Earthquakes Fall 2-1 Against D.C. United
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Chris Wondolowski scored in his first game back from the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but it wasn't enough as the San Jose Earthquakes fell 2-1 against D.C. United on Friday at Buck Shaw Stadium.
San Jose peppered D.C. United's goal with an 18-9 advantage on shots, eight of which were on target. However, United goalkeeper Bill Hamid was the difference with seven saves, several of which came from point-blank range.
Eddie Johnson opened the scoring in the 12th minute from the penalty spot. Earthquakes defender Brandon Barklage was whistled for a handball in the area, and Johnson capitalized by slotting home his shot to the lower right corner.
Luis Silva doubled the visitor's lead in the 25th minute with a darting run to the near post and a flicked finish. Chris Rolfe played the cross in and Silva redirected the ball toward the far post with a slight touch for the goal.
The Earthquakes pulled one back in the 39th minute with Wondolowski picking up his sixth goal of the season. Wondolowski took a pass from Khari Stephenson near the top of the box and curled a shot with his left foot. The ball deflected off a D.C. United defender and into the net to keep the Quakes within one.
Alan Gordon nearly equalized twice in the waning moments, but was turned away twice by Hamid from close proximity. His first chance came in the 89th minute after Wondolowski sprung the target man in the box. Gordon pounded his shot off the bounce, but Hamid dove in front of the shot and parried it away to preserve the lead. Gordon had another look in added time, heading a shot at the far post to what appeared to be an open net until Hamid sprung back into action and made a key diving save to again keep the lead.
The Earthquakes return to MLS action on Saturday, July 19 at Red Bull Arena. The game kicks off at 4 p.m. PT on Comcast SportsNet Plus, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1:2 D.C. United
July 11, 2014 -- Buck Shaw Stadium
Attendance: 10,525
San Jose Earthquakes 1:2 D.C. United
July 11, 2014 -- Buck Shaw Stadium
Attendance: 10,525
Scoring Summary: DC -- Eddie Johnson (penalty) 12; DC -- Luis Silva (Chris Rolfe) 25; SJ -- Chris Wondolowski (Khari Stephenson) 39.
Misconduct Summary: DC -- Perry Kitchen (caution) 72; DC -- Eddie Johnson (caution) 87); SJ -- Alan Gordon (caution) 90+2.
San Jose Earthquakes: Jon Busch, Brandon Barklage (Shaun Francis 46), Victor Bernardez, Clarence Goodson, Jordan Stewart (Alan Gordon 81), Atiba Harris (Shea Salinas 67), Sam Cronin, Khari Stephenson, Yannick Djalo, Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart.
SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 5; OFFSIDES: 4.
D.C. United -- Bill Hamid, Chris Korb, Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Boswell, Sean Franklin, Nick DeLeon, Perry Kitchen, Davy Arnaud, Chris Rolfe, Luis Silva (Lewis Neal 75), Eddie Johnson (Conor Doyle 88).
SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; SAVES: 7; FOULS: 13; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 1.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MARK WATSON
On Shea Salinas' return:
"Shea has been struggling with an injury for a long time and we tried to get it right with the break. The situation presented itself for him to get some minutes tonight and I thought he looked lively. He's someone who thrives on going at defenders and putting balls in the box and I thought for his first minutes in a long time, he did well."
"Shea has been struggling with an injury for a long time and we tried to get it right with the break. The situation presented itself for him to get some minutes tonight and I thought he looked lively. He's someone who thrives on going at defenders and putting balls in the box and I thought for his first minutes in a long time, he did well."
On result:
"It's disappointing to lose anytime, especially at home. For once, we were healthy and had good availability. Maybe it's a bit more disappointing, but to put yourself in a two-goal hole is difficult in any place. You try to take the positives out of a game, but it's tough when you lose. We created a lot of chances and we just need to do a bit better putting those away."
"It's disappointing to lose anytime, especially at home. For once, we were healthy and had good availability. Maybe it's a bit more disappointing, but to put yourself in a two-goal hole is difficult in any place. You try to take the positives out of a game, but it's tough when you lose. We created a lot of chances and we just need to do a bit better putting those away."
On Chris Wondolowski's return:
"Wondo always gives you a boost. He looked good and had a couple moments to put another one or two away. Chris would be the first to tell you he would rather have the victory [than the goal], but it's good to have him back. Wondo is a big piece of this team moving forward."
"Wondo always gives you a boost. He looked good and had a couple moments to put another one or two away. Chris would be the first to tell you he would rather have the victory [than the goal], but it's good to have him back. Wondo is a big piece of this team moving forward."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On return to club:
"It's good to be back. The fans were so welcoming. I truly love them and I love playing in front of them. Unfortunately, we did not get the result we all wanted. I thought we played very well at times. We had a couple of let downs, granted D.C. United is a very good team. We did not capitalize on our chances and we got punished at the end for it."
"It's good to be back. The fans were so welcoming. I truly love them and I love playing in front of them. Unfortunately, we did not get the result we all wanted. I thought we played very well at times. We had a couple of let downs, granted D.C. United is a very good team. We did not capitalize on our chances and we got punished at the end for it."
On D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid:
"I thought he was very good. He does a great job of coming out and cutting off angles. He makes himself very big and forced us into having to make a perfect shot to beat him. We couldn't find that shot. He was on top of his game tonight."
"I thought he was very good. He does a great job of coming out and cutting off angles. He makes himself very big and forced us into having to make a perfect shot to beat him. We couldn't find that shot. He was on top of his game tonight."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER CLARENCE GOODSON
On result:
"It was a bad start to the game. We came out slow from the gate and we gave up two bad goals. The second goal was my fault. I apologized to my team, but sorry doesn't cut it. It needs to be earned back with your play. The second half was much better, but it's taking us too long to come into a game like this. There is no excuse for us to be dropping points at home like we have been doing lately."
"It was a bad start to the game. We came out slow from the gate and we gave up two bad goals. The second goal was my fault. I apologized to my team, but sorry doesn't cut it. It needs to be earned back with your play. The second half was much better, but it's taking us too long to come into a game like this. There is no excuse for us to be dropping points at home like we have been doing lately."
On second half of the season:
"We find ourselves in a hole again just like last year. You look at our matches this year and there have been stretches when we've played well. Then we hit those poor spells and that's how we give up bad goals. To be fair, we haven't given up too many goals this year. In regards to a second half resurgence, I think it's all there for us. We need to find ways to be better for longer stretches. When we are struggling, get back to a better shape and that will minimize goals. If we do that, you will see games like this fall our way."
"We find ourselves in a hole again just like last year. You look at our matches this year and there have been stretches when we've played well. Then we hit those poor spells and that's how we give up bad goals. To be fair, we haven't given up too many goals this year. In regards to a second half resurgence, I think it's all there for us. We need to find ways to be better for longer stretches. When we are struggling, get back to a better shape and that will minimize goals. If we do that, you will see games like this fall our way."
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