSL – Justen Glad (unassisted) 40; SJ – Fatai Alashe (Shea Salinas) 72.
Misconduct Summary: RSL – Javier Morales (caution) 72.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Kofi Sarkodie, Marvell Wynne, Victor Bernardez, Cordell Cato; Shea Salinas, Anibal Godoy (Darwin Ceren 62), Fatai Alashe, Tommy Thompson (Henok Goitom 79); Simon Dawkins (Chad Barrett 86), Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 13, SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 4.
REAL SALT LAKE: Nick Rimando; Jamison Olave, Justen Glad, Tony Beltran, Demar Phillips; Sunny (Luke Mulholland 86), Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman; Joao Plata (Jordan Allen 76), Olmes Garcia (Yura Movsisyan 76), Juan Manuel Martinez.
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 1; OFFSIDES: 2.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
Overall thoughts on the game:
“The first half we were excellent and very unfortunate to go in 1-1 at halftime. We had some good chances and we scored a beautiful goal and did some real good stuff. They obviously got us on a set piece, a little bit of confusion in the scramble. The second half was a bit more back and forth. They had possession the last part of the game and we were kind of hanging on. It was a wonderful team effort by our guys. It was the third game in a week and we tried to change the team up to keep it fresh. I’m just really happy for the win. It’s been a long time and we’re all pleased with that. I saw some results and it keeps us in the hunt. I’m really happy for the guys for the win tonight. It was good.”
On the Henok Goitom and Chad Barrett substitutions:
“We brought on Henok out for a number of reasons. On set pieces if we’re going to knock the ball long, he has height to hold the ball up. I thought he could create good opportunities for us. I don’t want to go six defenders and sit in. You still want to make sure you pressure up the field. That was the reason why the subs came in.”
On Fatai Alashe playing more up the field:
“I don’t want the forwards to be on their own. Sometimes if you play flat it lets [the opponent] have the ball and lineup in midfield, maybe 25 or 30 yards away. We’ve been encouraging Fatai to jump up there quicker and be closer to them.”
On the second free kick goal all year:
“It’s just trying to tell the guys week after week. It all depends on delivery. If you don’t have good delivery, nothing else matters. Good delivery and good determination in that penalty area. Sometimes in that penalty area on free kicks and corner kicks you have to fight for everything you can get. I’m sure Fatai had someone close to him, so it was a good determined goal for us.”
On the team’s performance:
“It’s been a tough week, let’s be honest, with the loss at Kansas City and the loss at Montreal with the heartbreak drama at the end of the game. I told the guys yesterday that I thought we would know where we’d be after the first five minutes. After the first five minutes I was very comfortable knowing the guys were going to give everything they’ve got, which was good to see.”
On David Bingham:
“He made a real good one on [Juan Manuel] Martinez where he tips over the bar. He’s been so active. He’s been great for us this year. The goal was unfortunate. It almost seemed like, ‘is this happening to us again,’ David Bingham is very good.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER DAVID BINGHAM
On the game:
“The first half a lot of things went right, but we let ourselves down on a set piece, which has kind of been the story the last couple of weeks here. We came in at halftime and kind of got after each other a little bit, challenged ourselves to go out there and do the small things right. In the second half we did that which is why we came out with three points.”
On preparing for Colorado:
“It has been a long week, overall about 5,000 miles covered, so we just need to relax for a few days and get back going next week going into Thursday.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER VICTOR BERNARDEZ
On securing the victory after a few difficult games:
“Yes, it was a difficult game, but we deserved to win. We played as a team and this was very important.”
On the difference between this game and other ones this season:
“I think it is the confidence. In the last game we lost it, but thankfully I think we have it again now. We have to continue fighting and enjoying the game. We have three games left, and I think it is like three finals.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER FATAI ALASHE
On his goal:
“It was a great ball from Shea Salinas. He put it in a good area, I was trying to get a head on it and flick it into the near corner. Obviously, it worked out pretty well.”
On withstanding the pressure from Real Salt Lake:
“I think we came in at halftime a little disappointed, to have tied 1-1. We played pretty well throughout the first half and I think we deserved to have a lead. We needed to clean things up, obviously on set pieces, and wanted to fight together to make sure we gave ourselves a chance to come away with three points.”
