BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The San Jose Earthquakes were defeated by the Chicago Fire 2-1 on Saturday night at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. Forward Danny Hoesen scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season, becoming the first Quakes player other than Chris Wondolowski to reach the mark since 2012. He has now scored in four of the last five games, and five of the last seven.
San Jose was dealt an early blow when left back Shea Salinas was forced from the match with an injury after just 14 minutes. Chicago then jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Alan Gordon and Aleksandar Katai, before Hoesen’s 74th-minute strike.
Chris Wondolowski and Vako were credited with their third and fourth assists of the season, respectively. It marked Wondolowski’s 35th-career assist with San Jose, moving him into a tie with Eddie Lewis for fourth most in club history.
The Quakes were without midfielder Anibal Godoy and defender Harold Cummings, who have made a combined 22 starts already this season. The two players are currently with the Panama National Team ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Quakes will now head to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Portland Timbers in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, June 6. The match at Providence Park kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes
June 2, 2018 – Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
Attendance: 14,138
Scoring Summary: CHI – Alan Gordon (Luis Solignac, Johan Kappelhof) 29; CHI – Aleksandar Katai (Brandt Bronico) 49; SJ – Danny Hoesen (Chris Wondolowski, Vako) 74.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Fatai Alashe (caution) 45+5; CHI – Jorge Corrales (caution) 57; SJ – Jimmy Ockford (caution) 61.
CHICAGO FIRE: Patrick McLain (Richard Sanchez 44); Brandon Vincent, Johan Kappelhof, Kevin Ellis, Jorge Corrales; Brandt Bronico, Mohammed Adams, Luis Solignac (Diego Campos 79), Aleksandar Katai, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Alan Gordon (Nemanja Nikolic 67).
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 17; CORNER KICKS: 2, OFFSIDES: 2.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Andrew Tarbell; Shea Salinas (Fatai Alashe 14), Yeferson Quintana (Quincy Amarikwa 83), Jimmy Ockford, Nick Lima; Magnus Eriksson, Florian Jungwirth, Vako, Chris Wehan (Tommy Thompson 52); Danny Hoesen, Chris Wondolowski.
SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 8; CORNER KICKS: 8, OFFSIDES: 2.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MIKAEL STAHRE
On the match:
"We are really, really disappointed actually. I think we came here with our game plan and I think we followed that. I think we provoked our opponent in a good way. If you look at the stats like ball possession and the quality of the passes, I think we did well today actually. We had a little bit more of a direct approach. We created some really open chances, so we're really disappointed with the result, but it was an absolutely decent away game. But of course at this point we need points. That's the most important thing in soccer."
On Hoesen's goal changing momentum:
"Yeah, it was really close at the end when Jimmy [Ockford] headed it after the corner kick. If I am frank, that was a great chance to get a score late. I am standing here again, and talking about a decent away performance with zero points."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD DANNY HOESEN
On his goal:
"Somebody sent [Chris] Wondolowski deep, and I was one on one with my defender in the box. I just chose my position far post first, and as soon as he turned his head towards the ball I knew I could go near post. It was a perfect cross and a good goal I think."
On how encouraging it is to break the score drought on the road:
"Goals only matter if you win. We scored, but now we have zero points again. For us now, it doesn't matter how we are going to win, we just need to start winning games and I think today we had more possession, but I think the final ball was missing a little bit. Sometimes I think that we have to play quicker, and we get two or three chances and we score a goal."
On getting points in the future:
"We want to win, and I prefer to play worse and get some points. This is part of the game and in the situation we are now, we have 21 games left and we need to get going. That's all I can do."
