SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes emphatically put to bed a four-game winless streak with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Avaya Stadium.
Vancouver took an early lead, but San Jose stormed back to dominate the visitors in record-setting fashion. Judson scored the first goal of his Major League Soccer career before Chris Wondolowski gave the Quakes the lead for good with his 155th MLS goal late in the first half. Substitute Andres Rios added an insurance goal for the home side to complete the scoring. Overall, San Jose took 43 shots, breaking the previous league record of 38 set by the 1998 MetroStars.
“It felt great,” Wondolowski said. “I love it. Love this group. It’s great to just get back on the board and get back into winning ways and just to be a part of it is fun, but to get a goal as well is real nice.”
The victory was vital for San Jose, which lost its past three games and was winless in August. The three points earned pushed the Quakes back into the top half of the Western Conference with just seven games left in the season.
“I think it’s an important result just because we’re playing at home and we wanted three points, we believed we can get three points,” midfielder Shea Salinas said. “I don’t know about momentum. We were still confident in the team we were able to be and we were able to show that tonight.”
There were four changes to the Quakes starting XI from Wednesday’s 4-0 loss at LAFC. Leading scorer Wondolowski and attacking midfielder Magnus Eriksson returned after a one-game hiatus. Judson and Tommy Thompson returned from suspension to take their customary roles at defensive midfielder and right back, respectively. Assistant coach Omar Zarif patrolled the sideline in place of Matias Almeyda, who was suspended for the game after being ejected from Wednesday’s game.
“I think it was a big example of our character,” Salinas said. “We have a bunch of leaders on this team. Every single guy steps out there and make sacrifices for their teammates, and it showed tonight, and it was an amazing performance.”
The Whitecaps, winners of two of their last three games, struck first on the night, as Jakob Nerwinski put the visitors up with a wonderful individual effort in the 6th minute. After shaking loose of his mark, he drove to the top of the box before curling a ball around Florian Jungwirth and past a diving Daniel Vega. It was Nerwinski’s first career MLS goal, but the celebration was short lived.
The Earthquakes evened the score a minute later, when Judson completed a crisp passing sequence with a close-range goal. Cristian Espinoza got the play started with a pass to Wondolowski near the spot that the captain turned back into the path of the onrushing Judson. The Brazilian took care of the rest, bringing the Quakes level at 1-1.
For the rest of the half, it was all San Jose. Espinoza, Vako Qazaishvili, Eriksson, and Jackson Yueill all had quality scoring opportunities go wanting over a 27-minute stretch.
The Earthquakes took the lead in the 34th minute when Wondolowski took care of business in front of net. On a corner kick whipped into the area, Jungwirth got a head to the ball to send it towards the far post where the Quakes’ captain was waiting unmarked. He headed past Crepeau for his 11th goal of the season and San Jose enjoyed a 2-1 lead.
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By the halftime whistle, the Earthquakes had numerous additional chances to pad their advantage, but the Whitecaps stood resolute when it mattered most. Still the stats were stunningly one-sided, as the Quakes had 25 shots to the ‘Caps 3 and an 11-0 edge in corner kicks. Maxime Crepeau was credited with 10 saves by intermission, a club record for a half, and was individually responsible for keeping Vancouver in the game.
For all of their focus on offense, the Earthquakes were at times vulnerable defensively, and the Whitecaps nearly leveled on two occasions to start the second half. A lucky bounce was all the visitors needed on a scramble in from of goal in the 52nd minute, but fortunately for Vega and the Quakes, the ball slipped wide of the post.
The Earthquakes shook awake at the close call and the best opportunity came in the 68th minute when Wondolowski had only Crepeau to beat in the area, but his low shot was kicked away by the goalkeeper.
San Jose made its first change in the 70th minute, with Rios, making his home debut, replacing Vako. The Georgian midfielder took 10 shots on the evening, but couldn’t solve Crepeau. No problem for the Quakes, as his replacement was able to do so with his first attempt of the night.
Following a smart play by Eriksson to create space on the right side of the area, he pulled the ball back to Rios at the top of the box. The Argentine spied the space he needed and struck a low ball through the defense and off the inside of the post for his first goal with the Earthquakes.
“I’m very happy, happy with the goal, happy with the win,” Rios said. “When we are playing here at home, we know the fans are coming to see us win.”
The third goal of the game for San Jose was a long time coming, and the team came together in a joyous bear hug after the Rios goal.
“Right after I celebrated the goal, I dedicated it to my family,” Rios said. “I told everyone including the substitutes to join me because we are a team, a group and that’s what we want to see grow and form because that will make us strong.”
The Earthquakes completed their substitutions in the 80th minute, as Salinas and Carlos Fierro entered for Espinoza and Wondolowski. The team’s offense didn’t suffer in the least, and the subs brought even more energy in the attacking half of the field.
San Jose’s defenders didn’t want to go unremembered, and in the 85th minute, Jungwirth rattled the crossbar with a free kick attempt. The Quakes couldn’t push the rebound past Crepeau, however, as the goalkeeper did what he could to keep the deficit at 3-1. He finished the game with 16 saves, another MLS record on a record breaking night.
At the final whistle, San Jose celebrated the big win and boost in its playoffs chances. The Quakes now have a week to prepare for the visit of Orlando City next Saturday.