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San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake, February 22, 2025

The new ball is poised for the kickoff of the 2025 Major League Soccer season with the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake at PayPal Park in San Jose, California

MEDIA RELEASE:

Feb. 22, 2025

MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 4, Real Salt Lake 0

San Jose triumphant in new coach Bruce Arena’s Earthquakes debut; Cristian Espinoza dazzles home crowd with three assists

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Real Salt Lake 4-0 on Saturday night in front of 17,432 fans at PayPal Park to open the 2025 Major League season.

San Jose struck first in the 28th minute when Cristian Espinoza passed to recently signed midfielder Beau Leroux on the right wing. The debutant’s incisive pass rolled through the box to a streaking Jamar Ricketts, who scored his first MLS goal.

The Earthquakes doubled their advantage in the 70th minute when Espinoza’s corner kick was headed home by a leaping Rodrigues. Four minutes later, San Jose put the match away when Espinoza’s long ball, his third assist of the night, found forward Ousseni Bouda, who coolly finished to put the Quakes up 3-0. Defender Vítor Costa added an exclamation point in the 84th minute when he slotted a Mark-Anthony Kaye pass into the back of the net for the final 4-0 margin.

The Black and Blue will now head out on their first road trip of the season to take on Sporting Kansas City next Saturday, Mar. 1. Kickoff from Children’s Mercy Park will take place at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as on local radio via KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM (English) and 1370 AM La Kaliente (Spanish).

GAME NOTES

With the win, San Jose moved to 17-15-12 all-time vs. RSL (61 GF, 62 GA) with a home record of 11-7-5 (40 GF, 28 GA).

The 4-0 final margin is the Quakes’ largest victory in a season opener in club history.

Defender Jamar Ricketts, who was selected in the first round of the 2024 SuperDraft (13th overall), scored his first MLS goal in the 28th minute. Midfielder Beau Leroux, who was selected in the second round that year (42nd overall), and team captain Cristian Espinoza supplied the assists.

Forward Cristian Espinoza extended his run of consecutive MLS regular-season games played tonight to a current league-high of 110 (Oct. 2, 2021 – present). The streak is not only a Quakes record but now fifth longest in MLS history and second among all field players in MLS history, passing Darlington Nagbe (May 1, 2021 – Apr. 6, 2024). Goalkeeper Luis Robles holds the league record with 183 straight appearances (Sept. 29, 2012 – May 12, 2018).

Forward Cristian Espinoza’s three assists marked his 10th career multi-assist game in MLS play, giving him 74 total helpers to extend his career club record.

Defender Rodrigues scored his first goal of the season in the 70th minute and fifth career goal in MLS play.

Forward Ousseni Bouda scored his first goal of the season in the 74th minute and third career goal in MLS play.

Defender Vítor Costa’s first goal of the season in the 83rd minute was his third career goal in MLS play.

Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye’s first assist in the 83rd minute was his 27th career assist in MLS play.

Goalkeeper Daniel made eight saves and earned his first clean sheet of the season, which was also his seventh career shutout in MLS play.

Midfielder Beau Leroux, who signed a first-team contract just yesterday, dished his first MLS assist. He was not only making his first MLS start for the Quakes but also his MLS debut. A San Jose native, Leroux scored five goals last season for the Quakes’ MLS NEXT Pro team, The Town FC.

A grand total of 87 Quakes players made the starting lineup in their MLS debut, with the most recent being defender Oscar Verhoeven on July 20, 2024, at Minnesota United FC. Of those 87 players, Leroux now becomes the 11th to have made a goal contribution, with the most recent being Oswaldo Alanis on Feb. 29, 2020, against Toronto FC.

Tonight’s win gives Bruce Arena his 263rd win in MLS regular-season play, a league record. The late great Sigi Schmid is second with 240 victories.

Defender Dave Romney, midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye, forward Chicho Arango and forward Josef Martínez also made their Black and Blue debuts Saturday night.

San Jose Earthquakes 4 – 0 Real Salt Lake

Saturday, February 22, 2025 – PayPal Park; San Jose, Calif.

Weather: 60°F Clear

Attendance: 17,432

Match Officials:

REF: Malik Badawi

AR1: Corey Rockwell

AR2: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt

4TH: Brandon Stevis

VAR: Shawn Tehini

AVAR: Joshua Patlak

Scoring Summary:

SJ (1-0) – Jamar Ricketts (Beau Leroux, Cristian Espinoza) 28’

SJ (2-0) – Rodrigues (Cristian Espinoza) 70’

SJ (3-0) – Ousseni Bouda (Cristian Espinoza) 74’

SJ (4-0) – Vítor Costa (Cristian Espinoza) 83’

Misconduct Summary:

RSL – Alexandros Katranis (caution) 54’

SJ – Cristian Espinoza (caution) 73’

SJ – Ian Harkes (caution) 81’

SJ – Mark-Anthony Kaye (caution) 87’

RSL – Diego Luna (caution) 90+3’

SJ – Daniel (caution) 90+4’

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel (GK); Rodrigues, Bruno Wilson, Dave Romney; Jamar Ricketts (Vítor Costa 83’), Ian Harkes, Beau Leroux (Mark-Anthony Kaye 46’), Cristian Espinoza, Hernán López (Amahl Pellegrino 68’); Chicho Arango (Preston Judd 87’), Josef Martínez (Ousseni Bouda 67’).

Substitutes not used: Earl Edwards Jr. (GK), Daniel Munie, Nick Lima, Max Floriani.

POSS.: 42.5%; SHOTS: 14; SOG: 9; CORNERS: 6; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 8; FOULS: 13; xG: 2.7

REAL SALT LAKE: Rafael Cabral (GK); Justen Glad, Philip Quinton (Bryan Vera 58’), Javain Brown (Emeka Eneli 46’), Alexandros Katranis (Sam Junqua 57’); Braian Ojeda (Bode Hidalgo 77’), Pablo Ruiz, Diego Luna, Nelson Palacio, Tyler Wolf; Forster Ajago (Diogo Gonçalves 68’).

Substitutes not used: Mason Stajduhar (GK), Kobi Henry, Dominik Marczuk, Lachian Brook.

POSS.: 57.5%; SHOTS: 22; SOG: 8; CORNERS: 5; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 15; xG: 2.0

EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA

On starting the season and his Quakes era with a win:

“The scoreline wasn’t fair. I don’t think that’s a 4-0 game. They had a lot going against them coming in with their game Wednesday in Costa Rica and those challenges and all of that, so as a starting point, let’s be fair about that. But our team played well. It was a good team effort, and obviously, we’re building a team that hasn’t experienced a whole lot of success, so to kick off the season with a win is great. … But let’s keep this in perspective.”

On the team’s overall performance:

“We have a lot we can learn from this. We made some mistakes. We have to get better. But the nice part of this team is that when we started to rebuild the roster, we wanted the team in place for the whole preseason, instead of bringing in guys this week or last week and two weeks from now. So we’ve had a month to try to become a team, and they needed to understand me, and I needed to understand them. So that’s been positive every day. They’ve actually gotten better, so I’m encouraged by that. But we have a long, long way to go. The Real Salt Lake team is going to be a real hard, hard team to play against when we go into Salt Lake. I can promise you that.”

On Ousseni Bouda’s goal and the overall depth on the roster:

“Bouda played very well for us in preseason and every day we saw things in that showed that he’s a really promising player. … We have, oddly enough, four players that didn’t dress tonight that can challenge to get in our first 11 at some point. So, you know, the roster is pretty good. And I think we have some good young players that have come out of our academy system that you know, have a promising future in the league.

On the attacking foursome of Josef Martínez, Chicho Arango, Cristian Espinoza and Hernán López:

“I think our attacking group is going to get better. It’s the hardest thing in this sport. That’s why they pay these guys that score goals a lot of money around the world. in time, we’ll hopefully have a good attacking team. You’re going to see Martínez and Arango scoring goals, Espinoza setting them up and López being an improved playmaker. He’s still young. He’s got a lot to learn. But he’s shown segments in games where he’s a real promising player. There’s a lot of stuff, but to me, the most encouraging part is that our back line was good, and that’s obviously an area that was our primary concern.”

On tempering expectations and not taking too much from one game:

“I think we need a couple months to actually see what this team’s about and where we need to go. And tonight was great to get three points and have a good showing, but we certainly have a way to go. So you know, I don’t have any anything set in stone at this point, and hopefully, as we continue to move forward as a team, we’ll create a pretty consistent mentality and a style of play right now.”

EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CRISTIAN ESPINOZA

On the changes made by the new coaching staff in the preseason:

“During preseason, I remember when the coaching staff came to me with the idea that playing this with this tactic, playing me in the right side, going forward. To be honest, I was really used to playing that position, even when we play in 4-2-3-1. I always try to help the team defensively. Tonight, I feel really comfortable in that position, I am really happy, because I can help the team with the assist.”

On the performance of Chicho Arango and Josef Martínez in their debuts:

“They are doing a really good job in their positions. They force the defenders to play low balls, and that’s really important for us. They made a lot of sacrifices today that really helped the team. That’s what the team is about. Everybody has to be engaging in the defensive part and also in the offensive part. Hopefully in the future, both of them can score more goals and be more in front of the board.”

On the debut performance of Beau Leroux:

“I’m really happy for Beau. I talked to him yesterday, and we were texting because I was really happy for him to have the opportunity to play today. I tried to give him confidence, to play calm, because he’s a really calm guy. He has to do the same thing that he was doing during the preseason. I think he played a really good game. Hopefully we can see him very often this year inside the starting 11. Also, I’m really happy for the other kids like Niko [Tsakiris], Oscar [Verhoeven]. They stepped up during preseason. This is a really good team with big names. They need to be patient and try to be ready when the opportunity comes.”

On improvements moving forward:

“Every day we are improving in so many details. When we are doing good things, maybe there’s another detail that we can fix. I think in the defensive part, we were a little bit disconnected in the end of the first half because they were pushing the game, which is normal, we need to be ready for that. In the first 15 minutes of the second half, I think that we responded really well.”

EARTHQUAKES WINGBACK JAMAR RICKETTS

On scoring his first MLS goal:

“Playing wing back, you got to be up and down the field. But as I’d seen the ball, I knew that I had to crash the back post and be aggressive. Once I’d seen the ball come across, I was like, ‘I got to be the first to win the ball,’ and that’s how I got my foot on it.”

On bouncing back from an injury-riddled rookie season:

“You know, unfortunately, last year I got injured, so I was out for most of the year, but it was kind of a blessing in disguise, because I learned a lot about my body. I was able to watch and really take in everything and learn from the vets and all the coaches. … I was ready for the moment.”

On showing his versatility playing wing back:

“Yeah, so I think it’s just having the trust from my teammates and the coaches to give me confidence to keep going forward and run, and I’m willing to work for anybody in the field as for everybody that’s willing to work for me, you know? And I think that’s what makes this group so good, And the coaching staff, they push us to work for each other. There’s no like hierarchy. Everybody just is one. And then my celebration just came from this excitement,

On opening the season with a win:

“It’s great. Everybody was just smiles in the locker room. The music was blasting. Everybody just felt happy. The coaches were happy. Everybody had a big smile. And I think it’s a this is a great steppingstone, because we got three points, but this is just a start. We have a whole, whole season ahead of us, so we can’t get too much ahead of ourselves, because it’s only one game.”

####

Earthquakes Communications Contacts:

Ryan Maquiñana – Director, Communications

rmaquinana@sjearthquakes.com

C: 650.243.8523

Jake Jansing – Coordinator, Communications

jjansing@sjearthquakes.com

C: 408.425.1329

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire, July 7, 2024

Chicago Fire Defender ARNAUD SOUQUET (2) during the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Chicago Fire at PayPal Park in San Jose, California

PRESS RELEASE:

July 7, 2024

MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 1, Chicago Fire FC 0

San Jose shows grit to earn first clean sheet of season; Quakes’ homestand continues Saturday vs. Sporting Kansas City

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Chicago Fire FC 1-0 on Sunday night at PayPal Park to earn their first clean sheet of the season and snap a six-game losing streak as Ian Russell earned his first win as interim head coach.

After a scoreless first half, midfielder Hernán López got the Quakes on the board first when he hauled in a long pass from Cristian Espinoza and beat goalkeeper Chris Brady in the 49th minute. The visitors appeared to equalize in the 71st minute when Hugo Cuypers headed in a rebound off the crossbar, but video review called it back for offside. The Black and Blue put on a collective effort to close out the game defensively.

The Quakes will continue their homestand against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, July 13. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as on local radio AM 810 The Spread (English) and AM 1370 La Kaliente (Spanish).

GAME NOTES

As of tonight’s final whistle, San Jose’s record now stands at 4-16-2 (14th in West; 14 pts), while Chicago Fire FC moves to 5-11-6 (13th in East; 21 pts).

Tonight’s win snapped a six-game losing streak dating back to a 1-1 home draw with Austin FC on May 25 and nine-game winless streak dating back to May 11’s 3-2 road win over the Colorado Rapids.

The Quakes earned their first clean sheet of the 2024 MLS season for San Jose in the 22nd game. The club’s last shutout in regular-season play occurred on Sept. 9, 2023, in a scoreless road draw against D.C. United.

San Jose is now 14-16-11 (53 GF, 58 GA) in the all-time series against Chicago Fire FC and 11-6-5 at home (33 GF, 25 GA). The Quakes have won their last three meetings at PayPal Park, with the last one a 2-1 decision on July 3, 2022, on the strength of a Benji Kikanović brace. The forward beat then-Fire goalkeeper Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina in the 47th and 87th minutes.

Quakes forwards Cristian Espinoza and Jeremy Ebobisse started Saturday’s match, extending their MLS-leading active consecutive games played streaks to 96 and 95, respectively.

Ebobisse made his 100th and 101st appearances with San Jose against St. Louis CITY SC last Wednesday and tonight against Chicago Fire FC, respectively.

With his start tonight, Earthquakes midfielder and captain Jackson Yueill passed Shea Salinas in games started for San Jose (184) for third on the all-time club list. The midfielder now only trails Ramiro Corrales (228) and Chris Wondolowski (313).

Midfielder Hernán López scored his fourth goal of the season in 10 MLS starts (12 appearances).

Espinoza notched his 11th assist of the season, tied for 4th in MLS. He is now is the Quakes’ all-time leader in game-winning assists with 15, passing Richard Mulrooney and Shea Salinas (tied, 14). With his assist tonight, Espinoza is only one goal contribution away from 100 for the Earthquakes. Only Chris Wondolowski’s 207 (167g/40a) and Ronald Cerritos’ 108 (61g/47a) are higher totals among San Jose players, past or present.

MATCH INFORMATION

San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 Chicago Fire FC

Sunday, July 7, 2024 – PayPal Park; San Jose, Calif.

Weather: 92°F Sunny

Man of the Match presented by Coors Light: Hernán López

Match Officials:

Referee: Ramy Touchan

AR1: Jeffrey Greeson

AR2: Diego Blas

4th Official: Victor Rivas

VAR: David Barrie

AVAR: Peter Balciunas

Scoring Summary:

SJ (1-0) – Hernán López (Cristian Espinoza) 49’

Misconduct Summary:

CHI – Rafael Czichos (caution) 24’

CHI – Kellyn Acosta (caution) 37’

SJ – Hernán López (caution) 62’

SJ – Jack Skahan (caution) 87’

CHI – Fabian Herbers (caution) 90+5’

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: William Yarbrough; Vítor Costa ( Tommy Thompson 85’), Tanner Beason, Rodrigues (Jack Skahan 81’), Daniel Munie; Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill (Alfredo Morales 81’) , Hernán López; Benji Kikanović, Cristian Espinoza (Preston Judd 81’) , Jeremy Ebobisse (Amahl Pellegrino 88’).

Substitutes not used: Jacob Jackson (GK), Michael Baldisimo, Paul Marie, Will Richmond.

POSS.: 46.7%; SHOTS: 13 ; SOG: 4; CORNERS: 7; OFFSIDES: 3; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 7; xG: 1.1

CHICAGO FIRE FC: Chris Brady; Arnaud Souquet, Rafael Czichos, Wyatt Omsberg, Allan Arigoni; Maren Haile-Selassie, Chris Mueller ( Tom Barlow 63’), Brian Gutierrez, Kellyn Acosta (Georgios Koutsias 89’), Gaston Gimenez (Fabian Herbers 64’); Hugo Cuypers.

Substitutes not used: Spencer Richey (GK), Javier Casas, Jonathan Dean, Diego Konincks, Mauricio Pineda.

POSS.: 53.3%; SHOTS: 10 ; SOG: 1; CORNERS: 5; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 11; xG: 0.9

EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH IAN RUSSELL

On snapping the losing streak:

“We needed to win tonight. The [California] Clásico was disappointing. Then our game against St. Louis. I thought we were pretty flat coming out. So I thought we were on the front foot all night. Deserved the win. Just really happy with how our players responded.”

On Cristian Espinoza’s assist and Hernán López’s game-winning goal:

“Great ball by Cristian. Takes a touch and [Hernán] finishes it. Just shows his class. He’s obviously done well since he’s come here and I expect more of those goals from him.”

On the Chicago Fire FC goal being reversed after a VAR check for offside:

“We’ve had a lot of those close ones kind of go the other way. So in that moment, it was a relief that that happened. … I think it gave the players a little relief, and then we’re able to make some changes after that to kind of slow them down with it.”

On the return of Carlos Gruezo after international duty with Ecuador:

“I thought he was excellent. We missed him. Niko [Tsakiris] and Jackson [Yueill] have done a really good job in there. But Carlos does give us a little of that bite defensively. He just came off a disappointing loss in Copa América, where he played 80 minutes. I didn’t even ask. I didn’t even look at him. You’re playing the whole game. I needed him in there. So really proud of Carlos.”

On how the team came together collectively for the win:

“I don’t want to say it felt comfortable because there were moments in that game that were uncomfortable. It didn’t feel as open. It didn’t feel like every time we lost the ball that we were vulnerable. So that was good. I thought Rodrigues had a very good game. Hernán with the goal. Will Yarborough made some really big saves at the end. Not so much general shot-blocking but he came out for some crosses at the end of the game and slowed the game down. I also want to point out Benji Kikanović. I thought he was excellent as a wingback. It’s not his normal position. And I thought Jebo (Jeremy Ebobisse) up front held the ball up really well and ran the channels.”

On changes moving forward heading into Leagues Cup:

“The main object for us was to stop conceding goals. It’s the first clean sheet we’ve had in this MLS season. I’m super proud of the team. We needed to grind out a game like that. A 1-0 win. It gives us a lot of confidence moving forward with Leagues Cup. We’ll approach that when we get there but it’s a tournament we really want to do well in obviously. We just need to build momentum from this game and carry on.”

On forward Benji Kikanović playing wing back tonight:

“Just physically very fast. He can do it over and over. He’s not a guy that needs five minutes to recover. Very good in the air, works extremely hard. His defending has gotten a lot better over the last few years. I think he’s got a really high ceiling. He’s still young, so just really excited. He’s a guy that never complained, just does his business. He’ll do anything for the team.”

EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER WILLIAM YARBROUGH

On playing with a back line of five players:

“Playing with the back fives are tricky because a lot of people think you’re playing a defensive formation. And it’s not the case, especially with the way things are now. I think it was an excellent formation. It gives us a little bit of that structure in the back, always having one of the wing backs because you still always have those four in the back. So you’re a little more compact — where, when you’re shifting the distances —distances aren’t as far and it’s harder for teams to play between us, right? But it’s all turned out. It’s all about, including myself, staying compact, making things tougher for the other teams. I think we felt a little more comfortable.”

On breaking the losing streak and addressing the San Jose Ultras questioning the players’ commitment:

“I talk to guys in the locker room and I know they’re just as frustrated as I am. And I wouldn’t be surprised if our fans are frustrated. You know, we’ve had a very poor season. We can’t hide away from that. You know what it means to me; it’s my life. You know, I started playing when I was five years old. I’ve dedicated 100% of myself to the sport every day. I left home when I was 15 years old, moved away from the comfort of my home. Sacrificed birthdays, Christmases, family members’ weddings. I have a brother getting married next weekend. I’m playing, you know, and it means everything to me.

“One thing that I’ve always had in the back of my mind is I take into consideration everything that the fans feel because we’re a team and it’s not just the players in the locker room. It’s not just the staff that comes into the building. It’s a society, everyone. And when you’re not delivering, it’s frustrating. It’s very frustrating. I know they spend a lot of money to come watch us, and we haven’t been our sharpest. And so getting little victories like today, they’re happy for today. So are we, but we have another game Saturday. … We’re grinding. We’re grinding. Personally this is my life. Until the day my body says no or otherwise. I’m going to give 100% of myself to this.”

On Rodrigues’ performance in helping keep the clean sheet:

“Rodri is a classic defender. I love having him on on my team in that backline. I love the confidence that he has. He loves taking risks, and I admire that. Today he had an excellent performance. We were frustrated, especially in the back. … And so to see tonight that all the hard work being put in paid off on a night like today, especially speaking specifically about Rodri, I’m basically so happy for the guy. I know he’s going to go home tonight and have a relaxed night, and he’s going to enjoy the day off tomorrow. Then he’s going to come back Tuesday ready to go again. We all have to, but Rodri is a dude who I love having in the back line and I love that no matter how things are going. I love the confidence that he shows to try to play this style regardless of what’s going on.”

On earning the first clean sheet of the MLS season:

“We need to try to do something to change what we know we’re capable of. It definitely helps. You know when like today there’s a clean sheet but you’re going into [the] Kansas City [game] next weekend. I want three or four or five in a row. I’ll enjoy the night today, but tomorrow we have an off-day. I’m looking at film right away, seeing what I can improve on and certain things that I can discuss with teammates and do everything I can to make it two in a row. I like that pressure. I like that weight on my shoulders. It’s been a part of my entire career. And you know, hopefully we can make a turnaround.”

EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER RODRIGUES

On winning tonight:

“This victory brought us a lot of confidence to me, to my teammates, to everyone. We know there’s another challenge next Saturday, but again, this victory brought us a boost of confidence to look for another one.”

On the back line adapting to a new formation:

“I believe I had a good performance tonight. We’ve been preparing the whole week for it, so we were ready for it. We counted on our teammates to make it happen.”

“It’s a new formation, and I’m adapting to it. It has more people supporting the back line which is good. I’m adapting it, pushing forward to the next game, and hopefully having that same outcome.”

On using the win as momentum for the rest of the season:

“We know that we started the season in a tough position how our games have been, but we know we have to keep the consistency and have the strong mentality to move forward with our teammates. That’s what we did today.”

“Today’s victory was really important. You can be sure that we’ll continue to put in the work in training and next week. Next week will also be a tough one, but we’re looking forward for the victory.”

On the responsibility playing for the club and city:

“Since I got here in this club, I knew I had an important role to carry. Every game is like that. I know how big this club is, so every game I’m here, I look to do my best with my teammates. That’s always the focus. Moving forward, that’s what we want to do, make sure we communicate on the pitch to make everything works at its best.”

####

Earthquakes Communications Contacts:

Ryan Maquiñana – Director, Communications

rmaquinana@sjearthquakes.com

C: 650.243.8523

Jake Jansing – Coordinator, Communications

jjansing@sjearthquakes.com

C: 408.425.1329

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, September 4, 2022

Vancouver Whitecaps Forward CHRISTIAN DÁJOME (11) shields the ball against San Jose Earthquakes Midfielder JACKSON YUEILL (14) during the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Vancouver Whitecaps at PayPal Park in San Jose, California

MEDIA RELEASE:
Sept. 4, 2022
MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
Quakes earn second straight victory at PayPal Park; Rodrigues makes MLS debut in shutout
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-0 on Sunday evening at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. Center back Rodrigues made his MLS debut and led the Quakes to their first shutout victory since May 5.

San Jose jumped out to a very early lead, scoring in the fourth minute. Cade Cowell dribbled past two defenders before playing a lateral pass towards the center of the penalty area. An onrushing Jackson Yueill redirected the ball towards Jeremy Ebobisse, who curled his first-timed shot into the back of the net.

The Quakes were able to double their advantage before halftime. Jamiro Monteiro played a long switch to Cristian Espinoza on the right wing before darting to the top of the penalty area. He received a return pass from Espinoza and hit a low left-footed shot just out of reach of goalkeeper Thomas Hasal.Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made six saves to keep Vancouver off the scoresheet and earn his third shutout of the season.

The Earthquakes will now prepare for two back-to-back road matches, first traveling to Ohio for the Quakes’ first-ever road match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 10. The match will kick off from TQL Stadium at 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 1050 (English), and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).

GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes currently hold a 7-12-9 record (30 pts.) during the 2022 MLS regular season.San Jose is now 9-10-12 all-time vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, including an 6-1-8 record at home.The Earthquakes are now 7-8-6 in MLS play under interim head coach Alex Covelo.Forward Jeremy Ebobisse scored his 15th goal of the season and 42nd of his MLS career. It also marked his first game-winning goal of the season and sixth of his MLS career.

Midfielder Jamiro Monteiro scored his fourth goal of the season and 13th of his MLS career. He has now tied his single-season career high in goals (2019).

Forward Cade Cowell tallied an assist on Ebobisse’s goal, marking his fifth assist of the season and 12th of his MLS career. It also marked his first game-winning assist of the season and second of his MLS career.

Midfielder Jackson Yueill tallied an assist on Ebobisse’s goal, marking his second assist of the season and 12th of his MLS career. It also marked his first game-winning assist of the season and fourth of his MLS career.

Midfielder Cristian Espinoza tallied an assist on Monteiro’s goal, marking his 12th assist of the season and 42nd of his MLS career. He is now two assists away from tying Eddie Lewis for the most assists in a single season in club history. Espinoza is also now two assists away from tying Richard Mulrooney for the second most assists in club history.

Defender Rodrigues made his MLS debut, starting and playing 90 minutes.

Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made six saves and recorded his third shutout of the season and 13th of his MLS career. Tonight marked San Jose’s first shutout since June 11 (0-0 at NSH), and first at PayPal Park since May 7 (1-0 vs. COL). It also marked San Jose’s first multi-goal shutout victory since Oct. 20, 2021 (4-0 vs. ATX).The Earthquakes are now unbeaten in five straight home matches against Whitecaps FC (3-0-2).

MATCH INFORMATION2022
MLS Regular Season

San Jose Earthquakes 2 – 0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.

Attendance: 13,211

Man of the Match: JT MarcinkowskiScoring Summary:
SJ (1-0) – Jeremy Ebobisse (Jackson Yueill, Cade Cowell) 4’
SJ (2-0) – Jamiro Monteiro (Cristian Espinoza) 34’

Misconduct Summary:
VAN – Andres Cubas (caution) 31’
VAN – Ryan Gauld (caution) 43’
VAN – Tristan Blackmon (caution) 62’
SJ – Benji Kikanović (caution) 90+1’

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Tanner Beason, Nathan, Rodrigues, Tommy Thompson (Paul Marie 81); Eric Remedi (Jan Gregus 70), Jackson Yueill ©, Jamiro Monteiro; Cade Cowell (Benji Kikanović 70), Jeremy Ebobisse, Cristian Espinoza.Substitutes not used: Matt Bersano (GK), Oskar Ågren, Judson, Shea Salinas, Jack Skahan, Niko Tsakiris.

SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 6

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC: Thomas Hasal; Ranko Veselinovic, Tristan Blackmon, Javain Brown (Marcus Godinho 66); Alessando Schöpf (Sebastian Berhalter 78), Julian Gressel, Andres Cubas, Ryan Gauld, Russell Teibert © (Leonard Owusu 78); Cristian Dajome (Pedro Vite 53), Brian White (Toisant Ricketts 78).
Substitutes not used: Cody Cropper (GK), Florian Jungwirth, Jake Nerwinski, Ryan Raposo,

SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 11; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 3SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH ALEX COVELO

On defender Rodrigues making his MLS debut:
“He is a physical and powerful player that could also help us out with aerial balls. With the ball, he was very comfortable today. He had a very good game defensively and offensively. Obviously physically he is not in the best of conditions but will improve step by step.”

On the team’s performance tonight:
“I’ve said it before, these guys are pretty good at understanding the game plan. Sometimes we win and sometimes not, but they are good. We knew that Vancouver was going to present this 3-4-3 with those wingbacks divided a little bit more and leave the three center backs a little bit behind. We knew that as soon as we could rotate the ball and create some pressure, we had to go for the one vs. one, whether with Cristian [Espinoza], Jebo [Jeremy Ebobisse], Cade [Cowell], or Jamiro [Monteiro] charging and find the ball to the wings. They read it very well and I think I was sitting on the bench for the majority of the first half.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER JACKSON YUEILL

On the Quakes’ first goal:
“We talked in training during the week about Cade’s [Cowell] speed and his ability to break out and get past and when we did that, we needed runners in the box. Once I saw him going, I saw Jebo [Jeremy Ebobisse] drift to the back a little bit and I decided to attack that space. The ball was a little bit behind me and I knew Jebo was in that area, and I didn’t know exactly where. I tried flicking it if he was a little bit in front of me, and luckily it went right to him and he had a phenomenal finish, so all the credit goes to him because it’s a tough goal, and to Cade as well because of his speed and the correct path he chose to do. Great team goal and credit to Jebo.”

On Rodrigues’ debut and performance tonight:
“It’s never easy for someone to come to a place, not speak the language, only have a week of training and step onto the field, but I thought he performed really well. He’s got a great partner there with Nathan and was able to communicate and help him throughout the week, get him acclimated to the team and the guys quickly and [Rodrigues] has done a great job. I think you can tell his defensive abilities are really, really good. He made really, really good tackles and his timing is really good. The more he’s with us, the more he’ll get used to the guys. His confidence will grow. I thought he was really good tonight and we’re happy to have him here in San Jose.”

Earthquakes Communications Contacts:
Jake Pisani – Director, Communications
jpisani@sjearthquakes.com
C: 650.483.0701

Pedro Ortiz – Manager, Communications
portiz@sjearthquakes.com
C: 650.457.3512

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo, July 17, 2022

San Jose Earthquakes Forward JEREMY EBOBISSE (11) and the starting eleven huddle prior to the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo at PayPal Park in San Jose, California

MEDIA RELEASE:
July 17, 2022
MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 1, Houston Dynamo FC 2

Quakes’ home unbeaten streak snapped at eight

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Houston Dynamo FC 2-1 on Sunday evening at PayPal Park. The loss, which was San Jose’s first at home since the season opener on Feb. 26, snaps the club’s eight-match unbeaten streak at PayPal Park.Following a scoreless first half, the Earthquakes broke through in the 53rd minute courtesy of team captain Jackson Yueill. Cristian Espinoza played a free kick into the box, which was headed goalward by Tommy Thompson. The slow, looping ball bounced off the crossbar before falling to Yueill for the first-timed finish.Houston then scored the equalizer in the 71st minute.San Jose appeared to re-gain the lead when Jeremy Ebobisse’s right-footed shot from close range beat goalkeeper Steve Clark, but a last-ditch goal-line clearance kept the score tied. Houston then took the lead moments later through Thor Ulfarsson.Despite several opportunities to find an equalizer late in the match, the Quakes couldn’t find a second goal.The Earthquakes will now prepare to host Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo in an international friendly on Wednesday, July 20. The match will kick off from PayPal Park at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes currently hold a 5-8-7 record (22 pts.) during the 2022 MLS regular season.

San Jose is now 9-16-4 all-time vs. Houston Dynamo FC, including a 7-5-3 record at home.Tonight’s result sees the Quakes snap their unbeaten streak at three and their home unbeaten streak at eight.The Earthquakes are now 5-4-4 in MLS play under interim head coach Alex Covelo.Midfielder Jackson Yueill scored his fourth goal of the season and 11th goal of his MLS career.

MATCH INFORMATION

2022 MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 2 Houston Dynamo FC
Sunday, July 17, 2022 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 13,445

Scoring Summary:
SJ (1-0) – Jackson Yueill (unassisted) 53’
HOU (1-1) – Sebastian Ferreira (Fafa Picault) 71’
HOU (2-1) – Thor Ulfarsson (Darwin Quintero) 76’

Misconduct Summary:
HOU – Tim Parker (caution) 28’
HOU – Matias Vera (caution) 43’
SJ – Jamiro Monteiro (caution) 45’
HOU – Fafa Picault (caution) 90’

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Paul Marie, Tanner Beason, Nathan, Tommy Thompson; Eric Remedi (Jack Skahan 83), Jamiro Monteiro, Jackson Yueill ©; Benji Kikanović (Cade Cowell 71), Jeremy Ebobisse, Cristian Espinoza.Substitutes not used: Matt Bersano (GK), Oskar Ågren, Ousseni Bouda, Jan Gregus, Will Richmond, Niko Tsakiris.

SHOTS: 16; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 6; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 2

HOUSTON DYNAMO FC: Steve Clark; Adam Lundkvist, Tim Parker, Teenage Hadebe, Griffin Dorsey; Hector Herrera ©, Adalberto Carrasquilla (Ethan Bartlow 90+2), Matias Vera (Sebastian Ferreira 69); Fafa Picault (Darwin Ceren 90+1), Darwin Quintero (Memo Rodriguez 80), Thor Ulfarsson (Tyler Pasher 80).Substitutes not used: Michael Nelson (GK), Sam Junqua, Zarek Valentin, Zeca.

SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH ALEX COVELO

On the mistakes committed tonight:
“I think the mistake [on the first goal] was an individual mistake, and on the second goal we had to keep the ball out when there wasn’t a clear moment to build up, and that’s it. I don’t think it was because we were building up in the back that Houston had those opportunities. I think we committed individual mistakes and that’s why it’s a very simple analysis today.”

On why he didn’t make more substitutions:
“When you look at the team that we finished with, we had Jebo [Jeremy Ebobisse], who has 11 goals. You have Jamiro [Monteiro], an amazing quality player. We tried to be more offensive by bringing Jackson [Yueill] back as a ‘six’ and putting in Jack Skahan in his place, and with Cade [Cowell] and Cristian [Espinoza] trying to find crosses or individual actions on top. Shea Salinas has a Covid situation. We missed Marcos Lopez [due to yellow card accumulation]. Judson is injured because he has an old injury bothering him. So that’s all we have.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER JAMIRO MONTEIRO

On what Houston did to shut San Jose’s midfield down:
“I didn’t feel like they were making it hard for me. They were really compact, so we didn’t have a lot of space in the midfield, but it wasn’t like they were hard on me. We didn’t have enough space in this game and a lot of our balls were coming from the side instead of the midfield.”

On how he will move past this result:
“I just forget this game. It already happened. We lost. Now we’re onto next week. We still have 14 games. Tomorrow is a new day. We have a new week, new chances. Every week is a new chance for us.”####

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew, March 5, 2022

A beautiful day for Major League Soccer at the match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus Crew at PayPal Park in San Jose, California

MEDIA RELEASE:
March 5, 2022

MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 3, Columbus Crew 3
Quakes play a man down for 57+ minutes; Calvo scores two, including stoppage-time equalizer
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes earned a dramatic 3-3 draw against the Columbus Crew on Saturday afternoon at PayPal Park.
After taking an early 1-0 lead on a Cristian Espinoza penalty kick, San Jose dropped to 10 men when Jamiro Monteiro was shown a straight red card in the 33rd minute. Columbus took advantage by scoring three unanswered goals, including two by Lucas Zelarayan, to take a 3-1 lead into the final 15 minutes of the match.
Francisco Calvo got the Quakes within striking distance by heading home a Jan Gregus free kick in the 84th minute. The two newcomers to the club connected again six minutes into stoppage time, with Calvo heading in the equalizer off a Gregus corner kick.
The Earthquakes will now hit the road for their first away match of the season against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, March 12. Kickoff from Subaru Park is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area Plus, KNBR 1050, and 1370 KZSF.

MEDIA ASSETS
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD POSTGAME SOUNDBITES

GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes currently hold a 0-1-1 record (1 pts.) during the 2022 MLS regular season.
The Quakes now hold a 15-20-9 all-time record against the Columbus Crew, including a 12-6-6 record at home.
San Jose remains undefeated at PayPal Park when hosting Columbus (2-0-2).
The Quakes scored two goals while down a man for the first time since June 29, 2013 vs. LA.
Midfielder Cristian Espinoza scored his first goal of the season and ninth of his MLS career.
Defender Francisco Calvo scored two goals, his first two goals of the season and 11th and 12th of his MLS career.
Midfielder Jan Gregus tallied two assists, his first two assists of the season and 20th and 21st assists of his MLS career.

MATCH INFORMATION
MLS Regular SeasonSan Jose Earthquakes 3 – 3 Columbus Crew March 5, 2022 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.Attendance: 12,888Man of the Match: Francisco Calvo

Scoring Summary:SJ (1-0) – Cristian Espinoza (penalty) 9’CLB (1-1) – Lucas Zelarayan (Steven Moreira) 40’CLB (2-1) – Gyasi Zardes (Derrick Etienne Jr.) 68’CLB (3-1) – Lucas Zelarayan (direct free kick) 73’SJ (3-2) – Francisco Calvo (Jan Gregus) 84’SJ (3-3) – Francisco Calvo (Jan Gregus) 90+6′
Misconduct Summary:SJ – Eric Remedi (caution) 16’SJ – Jamiro Monteiro (ejection) 33’CLB – Pedro Santos (caution) 45+6’SJ – Judson (caution) 75’SJ – Benji Kikanović (caution) 79’CLB – James Igbekeme (caution) 83’CLB – Lucas Zelarayan (caution) 90’CLB – Jalil Anibaba (caution) 90+5′

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Francisco Calvo, Jackson Yueill, Paul Marie (Tommy Thompson 79); Marcos Lopez, Jan Gregus, Eric Remedi (Judson 46), Cristian Espinoza, Chofis (Cade Cowell 46), Jamiro Monteiro; Jeremy Ebobisse (Benji Kikanović 72). Substitutes not used: Tanner Beason, Matt Bersano, Ousseni Bouda, Siad Haji, Niko Tsakiris.

SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 15; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4

COLUMBUS CREW: Eloy Room; Jonathan Mensah, Milos Degenek, Pedro Santos, Steven Moreira, Darlington Nagbe, Artur (James Igbekeme 65), Lucas Zelarayan (Jalil Anibaba 90+1), Yaw Yeboah (Aidan Morris 89), Derrick Etienne Jr., Miguel Berry (Gyasi Zardes 65).
Substitutes not used: Evan Bush, Marlon Hairston, Erik Hurtado, Alexandru Matan, Will Sands.

SHOTS: 19; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 1

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On set pieces and how they thrive on them:“Our new arrivals have good service and are dangerous in the air. Fortunately, today they were able to execute both plays. We still have to keep working on our finishing. Today’s match was really difficult because [Columbus] scored four goals in its previous game. When we were 11v11, we were dominating the game. We played a man down against them for about 70 minutes. The moment we went down 3-1, we decided to go man to man and take more risks. We got our reward for the effort. With 10 players, we had two or three chances based off our build-up play. So, I’m really happy for the players and fans who came out today, and for us as well because we dedicate a lot of time studying the opponent and the club as well.”
On adjusting tactics mid-game and how he’ll approach Philadelphia:“I understood that the game today should’ve been played with that. Especially due to the strategy of Columbus, this is a system that we already have that’s pretty well oiled for us. We’re not going to get caught up with one system. We’re looking for variations in order to get more results than last year. Today, we thought that the game should be played with that formation. We’ll see what we decide for the upcoming match.”
On substitutions at halftime:“I think the players interpreted what we they had to do well. The game required that we make changes. We had to play in a different way that we spoke about at halftime. I was obligated to take [Eric] Remedi off because the ref was likely to send him off. I was liking how he was playing. But once I noticed that every time he would challenge for the ball, there would be a foul and I saw the red card coming quickly. Being a man down, we added different characteristics out wide. Without so much passing quality and dribbles that we have in Chofis, we decided to play with more aggression and speed for the counterattack. The players did well. I always say the same thing with Cade, he’s a young guy that some day, after having many more games played, when he has that chance that he had today, he’s going to shoot instead of cutting inside. But that’s the time that every player needs to become a better player.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER FRANCISCO CALVO
On scoring his goals:“This is just not about Francisco Calvo. This is about the San Jose Earthquakes, about this team. I’m happy for the two goals for sure and to help the team tie the game, but I need to talk about the effort of the team. Being down 3-1 and tying the game is amazing and hopefully we can go from here.”
On the team’s mentality playing with 10 men:“It was tough because we were almost 70 minutes with a man down. And it’s tough, in high level it’s tough to play with 10 [men]. About the goals, I just believed in my teammates, I know they cross really well. If it wasn’t me, I was pretty sure it was another guy who was going to score. Thank God he gave me these two goals and I could help the team. It’s a good point. When we play at home, we always want to win here, but we tied against a really good team. Remember that they just scored four goals in their last game. I don’t think they overplayed us either. They had two golazos from [Lucas] Zelarayan, and sometimes you can’t do anything against that.”
On the team’s resilience today:“Yeah, that’s the right word: resilience. That’s a really good word. And everything starts with [Matias Almeyda] and his coaching staff. I think the spirit that he transmits, the will, the anger, the idea of never giving up, it all starts with him. We then transmit that one by one and in the end, we move onward with that as a team. I’m very happy for scoring my goals, grateful to God, but this is a job done by the entire team. It’s San Jose who earned the score and it’s a point that we didn’t want to let go, but we celebrate it due to the circumstances. We played around 70 minutes with a man down and it’s very difficult playing like that at the highest level.”

####

Contact:
Jake Pisani – 408-556-7774 – jpisani@sjearthquakes.com
Pedro Ortiz – 408-556-3415 – portiz@sjearthquakes.com

San Jose Earthquakes vs. New York Red Bulls, February 26, 2022

San Jose Earthquakes Midfielder CRISTIAN ESPINOZA (10) during the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls at PayPal Park in San Jose, California

MEDIA RELEASE:
Feb. 26, 2022

MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 1, New York Red Bulls 3
Chofis scores first goal of the season; Three players make Earthquakes debuts
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in their 2022 season opener at PayPal Park on Saturday afternoon.
Chofis scored the lone goal for San Jose, while Cristian Espinoza tallied an assist. Midfielders Jamiro Monteiro and Jan Gregus and defender Francisco Calvo all made their Earthquakes debut.
The Earthquakes will remain in San Jose to host the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 5, presented by Fastmetrics. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 2:30 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 and KZSF 1370.

GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes currently hold a 0-1-0 record (0 pts.) during the 2022 MLS regular season.
The Quakes now hold a 17-15-9 all-time record against the New York Red Bulls.
Midfielder Chofis scored his first goal of the season and 13th of his MLS career.
Midfielder Cristian Espinoza tallied his first assist of the season and 31st of his MLS career.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and forward Jeremy Ebobisse made their 50th and 100th MLS appearance, respectively.

MATCH INFORMATION
MLS Regular SeasonSan Jose Earthquakes 1 – 3 New York Red Bulls Feb. 26, 2022 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.Attendance: 16,146

Scoring Summary:RBNY (1-0) – Patryk Klimala (Lewis Morgan, Omir Fernandez) 45+1’SJ (1-1) – Chofis (Cristian Espinoza) 69’RBNY (2-1) – Omir Fernandez (Frankie Amaya) 72’RBNY (3-1) – Tom Barlow (Caden Clark) 90+2′
Misconduct Summary:RBNY – Cristian Cásseres Jr. (caution) 56’RBNY – Dru Yearwood (caution) 65’RBNY – John Tolkin (caution) 89′

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Nathan (Tanner Beason 22), Francisco Calvo; Jackson Yueill, Jan Gregus, Eric Remedi (Tommy Thompson 65), Jamiro Monteiro, Chofis, Cristian Espinoza (Siad Haji 86), Cade Cowell (Benji Kikanovic 65); Jeremy Ebobisse.
Substitutes not used: Matt Bersano, Paul Marie, Judson, Marcos Lopez, Jack Skahan.

SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 6; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4

NEW YORK RED BULLS: Carlos Coronel; Dylan Nealis, Sean Nealis, Aaron Long, John Tolkin; Frankie Amaya, Lewis Morgan, Dru Yearwood (Daniel Edelman 74), Omir Fernandez (Serge Ngoma 77), Cristian Casseres Jr. (Caden Clark 57); Patryk Klimala (Tom Barlow 77).
Substitutes not used: Anthony Marcucci, Lucan Monzón, Ryan Meara, Zach Ryan

SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 22; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 1

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On the goals surrendered against Red Bulls:“If you watch the three goals, which I just watched, there was no build-up play from the opponent. There wasn’t game control from the opponent to create the goal-scoring chance. What I saw on the opponent is that they pressed us when our players had their back turned. We know that we shouldn’t play through the middle because one of the strong points is Red Bulls’ pressure because we know that with our turnovers, they can break away quickly and they will catch us open – and that’s how two of those goals were scored. Two turnovers, two counters, but it was their virtue where they put away the chances that they had. But I didn’t see that they were able to hurt us through their build-up play, but rather our own mistakes.”

On how long it will take for the three new players to adapt to the rest of the squad:“Surely that’s going to take some time. There are some people who pick up new systems faster than others. Also get to know their new teammates, some do that faster than others. I think the three new guys looked good today. Surely as time goes on, the better they will look just as well as the rest of the team.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER JAMIRO MONTEIRO
On his Earthquakes debut:“I had already felt comfortable, the guys welcomed me very well. I am happy that I played my first game for San Jose. Disappointed that we didn’t get the three points, but we have a long season. We learned a lot in this game, but we will move on and make it better.”
On his takeaways from the first match of the season:“The connections were really good between me and Chofis, Jebo [Jeremy Ebobisse], Cade [Cowell], and [Cristian] Espinoza. Everybody likes to come to the ball, pass in the back. We have a good connection. We train really hard on that. This is our first game, it’s a long season, and we will do better for sure. The idea that the coach has is a very good idea, but it will come for sure. We will do better.”

####

Contact:
Jake Pisani – 408-556-7774 – jpisani@sjearthquakes.com
Pedro Ortiz – 408-556-3415 – portiz@sjearthquakes.com

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Austin FC, October 20, 2021

Austin FC Forward MOUSSA DJITTÉ (99) takes a shot during warmups of the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Austin Football Club at PayPal Park in San Jose, California

MEDIA RELEASE:
Oct. 20, 2021

MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 4, Austin FC 0
Wondolowski scores 169th MLS goal
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Austin FC 4-0 on Wednesday evening at PayPal Park. Four different players scored for San Jose, including Major League Soccer’s all-time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski.
After a scoreless first half, San Jose struck early in the second frame. Benji Kikanovic forced a turnover in the corner and carried the ball goalward. His lateral pass bounded past several players before finding Chofis at the back post for the short-range finish.
San Jose added a second just a few minutes later. Jeremy Ebobisse battled with his defender for possession of a long through ball with both eventually stumbling. Kikanovic recovered the loose ball and curled a low shot past goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
The Quakes extended their lead to 3-0 in the 59th minute. Cristian Espinoza played a floating ball into the box, which was cleared only as far as the penalty spot. Chris Wondolowski volleyed the bouncing ball into the back of the net.
San Jose then added a fourth goal in the 85th minute when Carlos Fierro headed home a corner kick by Cristian Espinoza.
The Quakes will now prepare to host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at PayPal Park, presented by Intermedia. The match, which will celebrate the 2001 MLS Cup-winning team, will kick off at 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.

GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 9-12-9 record (36 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season and are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference.
San Jose is now 2-0-1 all-time vs. Austin, with a 1-0-0 home record. The Quakes have scored four goals in each of their last two meetings with Austin.
San Jose’s last victory by a margin of 4+ goals was vs. LA Galaxy (4-0) on Oct. 14, 2020.
The Quakes recorded their first multi-goal shutout victory since Sept. 29, in which the Quakes defeated LAFC 2-0 at PayPal Park.
Midfielder Chofis scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season, his first season in MLS. His 12 goals are the most by any first-year player in MLS. His goal also marked his second game-winning goal of the season.
Rookie forward Benji Kikanovic scored his third goal of the season.
Forward Jeremy Ebobisse tallied the assist on Kikanovic’s goal. It marked his first assist of the season and ninth of his MLS career.
Forward Chris Wondolowski scored his third goal of the season and 169th of his MLS career. Along with two postseason goals, he now has 171 combined regular season and playoff goals, surpassing Landon Donovan (170) for most all-time.
Midfielder Carlos Fierro scored his second goal of the season and fourth of his MLS career.
Midfielder Cristian Espinoza tallied the assist on Fierro’s goal. It marked his team-leading seventh assist of the season and 29th of his MLS career.
Tonight’s shutout marks JT Marcinkowski’s fifth shutout in 2021, and 10th of his MLS career. His five shutouts are a single-season career-high.

MATCH INFORMATION
MLS Regular SeasonSan Jose Earthquakes 4 – 0 Austin FCOct. 20, 2021 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.Attendance: 12,035Man of the Match: Benji Kikanovic

Scoring Summary:SJ (1-0) – Chofis (unassisted) 46’SJ (2-0) – Benji Kikanovic (Jeremy Ebobisse) 53’SJ (3-0) – Chris Wondolowski (unassisted) 59’SJ (4-0) – Carlos Fierro (Cristian Espinoza) 85′
Misconduct Summary:SJ – Nathan (caution) 25’ATX – Jhohan Romaña (caution) 39’ATX – Alex Ring (caution) 45+1’SJ – Marcos Lopez (caution) 81′

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Marcos Lopez, Tanner Beason, Nathan, Tommy Thompson (Paul Marie 58); Eric Remedi, Jackson Yueill, Cristian Espinoza, Chofis (Cristian Espinoza 58); Andy Rios (Chris Wondolowski 58), Benji Kikanovic (Carlos Fierro 65), Jeremy Ebobisse (Cade Cowell 65).
Substitutes not used: Oswaldo Alanis, Tanner Beason, Judson, Shea Salinas, Daniel Vega.

SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 4

AUSTIN FC: Brad Stuver; Jhohan Romaña, Julio Cascante, Zan Kolmanic, Nick Lima; Tomas Pochettino, Alex Ring, Sebastian Driussi (Dani Pereira 70); Cecilio Dominguez (Rodney Reyes 46), Diego Fagundez (Kekuta Manneh 80), Moussa Djitte (McKinze Gaines 46).
Substitutes not used: Sebastian Berhalter, Jon Gallagher, Hector Jimenez, Aedan Stanley, Andrew Tarbell.

SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 5

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On his impressions of the match and shutout victory:“I think we played a great game. The strategy went well because we won the match by creating many opportunities to get shots on goal. When the team plays well, everyone plays well, even the guys who came off the bench. I think if we were able to maintain this consistency, intensity and style, surely our outlook would be different. It makes me happy for the young players. They showed they go for more even in a complicated present. I asked them to play for honor and they did that.”
On Benji Kikanovic’s impact as a winger:“I decided for him to play on the left side. Benji, Cade Cowell, Cristian Espinoza, Carlos Fierro can all play in different positions. That is what we are looking for and try to transmit to them. I have been saying for a while that when the young players have 30 matches played for San Jose, they will be more complete. Among four to five players, younger guys such as Tanner Beason, Jackson Yueill, Benji need these minutes to improve, make mistakes and grow physically and mentally.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On scoring his 169th MLS goal:“To be honest, it was a bit of a combo, both relief and joy. Joy to get that win, especially a breakout win in front of our home fans. It’s been a strong point for us to be better at home and to pick up points and it’s exciting to be able to get more points at home for it to be a fortress. That’s something that we try to work on and keep trying to continue to improve. To have this breakout game at home was very satisfying, very nice. For myself, I grab joy from that and for myself it’s a bit of a relief. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it hit the back of the net, so to do that was special as well.”
On the team’s confidence heading into the remaining few games after tonight’s win:“I think it’s something that was needed. I think it was great for the morale in the locker room. It was nice to have one of those tangible wins where everything went well. We worked on set pieces, and we were able to get a set piece goal. We worked on our diagonals and crosses, and we were able to get a goal like that. It was nice to have everything kind of click so I think that it’s very beneficial for us as we close on these last four games and try to make the best run as we can.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER JT MARCINKOWSKI
On Tanner Beason’s impact in the defense:“Tanner has done really well. He’s a gamer. I think he’s someone who leaves it all on the line. I think you can see that in his save and the countless number of blocks he makes throughout a match. I think the entire team played really well tonight because of the way we pressed in the first and second half. It was really effective. Our backline was really sharp and compact, and communicated really well with each other. Nathan, Marcos Lopez, Tommy Thompson and Paul Marie played well. I think Eric Remedi had six or seven key tackles in the middle, same with Jackson Yueill. It was overall a team effort and we were fortunate to get the clean sheet.”
On the team’s communication in the locker room:“Before the game, I think there was a really good vibe in the locker room. Matias Almeyda has always told us to play with love, passion and honor. I think that’s what we showed tonight. We played for each other, with each other as a team. At halftime, we tried to continue what we were doing in the first half. We created some good chances, and we knew if we kept a high intensity, goals would come in the second half. I think it was crucial getting a few early and putting ourselves on the front foot. I think that’s something we haven’t done well this year, putting teams away when we can. We let a lot of teams back into the game when they shouldn’t have been there. It was nice to finally get one where we scored goals when we needed to. After the match, it was a good vibe, but we’re ready for Saturday. It’s a quick turnaround. There’s only a short amount of time before the next game. All eyes are on Vancouver.”

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Contact:
Jake Pisani – 408-556-7774 – jpisani@sjearthquakes.com
Pedro Ortiz – 408-556-3415 – portiz@sjearthquakes.com

The 2018 Nevada District 1 All Star Tournament… Day 8

Photo of the Day…

These are the “… DON’T even think about it…” photos from the day…

Nevada District 1 Little League All Star Photo Galleries

The 2018 Nevada District 1 All Star Tournament… Day 6

Photo of the Day…

Will he catch him or not? The suspense in a photo sometimes gives it a little more intrigue… you’ll have to check out the gallery to see the outcome! 🙂

Nevada District 1 Little League All Star Photo Galleries

The 2018 Nevada District 1 All Star Tournament… Day 3

Photo of the Day for Friday… (sorry for the delay, been at the park more than at home for the last 100 hours…)

Effort of the Day we’ll call this… and while he didn’t make the out… this is the effort that it takes sometimes to win… Carson Valley ended up winning this game, can’t help but think that if you have enough of a team making this effort that good things will happen!!

Click Here for the direct link to the 2018 NV District 1 Photos…