SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes faced Club Leon in an international friendly Saturday night at Avaya Stadium, falling 1-0 in the matchup.
The game saw Leon forward Landon Donovan (145 MLS goals) and Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski (135 MLS goals), the league’s top-two all-time leading scorers, take the field against one another. Donovan scored the lone goal in the match in the 19th minute to earn Leon the victory.
The Quakes now have an 11-10-8 record in international friendlies, and a 1-7-3 record against teams from Mexico. Defenders Paul Marie and Joel Qwiberg both made their Quakes debuts in the match, with Qwiberg starting and Marie replacing him in the 74th minute.
The Quakes return to MLS action on March 31 at 4:45 p.m. when they host New York City FC, presented by Valley Health Plan. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN 2, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
International Friendly
San Jose Earthquakes 0-1 Club Leon
March 24, 2018 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 14,532
Scoring Summary: CL – Landon Donovan (unassisted) 19.
Misconduct Summary: CL – Luis Montes (caution) 33; SJ – Francois Affolter (caution) 35; CL – Andres Mosquera (caution) 42; CL – Guillermo Enio Burdisso (caution) 42; CL – Miguel Herrera (caution) 79; CL – Jose Hernandez (caution) 90.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Andrew Tarbell; Joel Qwiberg (Paul Marie 74), Francois Affolter, Yeferson Quintana (Jimmy Ockford 46), Nick Lima (Shea Salinas 46); Jahmir Hyka (Chris Wehan 74), Fatai Alashe (Luis Felipe 82), Florian Jungwirth (Jackson Yueill 62), Magnus Eriksson; Quincy Amarikwa (Tommy Thompson 62), Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 9; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 5, OFFSIDES: 2.
CLUB LEON: William Yarbrough (Felipe Rodriguez 46); Guillermo Eino Burdisso (Miguel Herrera 46), Ivan Piris (Jose Hernandez 82), Osvaldo Rodriguez (Maxi Cerato 58), Andres Mosquera (Cristian Torres 46); Jose Rodriguez (Jorge Diaz 46), Landon Donovan, Luis Montes (Dario Burbano 46), Elias Hernandez (Juan Cornejo 46), Andres Andrade (Giles Barnes 69); Claudio Gonzalez (Emanuel Chcchini 59).
SHOTS: 6; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 3, OFFSIDES: 5.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MIKAEL STAHRE
On how the team adjusted its style for this match:
“Not much actually. We focused on our own game and also to use our qualities. I think Leon is a great team, they are really good in possession and also similar like the next opponent, so that was good for us.”
On whether a game like this helps to prepare for New York City FC next week:
“I think so. A friendly game is still a friendly game, lots of changes and these kind of things. So even if it’s a good opponent with good intensity and lots of fans, it’s still a friendly game. That’s the reality. Generally speaking, I think the performance, especially the first 20 minutes was really good, before they scored the goal. We kept the ball in a good way, we created a couple of good chances and also we defended real aggressive and quite high also. Then we lost a little bit of control of the game, the last part of the first half, and the second half was quite an equal game.”
On the performance of players who got chances to play:
“In general, good. I think Francois [Affolter] played really well. [Joel] Qwiberg also, especially his first 30 minutes was really good. Good on the ball, great combinations with [Jahmir] Hyka, and then of course it was hard for him in the second half, he lost a little bit of fitness in the last part.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On Landon Donovan scoring the game-winner:
“That shows his class. It’s fun to see. I’m glad that he’s not playing for the Galaxy. What a turn and what hit. It’s a half-chance at best, and for him to put it there is pretty special. It was pretty cool to see. Obviously I wish it wasn’t against us and wish it wasn’t a winner. At least we could’ve gotten a couple, but all in all it was a good night.”
On playing a friendly against Club Leon:
“I felt good. It’s an interesting time of the season. We’re excited and want to be playing, but we understand it’s a senior international date, so it’s actually really nice to get a game against a quality team, especially since we’re coming up against New York City and they like to spread the field, so it gives us a little test of something coming up and some things we can work on and did well.”
On the competitiveness on the field between the two teams:
“We’re competitive guys. It doesn’t matter if it’s practice, a friendly or a rivalry game, we get fired up. There’s nothing too much in there. I’m glad that it shows that we have the fight in this locker room and we have each other’s backs. I kind of like that.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER MAGNUS ERIKSSON
On his thoughts about the game:
“I think that before we conceded the goal that we were doing good things out there. The rest of the game was so-so. Not bad and not good. It was a bad loss, but it’s a friendly.”
On San Jose’s MLS return against New York City FC next week:
“It’s a big game. The season has started a bit weird. We played one week and then we’re off, then you play again and then you’re off, so it feels like the season starts for real next week because then we play every week. It’s going to be fun to play every week.”
On the team’s performance to start the season:
“We are on the right track. We had a tough game last week against Kansas City. Today I think that it was details in the game. We had some big opportunities to score. Quincy [Amarikwa] had one that was almost a goal, and I had one that needs to be a goal. We should have been up with one or two before we conceded the goal. We’ll train hard this week and then we’ll take on New York City.”
CLUB LEON FORWARD LANDON DONOVAN
On scoring a goal against his old club:
“Just happy to play and it was a great night. I thought the game was pretty good for a friendly. San Jose is a very good team. The league, even in two years, is much different and the quality is much better so I thought it made for a great game and I had fun.”
On the atmosphere at Avaya Stadium:
“It was great. There were more people than I thought would be here for a friendly game. I know it doesn’t mean anything in the standings. I thought the atmosphere was good, the crowd was good. It was a 1-0 game, but there were quite a few chances both ways and so I think everyone walks away feeling like it was a good night.”
On getting to finally play at Avaya Stadium:
“It’s an awesome stadium. And just the way the field is set close to the stands, seats right there on the field, the suites that are close to the field. I’ve watched a game from there and it’s so intimate but to be on the field is enjoyable so they did a great job. They really did a great job and it was fun to play here.”
