Quakes make it to semis of Open Cup
Wondo, wearing Silva’s number, scores two
Chris Wondolowski wanted to make a grand gesture for a teammate who nearly drowned a week ago in Lake Tahoe.
The Earthquakes captain wore Matheus Silva’s No. 38 for the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal game Monday night against the Los Angeles Galaxy, a move that underscores the tight bonds this team shares.
Then Wondolowski turned the California Clasico into a special evening with two goals to help San Jose defeat its fiercest rival 3-2 in front of a vocal crowd of 14,560 fans at Avaya Stadium.
Wondolowski, 34, tied Ronald Cerritos with four career Open Cup goals for the most in Quakes history as the team advanced to the semifinals for the only time other than 2004.
The Earthquakes will face the winner of Tuesday’s FC Dallas-Sporting Kansas City game next month. But the performance had a poignancy beyond the rivalry and the high stakes of an elimination game.
“Matheus means a lot to this team,” Wondolowski said.
Silva, 20, has been on loan with the United Soccer League affiliate in Reno this year. He set off with teammates July 4 for a day at a beach in South Lake Tahoe. But the Brazilian midfielder had to be rescued by teammates and nearby paddleboarders after getting into trouble during an early morning swim.
Quakes coach Chris Leitch said after the game that the player has made “very good progress” since awaking from a coma Thursday.
“I’m glad we got the win with his number of Chris’ back,” said Tommy Thompson, who assisted on both of Wondolowski’s goals.
Although not considered as prestigious as Major League Soccer competition, the Open Cup
represents a big leap for San Jose as it suddenly emerges after missing the playoffs four years in a row.
The winner of the Open Cup receives an automatic bid into the 2019 Champions League tournament for the Central and North American and Caribbean region known as CONCACAF.
Fans are used to Wondolowski’s scoring prowess: he has four goals in the past three games. The Earthquakes also are feeling optimistic about the second half of the season with the addition of attacking midfielder Valeri Qazaishvili, who arrived this week. Warriors center Zaza Pachulia performed the ceremonial goal kick Monday in a nod to his fellow Georgian who signed a designated player contract last month.
“I’m pretty sure from watching his game and how hard he plays, he’s a winner, he wants to win, and hopefully he is going to bring that mentality here,” Pachulia said before the game.
The injury-riddled Galaxy had no answer in losing its fourth consecutive game — even with the return of Mexican star Giovani dos Santos.
San Jose picked up from its 2-1 victory over Los Angeles 10 days ago at Stanford Stadium although Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme scored on a powerful header in the third minute.
The Earthquakes rallied in the 17th minute when Thompson charged down the right flank and found Wondolowski at the top of the penalty box.
Wondolowski controlled the ball before sending a left-footed sizzler past L.A. goalkeeper Brian Rowe. The Quakes star said the goal was a tribute to the left-footed Silva.
“I’ve never done that — a left-footed shot outside the 18-yard line,” Wondolowski said.
San Jose took the lead in the 51st minute when Wondolowski scored on a header.
Danny Hoesen got the game winner nine minutes later before an own goal by goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell made it 3-2 in the final minutes.
The Quakes (7-7-5, MLS) play host to Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt in an exhibition Friday before resuming league play July 19 in New York.