Winless streak slides to an end
MINNEAPOLIS — The dog pile celebrating Florian Jungwirth’s second-half goal Saturday night for the Quakes apparently wasn’t big enough for center back Victor Bernardez. So in the middle of it, Bernardez turned and waved for more teammates to join in. And why not? Jungwirth’s sliding leftfooted goal, in the 54th minute, marked the first for the punchless Quakes on this three-game road trip. It held up for a 1-0 victory over the expansion Minnesota United, ending the Quakes’ sixmatch winless streak since March 11 (0-3-3) and a nine-match winless streak on the road dating to last August (0-7-2).
“There was big pressure for us after six games without a win, especially on the road for the last year,” Jungwirth said. “It was not an easy time for the club. I think it was a very big step for our self-confidence. After the game, everyone was so happy to get the three points.”
The Quakes (3-3-3) outshot Minnesota 168 overall at chilly TCF Bank Stadium and held a slight edge in possession time. In the 14th minute, Cordell Cato hit the crossbar with a left footer from just outside the penalty area. It took a set piece for the Quakes to finally end a run of 233 scoreless minutes, since Jahmir Hyka’s stoppage time goal against FC Dallas on April 14.
Chris Wondolowski gained possession of a Hyka corner kick and sent the ball toward the left post, where Jungwirth knocked it past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. A jubilant Jungwirth ran into the arms of Quakes reserves jogging behind the end line left of the goal.
“A great ball by Jahmir,” Wondolowski said. “I kind of saw it late and wasn’t able to get a lot on it, so I just tried to put it back across to the far post. I’m really glad Flo was there to finish it. Great run by him.”
The Quakes sought better offensive production against Minnesota (2-5-2), which had allowed an MLS-worst 24 goals going into Saturday. Quakes coach Dominic Kinnear started Danny Hoesen, normally a forward, at left midfield and brought rookie defender Nick Lima off the bench. Lima had played every minute the first eight matches but suffered what Kinnear described as a charley horse in training this week.
Defender Kofi Sarkodie saw his first action of the season. Sarkodie made the defensive play of the match late in the second half, stepping between keeper David Bingham and the right post to head Francisco Calvo’s tying bid off the goal line. Lima replaced Sarkodie in the 81st minute.