Wondo scores in loss, now second all-time in MLS
KANSAS CITY, KAN. >> A striker’s life is filled with glory when the ball crashes into the back of the net, and despair when a prime opportunity is wasted.
San Jose striker Chris Wondolowski experienced both extremes in a 3-2 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.
Wondolowski’s 91st minute goal was a milestone in his storied career. His 135th career MLS goal moved him into sole possession of second place on the MLS all-time goal list. He entered the match tied with Jeff Cunningham, and now sits just 10 goals shy of Landon Donovan for the top spot.
“It’s pretty cool. Obviously I wish it was a better note, and we could at least come away with a point or something,” Wondolowski said. “What a ball by Magnus (Eriksson), and to put that in there, and to finish it off was pretty cool.”
First-year San Jose coach Mikael Stahre knows there will be more history for Wondolowski to chase down as the season progresses.
“Every goal is important for the team, and he will score more goals for sure,” Stahre said.
As for the disappointment, Wondolowski had a golden chance to put the Earthquakes (1-1-0) ahead in the 53rd minute. He found himself alone, six yards in front of the SKC net. But his shot sailed harmlessly over the bar, and SKC’s Graham Zusi scored in the 56th minute, sending the home side on its way to victory. Felipe Gutierrez tacked on the eventual game-winner in the 68th minute.
“It’s a big shot that’s still weighing big on my mind and will give me some trouble sleeping tonight,” Wondolowski said. “It was a good cross by Magnus and it kind of took a little deflection and put it a little behind me. I just swiveled and got underneath it. It was a big one.”
San Jose is now 1-11 in the regular season in Kansas City dating back to 2004.
The season is still young, and San Jose can build on the resolve it showed in the final minutes of the match.
“We fought until the end, and it was really important for us to score the second goal,” Stahre said. “I felt at halftime, ‘We can win this game.’ We ended the first half in a really good way and we started really well in the second, that’s why, ah!, a little bit of pity we conceded the second one. Then we lost the momentum.”
San Jose’s next match is March 31 against New York City FC at Avaya Stadium.
“A lot of the things we’ve been working on instilled our mentality,” Wondolowski said. “We came out pretty positive, we missed that chance, and they came down and scored. It’s a fickle game, and that’s how it goes.”
No one knows that better than Wondolowski.