The struggles of March were well documented in San Jose, with the team dropping four consecutive to open the season. The players were learning a new system, the coach was tinkering with his lineup, and the whole team was working through some residual confidence issues left over from a difficult 2018. However, since that month came to a close, very few teams in all of Major League Soccer have fared better.
Here’s a comprehensive list of all teams in the Western Conference with a better record since the calendar flipped to April:
Los Angeles Football Club
That’s no mistake. Only the unstoppable LAFC with a 10-1-4 record and MVP frontrunner in Carlos Vela have a better record than San Jose since April 1 among all Western Conference teams. Atlanta United FC and NYCFC are the only two teams better in the East.
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>RECORD SINCE APRIL 1</strong> |
<strong>POINTS</strong> |
<strong>POINTS PER GAME</strong> |
<p>LAFC</p> |
<p>6-1-3</p> |
<p>21</p> |
<p>2.1</p> |
<p>Atlanta United FC</p> |
<p>6-3-0</p> |
<p>18</p> |
<p>2.0</p> |
<p>NYCFC</p> |
<p>4-0-4</p> |
<p>16</p> |
<p>2.0</p> |
<strong><em>San Jose Earthquakes</em></strong> |
<strong><em>5-2-2</em></strong> |
<strong><em>17</em></strong> |
<strong><em>1.89</em></strong> |
<p>Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>5-2-2</p> |
<p>17</p> |
<p>1.89</p> |
The Quakes are 5-2-2 in that stretch, earning 1.89 points per game. San Jose has been perfect at home, winning four straight by a 12-2 margin, including lopsided victories over Portland (3-0), Sporting KC (4-1) and Chicago (4-1). San Jose also earned a 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati despite playing half the match with 10 men. It’s tied for the most dominant four-match home stretch in a single season in club history, and best since 2002.
<strong>FROM</strong> |
<strong>TO</strong> |
<strong>GOALS FOR</strong> |
<strong>GOALS AGAINST</strong> |
<strong>GOAL DIFFERENTIAL</strong> |
<strong><em>April 6, 2019</em></strong> |
<strong><em>May 18, 2019</em></strong> |
<strong><em>12</em></strong> |
<strong><em>2</em></strong> |
<strong><em>+10</em></strong> |
<p>June 22, 2002</p> |
<p>July 20, 2002</p> |
<p>11</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>+10</p> |
<p>Sept. 4, 1999</p> |
<p>Oct. 6, 1999</p> |
<p>11</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>+10</p> |
The one thing the Earthquakes hadn’t been able to shake is their inability to win away from Avaya Stadium, which changed on Sunday. Between the final whistle on May 20, 2017 at FC Dallas and kickoff on May 26, 2019 at Toronto, the Quakes went 3-23-6 on the road. It was just their fourth road win in more than four calendar years but extends an impressive road stretch for San Jose who are 1-1-2 in their last four.
Forward Chris Wondolowski has been given a lot of the attention of late, and rightfully so, scoring six goals over the last two matches and breaking the all-time MLS scoring record. However, the results over the past two months are indicative of a collective team effort. Cristian Espinoza continues to make waves as a Newcomer of the Year candidate; goalkeeper Daniel Vega has made timely saves over and over again to keep his team in matches; Tommy Thompson and Nick Lima have improved at their new positions on a weekly basis; Jackson Yueill is suddenly on everyone’s radar for the U.S. Men’s National Team; and that’s not even to mention the play of Anibal Godoy, Florian Jungwirth, Harold Cummings, Shea Salinas or Danny Hoesen. The rise of the Quakes can be derived from all players stepping up in unison.
Head coach Matias Almeyda has said he does not possess a magic wand to suddenly turn the Earthquakes into world beaters, but at the very least has his team playing freely, working hard and believing in each other. Sunday’s win in Toronto was the Quakes’ first comeback victory away from home in more than four years (3/14/15) and proves the team’s mettle when push comes to shove.
The Quakes have a huge challenge this weekend when they face D.C. United at Audi Field without Thompson or Espinoza due to suspension. How they will be replaced is certainly a storyline to pay attention to this week.
