There might be something to the Earthquakes’ claims of improved depth after all.
Chris Wondolowski, starting in large part because three other San Jose forwards were sidelined by hamstring problems, scored his first goal of the season to put the Earthquakes ahead to stay Saturday in what would become a 2-0 win over New England.
Ike Opara and Bobby Convey hooked up for the second consecutive week to provide the extra cushion as the Quakes bobbed above the .500 mark for the first time since being re-formed in 2008.
Wondolowski scored in the 57th minute to break through for San Jose, which dominated possession for much of the evening in the absence of New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph.
Joey Gjertsen fed Ryan Johnson, who turned and broke into the Revs’ penalty area. Once there, Johnson slipped a perfectly weighted pass between two New England defenders. Wondolowski, having beaten his marker, ran onto the ball and slotted it past Revs goalkeeper Preston Burpo.
Opara’s goal looked similar to his tally in Chicago during the Earthquakes’ win against the Fire last weekend. Convey struck an inswinging ball that found the 6-foot-2 rookie open at the far post, where Opara headed it home.
San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon recorded his 100th career MLS victory, and although he did come up with a block in stoppage time as New England (2-2-0) tried for an equalizer, he didn’t make what was arguably the biggest save of the night for his team.
For the third match running, the Earthquakes had a defender save a near goal off the end line. This time it was Convey, who was manning the far post on a 52nd-minute corner kick by Marko Perovic. Darrius Barnes put a flying head on the ball, but Convey was in perfect position and coolly cleared it.
Wondolowski (12th minute) and Opara (32nd minute) had the best scoring chances of the first half, each on a header inside the six-yard box, but Burpo was up to the task each time, parrying the former attempt and smothering the latter just inside the far post.
Marko Perovic, making his first career MLS start, was New England’s most consistently dangerous player early. He gave the home crowd a scare with his speculative 19th-minute effort from 22 yards out, but it curled wide of the far post, then broke in on a solo run in the 39th minute, only to see his shot blocked by sliding rookie right back Steve Beitashour.
