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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Just when it looked like the San Jose Earthquakes were on their way to winning their first game at Avaya Stadium since the season opener, they coughed up a two-goal lead to the Vancouver Whitecaps and lost 3-2.
It was a demoralizing result for a team that already sits at the foot of the table, and it is tough to see what the Quakes can do to salvage their season, even with nine games remaining on the schedule.
On the visitors’ bench, the victory was deservedly enjoyed, as the game could prove to be a turning point for a team that is hovering just outside the top six in the conference. The Whitecaps did not start the evening off on the right foot, but they made amends with a thoroughly dominating second half performance.
Where’s Wondo?
For the fifth straight game, Chris Wondolowski, the team’s captain and emotional center, was out of the starting lineup, relegated the the bench and waiting for his opportunity to take the field.
He had a bird’s eye view of the Earthquakes strong start, especially the first twenty minutes, which was an inspired performance from the hosts. He also had a front row seat for the Quakes collapse, and when he finally checked into the game, the Whitecaps had already completed their comeback and were in game management mode.
“It’s even worse I feel because you don’t have a say in it,” Wondolowski said of watching the game unfold from the bench. “I would try and help any way I can, but it’s a helpless feeling.”
After scoring the game tying goal in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Toronto FC, Wondo seemed poised to get more consideration for playing time. However, Earthquakes head coach Mikael Stahre felt the captain would have his biggest impact as a substitute, so he fielded the same starting eleven for the second consecutive game.
“We played well in the first 45 minutes against Toronto,” Stahre said. “That is why we started with the same lineup. Obviously, it went well for the first 35 minutes. Then we had a plan to make some early changes, but we were forced to react when we conceded the goal.”
The coach made his first sub, with the game tied at 2-2, when Chris Wehan replaced Jahmir Hyka, who had scored the first Quakes goal of the evening. By this point in the game, the crowd was actively chanting for Wondo to be brought in, which Stahre did with 20 minutes remaining.
“Wondo was in our plans to sub in anyway, so it was more about when,” Stahre said. “Like I said, our plan was to be proactive and make some changes early in the second half. We had hoped to dictate the game from our own perspective.”
Vancouver’s three goal outburst prevented that approach, and Wondolowski took the field after his teammates had already begun to mentally check out. It was a difficult shift for the Quakes legend, and after his only shot on goal was deflected away by the defense, he slumped at the final whistle, dejected.
“Oh yeah. I thought I was in a rock bottom, but I have found it again.”
Wondo has nine more games this season to try and catch Landon Donovan for the all-time MLS scoring record, and he will never rest at the opportunity to reach it, but with limited minutes and an underperforming team, it is becoming tougher to see him getting there.
Whitecaps step it up
From the opening whistle, it was clear that the Quakes were the better team. They moved the ball, controlled possession, and pinned the Vancouver defense back on its heels, netting two goals and looking every part a winner.
But for Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson, it was disgraceful, especially for a team that is still fighting for a playoff berth, and the fiery former player didn’t hold back in assessing his side’s first half.
“I thought we were soft in the first twenty minutes,” Robinson said. “They won every second ball. They wanted it more, which is concerning. You don’t go under and you don’t give in and you don’t be soft. We’re in professional sports here, we’re in a big boy world, so you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and fight.”
Vancouver recovered somewhat after falling behind 2-0, seeing out the rest of the half without incident, but that did not stop the coach for addressing his squad with a high-volume halftime talk.
“I told them some hard truths at halftime,” Robinson said, “but they actually spoke up at halftime as well. They admitted they weren’t at the races. I raised my voice a little bit in there, that’s why I have a bit of a croaky voice at the moment, but they responded great. I believe in them, probably more than they believe in themselves sometimes, and I can’t get my head around that.”
The coach was pleased to see his player battle harder in the second half, and he was never worried when they picked up three yellow cards in quick succession in the 51st minute. Rather, it was just the catalyst the team needed, and in a blink of an eye, the Whitecaps turned a two goal deficit into a one goal lead.
“Three goals in nine minutes shows how dangerous we can be,” Robinson said. “When they produce performances like that, we are just not nice to play against, which is a good trait to have.”
Vancouver will need more such inspired performances over the last eight games of the campaign if they are to make a repeat showing in the MLS Cup playoffs at season’s end.
Better luck next year!
For as inspiring as the Whitecaps comeback was, the Quakes capitulation was as distressing. Sure, the 1-1 draw last weekend with Toronto came against a team that had played in a tough Canadian Championship final just days before and fielded a weakened lineup, but the Earthquakes seemed to have turned a corner when it came to their consistency. More was expected against Vancouver.
“As a team we failed,” defender Guram Kashia said. “We failed really bad. It was not something that was tactical. Is was on the players on the field. We are in a position as players that we have to take all the criticism.”
The veteran centerback, who joined San Jose in July, was clearly frustrated by the result, especially what he saw as a complete lack of focus as Vancouver mounted its second half comeback.
“When we gave up the first goal, we stopped playing,” Kashia said. “I don’t have any answers for that.”
His coach was also unable to explain the dip in focus, especially as the team has not given up at any other point this season. He promised that he would be addressing the situation with everyone in the coming days.
“There is a mental thing when you concede a goal and you are facing a good opponent,” Stahre said. “That happens in a game. You have to handle that, but we lost everything. We reacted a bit after the third goal, but it was too late.”
Kashia, who was making his sixth straight start after arriving in MLS following a long career in the Dutch Eredivisie with Vitesse, said he has experienced similar lows before, but he’s tasted more success than failure. He knew moving to a last place team would have its challenges.
“These last two games have been disappointing, but bigger picture, I can see the potential in this club,” Kashia said. “We can be a decent team in this league. It’s such a fine difference between every team, so we need to put some more winning mentality, more energy, more quality, more energy, and the points will come for sure.”
The Georgian international hopes some of that will come during the last nine games of the 2018 season, but he also recognizes that the Quakes need to already have an eye on what they need to do to be successful next year as well.
“The main focus has to be the next season, because this season will be really tough,” Kashia said. “The only thing we can do now is to win back the hearts of the supporters because obviously they are really disappointed and that is understandable.”
San Jose still has five games remaining at Avaya Stadium this season. Hopefully, the Earthquakes will give their fans something to celebrate in that time.