SANDY, Utah – *The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Real Salt Lake 4-3 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Four different players scored for the Quakes, including Chris Wondolowski who tallied his 170th career goal to extend his own MLS record. Saturday’s match marked San Jose’s final road game of the 2021 season.
RSL took an early lead in the ninth minute. Albert Rusnak played a give-and-go with Damir Kreilach and took a low shot that was partially blocked by goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski but trickled in.
San Jose equalized in the 37th minute. Cade Cowell dribbled past his defender and sent a low pass across the front of goal which Carlos Fierro finished from point-blank range.
The Quakes then took a 2-1 lead on the final touch of the first half when Wondolowski headed home a corner kick at the back post.
The Earthquakes doubled their lead in the 69th minute through a spectacular individual effort by Cowell. A long throw by Marcinkowski found Cowell with space and the 18-year-old dribbled between two defenders before slotting a shot with the outside of his right foot inside the far post.
San Jose then found a fourth goal in the 79th minute when Jackson Yueill forced a defensive turnover and finished the breakaway.
Real Salt Lake pulled a goal back in the 85th minute. A floating cross from the right wing found Maikel Chang at the back post for the first-timed finish. Real Salt Lake then scored again three minutes into stoppage time, Rusnak’s second of the match, but could not find the equalizer as time expired.
The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose to prepare for their regular season finale against FC Dallas on Sunday, Nov. 7. The match, presented by PayPal, will kick off from PayPal Park at 3:00 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 10-13-10 record (40 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season with one match remaining.
San Jose is now 14-12-11 all-time vs. Real Salt Lake, including a 5-6-7 record on the road. The three meetings between the two teams this season have resulted in 17 total goals with the road team winning each match.
Carlos Fierro scored San Jose’s first goal, marking his third goal of the season and fifth of his MLS career. He also tallied an assist on the goal by Chris Wondolowski, marking his fourth assist of the season and seventh of his MLS career.
Cade Cowell tallied the assist on Fierro’s goal, marking his fifth assist of the season and sixth of his MLS career. He later scored San Jose’s third goal, marking his fifth goal of the season and sixth of his MLS career.
Chris Wondolowski scored San Jose’s second goal, marking his fourth goal of the season and 170th of his MLS career, extending his own league record. It also marked his 78th goal on the road, extending his own MLS records. Wondolowski now has 13 career goals vs. Real Salt Lake, including three this season, most all-time.
Marcos Lopez tallied an assist on Chris Wondolowski’s goal, marking his second assist of the season and fifth of his MLS career.
JT Marcinkowski tallied the assist on Cade Cowell’s goal, marking his first assist of the season and first of his MLS career.
Jackson Yueill scored San Jose’s fourth goal, marking his third goal of the season and seventh of his MLS career. It also marked his first game-winning goal of the season and second of his MLS career.
Jack Skahan made his second start of the season and first since July 24.
MATCH INFORMATION
MLS Regular Season
Real Salt Lake 3 – 4 San Jose Earthquakes
Oct. 30, 2021 – Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 15,553
Man of the Match: Cade Cowell
Scoring Summary:
RSL (1-0) – Albert Rusnak (Damir Kreilach) 9’
SJ (1-1) – Carlos Fierro (Cade Cowell) 37’
SJ (1-2) – Chris Wondolowski (Carlos Fierro, Marcos Lopez) 45+3’
SJ (1-3) – Cade Cowell (JT Marcinkowski) 69’
SJ (1-4) – Jackson Yueill (unassisted) 79’
RSL (2-4) – Maikel Chang (Anderson Julio) 85’
RSL (3-4) – Albert Rusnak (Aaron Herrera) 90+3’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Oswaldo Alanis (caution) 27’
SJ – Jackson Yueill (caution) 45’
RSL – Justin Glad (caution) 48’
SJ – Judson (caution) 58’
SJ – Cristian Espinoza (caution) 75’
REAL SALT LAKE: David Ochoa: Andrew Brody (Jonathan Menendez 62), Justen Glad, Erik Holt, Aaron Herrera; Pablo Ruiz (Everton Luiz 62), Damir Kreilach (Bobby Wood 83), Justin Meram (Maikel Chang 62), Albert Rusnak, Nick Besler; Rubio Rubin (Anderson Julio 73).
Substitutes not used: Zac MacMath, Ashtone Morgan, Justin Portillo, Donny Toia.
SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 13; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 2
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Marcos Lopez, Oswaldo Alanis, Nathan, Judson (Tanner Beason 78); Carlos Fierro (Cristian Espinoza 70), Jackson Yueill, Jack Skahan (Eric Remedi 60); Cade Cowell (Benji Kikanovic 70), Andy Rios (Jeremy Ebobisse 70), Chris Wondolowski.
Substitutes not used: Siad Haji, Paul Marie, Daniel Vega.
SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 20; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 6
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On finishing the season strong:
“It’s important because we are representing the badge. This is a young club, founded in 1974. I am older than the club and that has to be respected. What is most important for me is that every player at San Jose has a sense of belonging. For many people, the match was not significant, but we were playing for honor, for our fans, the owner and team staff, and everyone that contributes their grain of sand in playing for a win. Even though we’re out of the playoff race, there were some positives, such as the young players making progress throughout the year. We wanted to make it [to playoffs], we couldn’t, and we need to accept when things don’t go our way.”
On Chris Wondolowski’s future with the club:
“I’d like to clarify that nothing has been defined yet with the club. Secondly, these three years that I have shared with Wondo have been great. He is a great professional and person. His record will be difficult to match. I can’t say more because I am unsure how the club will continue next season."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CADE COWELL
On finishing the season strong:
“It’s definitely important to finish off strong. I try to play every game like this, so it was good to finally get back into It with a goal and assist today. That’s always a positive.”
On the team’s character to compete even after being eliminated:
“We talked before the game. It was all about pride, all for the love of the game. We just wanted to play the game we love to play every day. It was all for ourselves.”
On his development:
“It’s definitely a good year to see what I need to work on and what I need to do well in. I’m going to look back when it’s all over and focus on the little things and try to get a better season next year and keep going up and up."
