KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Sporting Kansas City 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Children’s Mercy Park, closing out the 2016 campaign. The Quakes finished the season with an 8-12-14 record.
In the 10th minute, midfielder Tommy Thompson intercepted a pass and led an odd-man attack towards Sporting’s net. Thompson played a pass to Chris Wondolowski on an overlap and he proceeded to cut back onto his right foot. Wondolowski’s attempt to curl the ball towards the far post was blocked by a last-ditch tackle.
Moments later, Thompson received a pass and found himself one-on-one with Kansas City keeper Tim Melia, but a heavy touch allowed the net-minder to scoop up the loose ball.
In the 16th minute, a cross by Quakes defender Jordan Stewart found Wondolowski between the penalty spot and the six-yard box. Knowing a defender was looming, Wondolowski headed the ball towards teammate Fatai Alashe, who was unmarked at the near post, but the pass was just out of the midfielder’s reach and rolled harmlessly towards the corner flag.
Eight minutes later, a shot from distance by Simon Dawkins forced a diving save by Melia. Wondolowski’s follow-up attempt was also saved. Wondolowski regained possession and forced Melia out to the edge of the penalty area, leaving the goal-mouth unattended, before chipping in a cross over his head. Thompson’s ensuing header pass was intercepted and played out of bounds.
Benny Feilhaber gave Sporting a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute after Cordell Cato was called for a handball inside the box.
Graham Zusi later doubled Kansas City’s advantage in the 88th minute, finishing off a fast-break with a shot to the top corner of the net.
The Quakes final record of 8-12-14 ties the club record for most draws in a season (2011 – 8-12-14) and mirrors the team’s record the year prior to hoisting the Supporters’ Shield in 2012.
Notes:
- San Jose finished the 2016 season with an 8-12-14 overall record, including a 1-9-7 record on the road.
- San Jose now has a 24-23-7 all-time record against Sporting Kansas City, including an 8-18-1 record on the road.
- It marked the second consecutive road game for San Jose in which the game-winning goal came by way of a penalty kick (10/13 at COL).
- Forward Chris Wondolowski led the club in scoring for the seventh consecutive season, finishing with 12 goals. Midfielder Shea Salinas led the club with five assists.
MLS Regular Season
Sporting Kansas City 2 – 0 San Jose Earthquakes
Oct. 23, 2016 – Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS
Attendance: 20,371
Scoring Summary: SKC – Benny Feilhaber (penalty) 27; SKC – Graham Zusi (Benny Feilhaber) 88.
Misconduct Summary: SKC – Seth Sinovic (caution) 33; SJ – Fatai Alashe (caution) 49; SKC – Dom Dwyer (caution) 50; SJ – Victor Bernardez (caution) 54; SJ – Tommy Thompson (caution) 69; SKC – Soni Mustivar (caution) 71.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: Tim Melia; Seth Sinovic, Kevin Ellis, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Matt Besler; Paulo Nagamura (Paulo Nagamura 87), Benny Feilhaber, Soni Mustivar; Dom Dwyer (Jimmy Medranda 90+1), Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza.
SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 2; OFFSIDES: 1.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Jordan Stewart, Victor Bernardez, Victor Bernardez, Cordell Cato (Chad Barrett 84); Alberto Quintero (Shea Salinas 61), Darwin Ceren, Fatai Alashe, Tommy Thompson; Simon Dawkins, Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 7, SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 1.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES ASSISTANT COACH IAN RUSSELL
Thoughts on the match:
"It’s the story of the season. We defend pretty well. We get in good areas to score and we haven’t been able to get the end product."
On the result being a product of the team being eliminated from the playoffs:
"I will say one thing about this team, they fight and give everything they have each game. That has never been in question. They want to win each game and it didn’t happen."
On plans for the offseason:
"When you don’t make the playoffs, you potentially have to bring in more players. That’s the nature of the beast. We are going to evaluate everything, every player and see what we have to do better next year."
On the team’s slide since July:
"I don’t think it was anything specific. There were a lot of little things. I think obviously we missed some chances in some games that instead of getting a draw or a win, they became a draw or a loss. Those points add up. Overall we just have to get better."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On generating chances, but not being able to capitalize:
"Yeah, I think it's just a microcosm of our season. It's very frustrating, but credit to Kansas City, they did a good job and they are very hard to break down defensively. I thought at times, we possessed well and got it down to the final third and we're just missing again that final pass and that final shot, that final idea. Again, kind of story of our year."
On being able to generate quality opportunities:
"It sounds so cliche, but I really do like our team in there. Obviously, it's a big disappointment this year, being out and being done right now, but I really like our team. I thought we played well at times and created a lot of great opportunities, but we need to finish them off and capitalize on them and we were punished for our mistakes very heavily this year and rightfully so."
