The San Jose Earthquakes picked up another road win with a 3-2 victory in Toronto on Saturday afternoon. Chris Wondolowski became the third player in franchise history to score a hat trick in a game with all three goals for San Jose on the afternoon.
The Quakes jumped on top of Toronto early, as Bobby Convey outworked Dan Gargan for the ball in the back, and when he beat him on the dribble, Gargan pulled him down as San Jose earned a penalty. Wondolowski hammered home his team-leading tenth goal of the season, leaving Stefan Frei with no chance on the well taken penalty.
Wondolowski doubled his tally in the 53rd minute after a great buildup found him alone in front of the net, and his finish on a Ryan Johnson cross gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
Dwayne De Rosario pulled the home side within a goal in the 66th minute as he chipped Jon Busch to his back post, which looked to give Toronto some momentum.
The Quakes had other ideas as just one minute later, Wondolowski became the third player in franchise history to record a hat trick, joining Landon Donovan and Dwayne De Rosario, who did the trick in back to back games in September of 2003. Wondolowski was played in again by Johnson, and his right-footed blast from just inside the area was an immediate response to De Rosario’s goal.
Toronto answered again, this time in the 79th minute when Maicon Santos tapped in a Chad Barrett cross, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Quakes held on for a 3-2 win. San Jose return home to host the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium at 8 p.m. PT. The Earthquakes began the day in a deadlock in seventh position with Seattle Sounders FC, and left BMO Field with 39 points, and a hold on the sixth position in the playoff standings pending results on Saturday evening.
San Jose Earthquakes (11-7-6) at Toronto FC (8-11-7)
Sept. 25, 2010 – BMO Field
Attendance: 20,064
Scoring Summary: SJ – Chris Wondolowski (penalty) 3; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (Ryan Johnson, Geovanni); TOR – Dwayne De Rosario (Mista) 66; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (unassisted) 67; TOR – Maicon Santos (Chad Barrett) 79.
Misconduct Summary: TOR – Dwayne De Rosario (caution) 80; SJ – Jon Busch (caution) 84.
San Jose Earthquakes – Jon Busch, Tim Ward, Brandon McDonald, Jason Hernandez, Chris Leitch, Bobby Convey (Joey Gjertsen 87), Sam Cronin, Khari Stephenson (Brad Ring 73), Chris Wondolowski, Geovanni (Scott Sealy 86), Ryan Johnson.
Statistics: Shots: 16; Shots on Goal: 9; Saves: 2; Fouls: 4; Offsides: 1; Corners: 5.
Toronto FC – Stefan Frei, Adrian Cann, Ty Harden, Nick Garcia, Raivis Hscanovics (O’Brian White 72), Dwayne De Rosario, Julian de Guzman, Dan Gargan (Mista 46), Jacob Peterson, Chad Barrett, Maicon Santos.
Statistics: Shots: 16; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 6; Fouls: 8; Offsides: 5; Corners: 4.
QUOTES
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On the result:
“If you look at it now, it’s a great win. We knew it was going to be hard coming in and to get three points was huge for us. I’m very, very happy we got the three points. I think you saw two teams that want to make the playoffs, it wasn’t just sit back on defense, both sides were going for it. The goal right after Toronto pulled one back was a killer for them, and I was very pleased with our performance, our drive and our fight. We are very proud of the club, the team and the players and how they played today.”
On Chris Wondolowski’s play:
“Wondo (Chris Wondoloski) has been doing it all year and now he has 12 goals to show for it. That’s not bad for a young man from Danville, is it? He deserves everything he gets and he has done so well for us all year. I always have him in the team, and that is why. What I like about Wondo, is that he is back in his own box tackling, fighting and heading right after he scores a goal.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD/MIDFIELDER CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On his hat trick:
“Ryan (Johnson) sent in two great balls and Bobby (Convey) created a penalty and those were the three goals. A lot of the credit has to go to the team right there. I though RJ (Johnson) had a great game and I thought he was the player of the game for us today.
On his two-way style of play:
“I know my position, and playing outside midfield I need to track back defensively and I’m not just a one-way guy. On Chad’s (Barrett) chance late in the game, I’m not sure who played it in, but it was a great ball and I saw him there, and got in there to break it up.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD RYAN JOHNSON
On his role on the two goals in the run of play:
“You always have to remain patient and just be ready when it’s your time to get in there and give your best effort for the team. It was a good ball through by Geovanni (on the second Quakes goal) and I saw Wondo (Chris Wondolowski) making a run at the back post. I made sure I took my time and got the ball there, he just did the rest. That pretty much happened again on the last one, Geovanni was making a run near post, and it didn’t quite get there, but it found Wondolowski and he finished it nicely.
On Wondolowski’s play:
“Chris (Wondolowski) is our hero, he is our guy and when he scores, its for him and his family and for everyone. We are really happy for him and real proud of him and he deserves everything. He isn’t going to stop, he is just going to keep going. He has been patient all of these years and he is certainly taking advantage of his opportunities.”
