Goodson Nets Winner, Godoy Makes MLS Debut in 1-0 Victory Over Rapids
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 in front of a sold-out crowd at Avaya Stadium on Friday Night. With the win, the Quakes improved to 4-2-2 at their new venue and 5-2-3 in all home games this season. Defender Clarence Goodson tallied the lone goal in the 53rd minute, his second game-winning goal of the season.
San Jose's most recent acquisition, midfielder Anibal Godoy, made his MLS debut. The Panamanian international started and played the full 90 minutes, helping to blank their Western Conference foe. The Earthquakes also got a couple familiar faces back in the lineup, with Designated Player Matias Perez Garcia and Goodson each returning from injury.
In the 22nd minute, Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas evaded several defenders on his way inside the Rapids penalty area and laid off a pass for forward Quincy Amarikwa. Amarikwa's initial shot attempt was blocked, but his second shot forced a tough save by Colorado keeper Clint Irwin.
The Earthquakes depth and versatility was tested early, as defender Jordan Stewart departed the match in just the 27th minute with a left ankle injury. Defender Shaun Francis, who started each of the past two matches, stepped in to replace him.
Francis created a scoring opportunity in the 38th minute. He played a waist-high cross in front of net and Amarikwa's glancing header went just wide of the far post.
Colorado nearly took a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Midfielder Dillon Powers was on the receiving end of a long ball into the box and his header caromed off the cross bar.
Just one minute later, San Jose grabbed the lead on a header by Goodson. Following a free kick by Salinas, Amarikwa took possession and lofted a cross to the back post. Goodson rose to meet it and headed the ball off the post and in. It marked his second goal of the season and the fifth of his MLS career. Amarikwa tallied his second assist of the season, first with the Quakes, and has now scored or assisted on each of the team's last five goals.
Goodson's goal proved to be the difference in the match. With the score, Goodson is now the only defender in Major League Soccer with multiple game-winning goals this season.
Avaya Stadium is proving to be a fortress for the Earthquakes. Including tonight's win over the Rapids, San Jose has now held their opponent scoreless in five of the last six MLS matches at Avaya Stadium, dating back to April 11.
San Jose plays their first of two road matches next week on Wednesday, August 19 against Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park. The match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CSNCA and 1370 KZSF.
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MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 Colorado Rapids
August 14, 2015 - Avaya Stadium
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary: SJ - Clarence Goodson (Quincy Amarikwa) 63.
Misconduct Summary: SJ - Victor Bernardez (caution) 49; COL - Bobby Burling (caution) 65; COL - Sam Cronin (caution) 74; COL - Maynor Figueroa (caution) 84; SJ - Marc Pelosi (caution) 88.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham, Cordell Cato, Victor Bernardez, Clarence Goodson, Jordan Stewart (Shaun Francis 27), Anibal Godoy, Sanna Nyassi (Marvell Wynne 85), Chris Wondolowski, Matias Perez Garcia (Marc Pelosi 50), Shea Salinas, Quincy Amarikwa.
SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 22; CORNER KICKS: 6;OFFSIDES: 1.
COLORADO RAPIDS: Clint Irwin, Bobby Burling, Sean St. Ledger, Drew Moor, Maynor Figueroa, Jared Watts (Marcelo Sarvas 46), Dillon Powers (Gabriel Torres 81), Sam Cronin, Vicente Sanchez (Charles Eloundou 62), Kevin Doyle, Juan Ramirez.
SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 17; CORNER KICKS: 3;OFFSIDES: 1.
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SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On game overall:
"Huge three points. And obviously I wasn't keeping an eye too much on the standings, but I think we leapfrogged Salt Lake, a little bit closer to Seattle, I think we're three points behind. And now we have to get ready for a tough week. I'm really happy with the effort. The guys were good. A real good goal, a lot of second efforts on that part of it. It would have been nice to have gotten a second to kind of ease the pressure on us a little bit. But yeah, any time you shut out a team it gives you a chance to win and one goal was enough for us tonight."
On newcomer Anibal Godoy starting after recently joining the team:
"At this time in the season when you bring in a player like him, or you bring in somebody new that you think can help the team, he's not here to blend in and to work his way into the game. In the conversations I had with him when we found out he signed, I told him I wanted him to play and then I had a conversation before the game and he was more than excited to get going. So it was a pretty easy decision just depending on how he felt and he said he felt fine. And I thought he had a good game for us tonight."
On Matias Perez Garcia's status:
"A little slight hamstring problem. You could tell it was kind of hindering him a little bit. We tried to hopefully get him going a little bit at halftime, and it just wasn't happening."
On Marc Pelosi instead of Tommy Thompson subbing for Perez Garcia:
"I thought Marc did well. He's been playing well in practice and I think he deserves his minutes. So it's not one or the other, it's just how I feel at that particular time, and I thought at that particular time in the game I think we needed Marc because he tackles well and makes good passes, and he was going to sit a little bit deeper and give Chris [Wondolowski] some more freedom to get forward."
On Clarence Goodson's return to the lineup:
"That was huge. He's a smart player. He finds himself in good areas, and obviously he's dangerous when he gets going forward. So, he's a good center back. We all know that. And to have him back for this game was a big one."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER DAVID BINGHAM
On defense performance:
"I think the back five we had tonight was outstanding. We went back to how we were playing at the beginning of the year. We were compact and it was very hard for them to break us down. I felt Shaun [Francis] came in and showed why he is a true vet to take over for Jordan [Stewart] after he went off the field. Great performance all around and the game-winning goal came from our backline."
On how club can carry momentum onto road trip:
"We just have to get back to basics. We were so good defensively at the beginning of the year and we found that same form tonight. We need to keep it up to have a chance. We have to control what we can control and we will come away with some points."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER ANIBAL GODOY
On Earthquakes debut:
"I want to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to come to San Jose and play. I couldn't be more proud of a group of teammates than I have with this club. This group of guys knows if we can stay hungry and stay united, we can win some matches. Today we demonstrated that we are a solid squad and if we continue to play like this we will reach our goal."
On arrival to San Jose earlier in the day:
"I was prepared mentally. They called me and asked if I was ready to start on my first day here and I said yes. I was rested and motivated by this great opportunity. I thank the Lord for giving me the strength to go out there on the pitch and play a full 90 minutes."
