KNOCKOUT DELIVERED
Earthquakes convincingly advance to next round of MLS is Back tourney
The Earthquakes are proving to be something special at the MLS Is Back tournament.
How special remains to be seen. But for the time being, San Jose enjoyed one of its best moments in years Sunday night after winning Group B with a powerful 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire.
The group had two more games to be played but it didn’t matter to the Quakes, who won for the second consecutive match. The highlight was fan-favorite Chris Wondolowski scoring for the second game in a row as a substitute.
Wondolowski’s goal in the 82nd minute came 30 seconds after he entered the game as the surprising Earthquakes headed to the knockout stage that begins Saturday.
San Jose finished group play with seven points.
“I think he can play five more years and come on and score if he wants to,” midfielder Jackson Yueill of Wondolowski, 37.
The team captain has said 2020 will be his final season but that could change because of the way the MLS schedule has changed in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Besides, these guys are enjoying themselves with a relentless attack that drives opponents batty.
The result catapulted San Jose
to win the group with two victories and a tie. The way they perform, the Quakes are going to expect more than just reaching the round of 16.
San Jose (2-1-2, eight points overall) looks like a team that could make a deep run at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.
“The players are responding in an excellent manner,” coach Matias Almeyda said in a conference call through a translator. “It is a team that grows day by day. A team that is growing collectively and individually and a team that looks to enjoy playing.”
Chicago made San Jose work for every possession until the 56th minute when Cristian Espinoza’ scored off a left-footed strike past goalkeeper Kenny Kronholm.
The goal seemed to breathe confidence into the Earthquakes offense.
The score came off an excellent buildup with Yueill slipping the ball to Espinoza, who did the rest. The Argentine midfielder dribbled toward the center of the box past Chicago’s Francisco Calvo to create just enough space for an open shot.
“We knew it would be a game that would be hard fought,” Espinoza said through the translator. “After the first goal space opened up but we had to remain
calm.”
The way San Jose’s defense clamped down it looked as if one goal would be enough. But
Wondolowski doubled the score to ensure the victory.
The play began with Tommy Thompson’s pass to Carlos Fierro, who also entered the game with Wondolowski seconds beforehand. Fierro found Wondolowski unmarked about 10 yards from the goalmouth.
His perfectly placed pass allowed Wondolowski to flick the ball with his head inside the near post for his all-time leading 161st career goal.
Almeyda made two defensive changes to start the Quakes’ final Group B game. German Florian Jungwirth took over one of the center back spots for newcomer Oswaldo Alanis. Paul Marie started in place of Thompson at fullback.
While the goalscoring gets the attention, it had to be noted San Jose earned its second shutout in three games. This one came after the Quakes allowed three goals to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday before rebound with a 4-3 victory.
But San Jose might be the most maddening team to face in Major League Soccer. It’s like walking into a swarm of mosquitoes on a summer hike. Quakes players seem to be everywhere on the field. The Earthquakes won the possession battle 63.1% to 36.9% overall.