Magnus Eriksson’s lead goal!

San Jose Earthquakes fall to Montreal Impact on Opening Night

San Jose Earthquakes’ Anibal Godoy (24) is fouled by Montreal Impact defender Daniel Lovitz (3) during the first half of an MLS soccer match in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

2019.03.02 – Magnus Eriksson gave the Quakes the lead in the 11th minute, turning on Valeri Qazaishvili’s (Vako) pass and sending in a left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box.

The San Jose Earthquakes fell 2-1 to the Montreal Impact on Opening Night at Avaya Stadium in Matias Almeyda’s first match as head coach of the Quakes.

The Major League Soccer opener this weekend underscored how much work it will take Almeyda and the Earthquakes to join the playoff conversation.

2019.03.02 (San Jose Earthquakes vs. Montreal Impact) See video

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2019.03.02 (San Jose Earthquakes vs. Montreal Impact) See video

After all the optimism San Jose created in the off-season by hiring the 2018 CONCACAF coach of the year and signing four new starters, the result exposed shortcomings in a challenging new defense Almeyda has implemented.

“We are trying to really adjust, and it will take him some time,” defender Guram Kashia said. “It’s not like (there’s a) magic stick and everything will change in two or three games. Because we need to make mistakes to learn, and we are in that process right now.”

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Related: San Jose Earthquakes Hire Matias Almeyda as Head Coach

Matias Almeyda former Argentina National Team midfielder recently led Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara to the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League title.

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Despite the changes in personnel, the opener resembled many of last year’s results – an early lead for the Quakes, followed by defensive breakdowns and the inability to mount a late comeback.

The Impact’s Ignacio Piatti tied it at 1 for Montreal with a rocket in the 29th minute. Piatti took Taider’s short corner and weaved into a soft spot in the defense to get an opening for the close-range shot.

Saphir Taider’s game-winner in the 44th minute was the result of allowing fullback Zakaria Diallo too much time and space to deliver a pinpoint serve.

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Related: Quakes on a methodological reconstruction mode (by Joel Soria)

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Almeyda talked about the big picture despite those defensive breakdowns.

“No adverse results will ever leave me satisfied, but I don’t live life being stuck on a result,” the Argentine said through a translator. “They had two distractions; the rival’s two goals from which we can correct ourselves. As the game went on, our team was competitive, a team fighting for possession, a team that pressured.”

But overall, the Quakes were not good enough to hold a lead at home.

MLS’ All-TIME LEADING SCORER

“It’s going to be an evolving process throughout the year,” captain Chris Wondolowski said. “We don’t want to be peaking in three weeks. We want to be peaking in 30 weeks.”

Wondolowski, 36, will have to wait to join U.S. star Landon Donovan as MLS’ all-time leading scorer. He remains one behind Donovan’s 145 career goals after being held to one late shot Saturday night.

Montreal clogged the middle of the field and sat deep, waiting for the chance to counter while leaving little space for San Jose forwards to operate.