San Jose secures much-needed victory
SAN JOSE >> Now that the Earthquakes got the victory they needed Saturday night reality sets in for the final third of the Major League Soccer season.
San Jose (9-9-5, 32 points) leaves the umbilical cord of Avaya Stadium for a brutal trip this week to Kansas City and Houston where success could infuse the promising team with much-needed optimism.
After defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 at lessthan-full Avaya, San Jose jumped into fifth place in the tightly bunched Western Conference. The Quakes need to finish the regular season as one of the division’s top six teams to end a four-year playoff drought.
But first they’re looking to reach the U.S. Open Cup final for the first time in team history when facing Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday.
“It’s a good little gutcheck time for us, knowing that it’s an important part of the season where there’s a lot on the line,” coach Chris Leitch said.
The pressure actually started at Avaya where the Quakes needed a victory. The team responded in a stadium where San Jose has lost just once in 13 games since last season. The Quakes did it with regulars Anibal Godoy (knee) and Jahmir Hyka (hamstring) out. Swiss newcomer Francois Affolder also wasn’t available. San Jose’s coaches and players feel confident about heading into the final 11 MLS regular-season games.
The self assurance starts with the team’s rising youngsters Tommy Thompson and rookies Jackson Yueill and Nick Lima. The trio was the centerpiece of a solid victory over the Crew (10-12-2, 32 points).
Thompson, in particular, has emerged as the kind of player fans have been impatiently waiting to see.
“No doubt he had a fantastic game again,” Leitch said. “It’s not the only well above-average game I’ve seen him play here in the last month or so.”
Thompson credited defensive-minded midfielder Darwin Ceren with allowing him the freedom to roam the field. But general manager Jesse Fioranelli and Leitch have encouraged Thompson to revert to his high school days by being more aggressive.
The 5-foot-7 Thompson proved his managers prescient in the 56th minute while setting up Chris Wondolowski’s 130th MLS goal and ninth this season.
Thompson challenged Crew defenders and got to the end line on the left side of the net. Then he fed an unmarked Wondolowski for a 2-0 lead.
Another nice orchestration opened the scoring Saturday in the 42nd minute with Marco Urena’s third goal of the year. Shea Salinas made it happen when charging down the left flank before changing course to confuse three retreating defenders. Just as they closed in Salinas shipped the ball to Urena, who danced around Columbus’ Alex Crognale before knocking it in.