SAN JOSE, Calif. -Â The San Jose Earthquakes earned a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night. The draw extends San Jose's unbeaten streak on the road to seven matches, tied for the longest such run in club history (2003).
San Jose opened the scoring in the sixth minute when FC Dallas' Matt Hedges was called for a handball in the box and Oswaldo Alanis converted the ensuing penalty kick.
San Jose retained the lead into halftime, but FC Dallas scored the equalizer just five minutes into the second half. Defender Justin Che sent a cross from the right wing to Ricardo Pepi, who headed the ball just out of reach of JT Marcinkowski outstretched arms.
The Quakes had a couple near chances, including a Chris Wondolowski header that caromed off the crossbar, but couldn't find the winner.
Marcinkowski made several crucial saves during the match to help secure a point, finishing with six saves total. His six saves are tied for the second most he's tallied in a single match during his MLS career.
The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose to host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, Sept. 15, presented by Donor Network West. The match kicks off from PayPal Park at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC Sports California Plus, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 6-8-9 record (27 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season and are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference.
The Quakes are unbeaten in seven consecutive road matches, tied for the longest such run in club history (2003). San Jose has now lost just once in their last 12 matches overall (3-1-8).
San Jose is now 29-20-18 all-time against FC Dallas, including a 12-12-9 record on the road. The Quakes now hold a seven-game unbeaten streak against FC Dallas (4-0-3) and a five-game unbeaten streak at Toyota Stadium (2-0-3).
The Quakes have scored first in 9 of their last 12 matches (conceded first twice and had one match finish in a scoreless draw). They have also allowed one or fewer goals in 11 consecutive matches, conceding a total of nine goals during that time.
Defender Oswaldo Alanis scored his second goal of the season and fourth of his MLS career. Both of his goals this year have been penalty kicks against FC Dallas.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made six saves, tied for second most in his career.
Forward Benji Kikanovic made his first appearance since July 17, entering as a second-half substitute.
MLS Regular Season
FC Dallas 1 - 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Sept. 11, 2021 - Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas
Attendance: 15,237
Man of the Match: JT Marcinkowski
Scoring Summary:Â SJ - Oswaldo Alanis (penalty) 6; DAL - Ricardo Pepi (Justin Che) 50.
Misconduct Summary:Â DAL - Matt Hedges (caution) 4; DAL - Brandon Servania (caution) 41; SJ - Nathan (caution) 48; SJ - Judson (caution) 59.
FC DALLAS: Phelipe; Jose Martinez, Ema Twumasi, Matt Hedges, Justin Che (Nkosi Tafari 83); Quignon, Jesus Ferreira, Brandon Servania (Bryan Acosta 79); Jader Obrian (Szabolcs Schön 67), Ricardo Pepi, Paxton Pomykal (Andres Ricaurte 74).
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Substitutes not used: Edwin Cerrillo, Kalil Elmedkhar, Eddie Munjoma, Kyle Zobeck._
SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 18; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 2
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES:Â JT Marcinkowski; Tanner Beason, Oswaldo Alanis, Nathan, Luciano Abecasis (Paul Marie 74); Carlos Fierro (Benji Kikanovic 62), Judson (Jack Skahan 88), Jackson Yueill, Cristian Espinoza (Cade Cowell 61), Chofis; Chris Wondolowski (Andy Rios 74).
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Substitutes not used: Jacob Akanyirige, Siad Haji, Tommy Thompson, Daniel Vega._
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 15; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 6
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On his talk with the team at halftime:
"In the first half, even though we got the lead, I think the opponent was doing better than us. We were far from our marks and far from the second ball and had little control of the match. I think that has a lot to do with the opponent because they performed well. In the second half, it was totally different, we tightened up our marks and changed the way we pressured. We started to have more control of the match in which we were building up our play out wide. In the second half, we went back to playing in the way we had been playing."
On scoring first and playing the remainder of the match to win:
"I think the players are giving their max, which is earning points, even if it's an early point on the road. We had important players sit out on tonight's match. In every match, things happen that I don't like. I also think there are virtues in the opponent. In my humble perspective of football, I think we faced the best forward in the league today and he is unforgiving. Other than that, the match was even, each team had a better half. Our work and effort have become this, and that is the reality."
On JT Marcinkowski's improvement:
"These are the processes we try to have with the young guys. We'd like to mix these younger players with more experienced players and players that make a difference. I look at how JT has improved, I look at how Tanner Beason has improved, and I look at how Jackson [Yueill] has improved. I see how Cade Cowell and Paul Marie keep improving. Today, Jack Skahan and Benji Kikanovic entered the match and they will keep growing. As a coaching staff, we want to compete for titles and the reality is showing us something else. The development aspect is part of our jobs. We give confidence to the young players because we understand that they will keep growing and are the future of the club. This week, I was able to call up a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old to train with us. We will try to give them the tools that we believe are necessary."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER JT MARCINKOWSKI
On the match:
"I think in the first half, we didn't execute exactly how we wanted to. I think we sat back a little bit too much and they had the majority of the ball. We came out in the second half, and obviously the first five minutes we were a bit flat, but after that and the goal - it wasn't a good one to give up - but I thought we played really well in the second half. We had plenty of chances, crossbar, another one off another corner. It's an away game, Dallas is a really good team, they have a lot of young guys who have really bright futures. So, all-in-all I think it was an okay point but it's one of those games where you have a bitter taste in your mouth because I think there were three points for the taking. But we can't dwell on it too much and all eyes on Wednesday."
On the team's confidence in road matches:
"I think just knowing we can impose ourselves in any game. We want to play better at home and that's one area we really need to improve on and we're going to show it Wednesday. That same confidence we have when we play on the road, we need to have it at home and make PayPal Park our fortress as a really tough place to play and make sure teams don't want to go there. I think our ability to unite as a group. It's a really close group inside that locker room and we're all really good friends and it's a really cool environment so when we come on the road and we know that there's a lot of fans against us, the whole crowd's against us, it's kind of us against them and we love that mentality. We kind of thrive off it."
