‘Tired’ Quakes stumble
HOUSTON — The game statistics sheet rustling in coach Dominic Kinnear’s hands revealed that the Earthquakes had 58 percent of the possession on Saturday.
But the Quakes had little to show for all that control of the ball in a 2-0 road loss to the Houston Dynamo.
“I think we made some tired decisions out there with the ball. Difficult day, difficult road trip,” Kinnear said on his latest return to the city where he coached from 2006-14. “I don’t think they really overwhelmed us, we just made some mistakes and made it easier for them.”
After Wednesday’s 00 draw in New England, Kinnear’s side found it tough to adjust from the chilly weather and artificial turf of Gillette Stadium to the warmth and natural grass of southeast Texas.
But travel woes are hardly new for the Earthquakes. They haven’t won a league game away from San Jose since August, a span of nine games (0-72).
The Earthquakes entered the day second in MLS in shots taken, yet it was not until the 30th minute that they mustered one of only two efforts on target. Marco Urena juked inside the box to gain space for an attempt that didn’t threaten Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis.
Houston took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Alex was tripped by Fatai Alashe just inside the box. Erick “Cubo” Torres converted the spot-kick, sending goalkeeper David Bingham the wrong way and guiding his shot down the middle for his league-leading seventh goal.
Kinnear explained that his team’s advantage in possession occurred because Houston dropped off after going ahead.
“But we should have been better with the ball than we were,” he added.
The Earthquakes didn’t create much of a threat in the second half, though Danny Hoesen, a substitute for Urena, ran clear on the right only for Willis to save his 66thminute effort. The points were sealed for Houston about five minutes later when Alberth Elis forced the ball over the line from a poorly defended corner. Dynamo midfielder Juan Cabezas almost made it 3-0 late, but his shot thundered off the crossbar.
“Not easy to go cross country and then travel down to Houston, play a Saturday (afternoon) game. Don’t know who did the scheduling on that one, but no thank you,” Quakes star Chris Wondolowski said. “I thought we played well, just very frustrating — very tough place to play, and Houston had a very good game plan and executed well.”
The Earthquakes will try for better road luck at MLS newcomer Minnesota United FC on Saturday.