SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes earned three points at Avaya Stadium Wednesday night with a dramatic 4-3 win against Western Conference leaders FC Dallas. San Jose is now 2-2-2 in their last six games.
The victory marked the second time this season that the Quakes have defeated the Texas side. Designated Player Vako scored a pair of goals, with midfielder Magnus Eriksson and forward Chris Wondolowski each adding another for the Quakes.
Despite Dallas taking an early lead in the eighth minute, the Quakes scored four times to earn the comeback victory. Vako scored a brace in the first half to give the Quakes a 2-1 lead at halftime. The Georgian has now notched two braces against FC Dallas this season, scoring four of his eight goals on the season against them.
The visitors equalized just six minutes into the second half, but the Quakes retook the lead moments later on Eriksson’s powerful strike from distance into the top-left corner. Eriksson has now scored in back-to-back games, and three of the last four.
Dallas leveled the score 3-3 in the 58th minute through Dominque Badji before Wondolowski scored the winner just four minutes later.
Wondolowski’s game-winning goal was the 40th of his career, and he is now tied for second with Jeff Cunningham on the MLS all-time game-winning goals leaderboard. His goal also marked the 142nd of his career, and he is now just three shy of tying Landon Donovan’s MLS all-time goals record (145).
With the victory, the Quakes are undefeated in four consecutive matches against Dallas dating back to the start of the 2017 season. San Jose will now travel to Vancouver to take on Whitecaps FC on Saturday, Sept. 1 at BC Place, beginning at 7 p.m. PT. The match will air live on NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
Click here for photos of the match
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 4-3 FC Dallas
Aug. 29, 2018 – Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 15,648
Scoring Summary: DAL – Maximiliano Urruti (unassisted) 8; SJ – Vako (unassisted) 15; SJ – Vako (unassisted) 42; DAL – Santiago Mosquera (Maximiliano Urruti) 51; SJ – Magnus Eriksson (Chris Wondolowski) 54; DAL – Dominique Badji (Reggie Cannon, Maximiliano Urruti) 58; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (Vako) 62.
Misconduct Summary: None.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Andrew Tarbell; Shea Salinas, Florian Jungwirth, Guram Kashia, Nick Lima; Anibal Godoy, Luis Felipe; Jahmir Hyka (Danny Hoesen 87), Vako, Magnus Eriksson (Jimmy Ockford 77); Chris Wondolowski (Dominic Oduro 90+2).
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON TARGET: 6; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 6; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 2.
FC DALLAS: Jimmy Maurer; Marquinhos Pedroso, Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Maynor Figueroa; Michael Barrios, Jacori Hayes (Cristian Colman 82); Tesho Akindele (Santaigo Mosquera 45), Maximiliano Urruti, Victor Ulloa; Dominique Badji (Pablo Aranguiz 76).
SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON TARGET: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 8; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 4.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MIKAEL STAHRE
On the 4-3 win:
“We are finally sitting here with a victory. I think we came out okay and then we conceded an early goal and then we came back quite fast when we made it 1-1. I can’t say we played our best game actually, but we scored four goals against a good team. I have to analyze this game like any other game. Of course, we conceded too many chances and too many goals, that’s for sure. But today, let us be happy this evening.”
On bouncing back from a tough loss against Vancouver:
“We spoke about that. In the game, you have to face difficulties, you have to deal with it and we did tonight. We came back after the first goal and then we conceded another goal in the second half just like we did against Vancouver. It was a mental challenge for sure and we handled it. Hopefully all of us benefit from it in the future.”
On how he felt when the game was 3-3:
“Not happy. We spoke about it in the locker room that we just have to continue to play and follow our game plan. Even if you concede a goal, stick to the plan. That was the main message to the guys in the locker room.”
On starting Chris Wondolowski:
“We changed the system a little bit as well. Now we’re playing Vako like a 10 and it’s a hard competition between Danny [Hoesen] and Wondo. Danny has been our top scorer this season, but we know that Wondo is always good. He’s always good for the team, good in the box and good defensively. It was hard to have him on the bench for a couple games and today we started him and kept Danny on the bench. Quite normal from my perspective.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On returning to the starting lineup:
“Anytime you step out there, you want to make the most of it. It’s huge to get three points. I commend our team for our character. I think sometimes when you’re beaten down so many times, you have a tendency to give up and I thought that our guys could have given up three times probably this game. Kept fighting, kept their heads up and I’m proud to be a part of this group still.”
On his role as captain:
“Again, proud to be a part of it. Proud to be out there. It’s great to get the goal. I keep using this word, but so proud to be the captain of these guys, to be out there with them, fighting. Ninety minutes with them, it’s a huge pleasure.”
On if his chase for the all-time scoring record feels closer now:
“A little bit. It’s a weird thing, it’s been talked about throughout the whole year. It’s still there. It’s still a bit surreal to even be this close so I have no idea. I’m hoping to get it.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER NICK LIMA
On tonight’s victory:
“We knew that we had to believe that we can win. We get in certain situations, and we have to react to them. We have to be proactive, and we have to come out on the front foot. We go down a goal, up a goal, whatever, we have react accordingly, and I think last week we weren’t doing that. It cost us in the end. This week, we wanted to dictate the play of the game, control it and put it in our hands. It went our way.”
On Chris Wondolowski’s return to the starting lineup:
“He is closing in on most goals in MLS history. It’s something special to watch him play and play with him. Having him on the field is definitely a motivation for us to perform better and help him out, as well as know that he is going to help us out.”
On finding success against Dallas:
“We know that they are good. We know we have to play at the highest level to beat a team like that. It is confidence, it is playing as a team and following the game plan. Now it is two times in a row, and we have two good results against them.”
