Wondo the MLS Goal King!
Wondo adds to MLS best 153 goals! Quakes rout Whitecaps FC
San Jose Earthquakes’ Chris Wondolowski wit a goal and an assist celebrate in front of a Vancouver Whitecaps’ Erik Godoy during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Saturday, July 20, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
2019.07.20 – Chris Wondolowski scored the tiebreaking goal and also had an assist to help the San Jose Earthquakes notch a 3-1 victory over the host Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.
Midfielders Valeri “Vako” Qazaishvili and Magnus Eriksson also scored goals, as San Jose (10-7-4, 34 points) out-shot Vancouver 32-6 while winning for the fifth time in its past six matches.
Wondolowski’s goal in the 34th minute proved to be the decider in a contest, in which the Earthquakes put 11 shots on target compared to one for the Whitecaps.
Defender Doneil Henry scored the goal for Vancouver (4-11-8, 20 points), which lost for the fifth straight game and saw its win less streak increase to eight. Henry’s goal in the seventh minute was the Caps’ lone shot on target.
The Whitecaps have been outscored 17-2 during their five-game slide. They also have been out-shot 65-12 over the past two matches, placing just one shot on goal.
2019.07.20 (San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC ) See video
2019.07.20 (San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC ) See video
San Jose went ahead in the 34th minute, after Vako delivered a right-footed blast that caromed off the left post. The ball hit Vancouver keeper Maxime Crepeau — still on the ground from his dive — in the back, and he scrambled for a behind-the-back flip to keep it from crossing the line.
But Wondolowski was waiting and kicked the loose ball into the net for his ninth goal of the season, while expanding his MLS career goals record to 153.
The Whitecaps had an opportunity to tie in the 75th minute, but forward Joaquin Ardaiz sent his close-range shot over the center of the net.
The Earthquakes put the game away four minutes later when midfielder Cristian Espinosa fed Eriksson, who smacked a right-footed shot past Crepeau to make it a two-goal margin.
Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Henry went up for a header and missed, but the ball hit San Jose defender Tommy Thompson and dropped at Henry’s feet, and he sent a right-footed bouncing shot past San Jose goalkeeper Daniel Vega.
The Earthquakes tied the score nine minutes later. Espinoza drilled a low ball into the box, and Crepeau (who eight saves) initially broke up the play. But Wondolowski tipped the ball out toward Vako, who sent a right-footed shot into the net.
Wondo at MLS career best of 152 goals! Quakes draw with FC Dallas
Chris Wondolowski scored Saturday in the Earthquakes’ 2-2 tie against FC Dallas, giving him 8 goals in the past four matches. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2019.06.08 – Chris Wondolowski scored in his fourth consecutive game to get his eighth goal of the season in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2-2 tie Saturday against FC Dallas at Avaya Stadium.
Wondo now has a MLS career best of 152 goals. He is two shy from scoring at least 10 goals a season for the 10 consecutive year, which would extend another MLS scoring record.
The afternoon did not get off to a great start for the Quakes, as goalkeeper Daniel Vega had one of the biggest blunders in a soccer match. Florian Jungwirth played an easy pass to Vega in the 27th minute, who let the ball pass through his legs and over the line to gift wrap a 1-0 lead for Dallas.
The Quakes came out of the locker room with something to prove and Wondolowski again provided the scoring punch for his team. The MLS Goal King placed a volley past Jimmy Maurer in the 46th minute. Magnus Eriksson gave his team the lead shortly after, when he stung a shot that appeared to get blocked off the line by Matt Hedges. But after Video Review, it was clear that the ball crossed the line. Eriksson’s goal broke a streak that saw Wondolowski score eight straight goals for San Jose, denying the forward a chance to break his record of scoring 10 consecutive goals scored by one player for one team.
San Jose looked set to get three more points, but Francis Atuahene had other ideas on his MLS debut. The No. 4 pick in the 2018 SuperDraft entered the match in the 64th minute and 42 seconds later scored his first MLS goal on his 22nd birthday.
Wondolowski now at 151 MLS Goals! Quakes draw with DC United
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski scored another goal Saturday in San Jose’s 1-1 tie with D.C. United. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2019.06.01 – San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski ran circles around the defense in a 1-1 draw with DC United on Saturday night. Literally.
Wondolowski ran all the way around full-back Jalen Robinson to connect with Nick Lima’s cross and head San Jose into an early lead against the Eastern Conference leaders. The Quakes captain has now scored seven goals in his last three matches, a career-high. He says that goals come in bunches but this is no longer a bunch; it’s a truckload.
While DC couldn’t stop Wondolowski, they matched him with an equally impressive offensive performance from Luciano Acosta. The Argentine midfielder netted a second-half equalizer to secure a draw for the home side, and he could have had more if not for a series of saves from Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega.
All of which made for an open, attacking spectacle.
Matias Almeyda’s men surprised DC in the first half with their high intensity, which compensated for a lack of sharpness on the ball. Danny Hoesen and Vako both tested Bill Hamid in the early moments of the match and Wondolowski also fired at the goalkeeper from Shea Salinas’ cross.
2019.06.01 (SJ Earthquakes vs. DC United) Full Video Highlights
2019.06.01 (SJ Earthquakes vs. DC United) Full Video Highlights
“That was a focus, to come out with high energy from the beginning,” said Quakes full-back Nick Lima. “We can’t let them come out on the front foot and I think we did a good job of that.”
Wondolowski’s opener came in the thirty-seventh minute and the Quakes entered the half with all the momentum.
DC, however, always showed signs of danger and began to turn the tide early in the second half. The home side peppered the Quakes goal with shots and Vega made numerous big saves to maintain the lead.
Finally, Acosta pounced on the rebound of one such stop to equalize in the sixty-seventh minute.
The Quakes, now W5-D3-L6 in MLS, remain in hot pursuit of a playoff position and have the opportunity to move into seventh place against Western Conference rivals FC Dallas next weekend.
Wondo at 150th MLS Goals! Quakes beat Toronto FC
San Jose Earthquakes’ Chris Wonlolowski celebrates during MLS soccer action against Toronto FC on Sunday, May 26, 2019. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
2019.05.26 – Chris Wondolowski scored his 149th and 150th MLS goals in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on Sunday night.
The MLS career goals leader scored both from close range.
Wondo got a yard’s separation from Drew Moor and deftly redirected in Cristian Espinoza’s cross in the 37th minute to tie the game at one a piece.
We're gonna need a new hashtag.
Wondo scores #149#TORvSJ pic.twitter.com/fKhbFkBHec— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) May 27, 2019
The go-ahead goal in the 81st minute was a virtual replay, with Espinoza finding Wondolowski in space.
You aren't dreaming.
This really is #Wondo150 #VamosSJ | #TORvSJ pic.twitter.com/A5RVLK6mMu— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) May 27, 2019
2019.05.26 (SJ Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC) Full Video Highlights
2019.05.26 (SJ Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC) Full Video Highlights
The San Jose striker has six goals in two games. He scored all four goals in a 4-1 victory over Chicago last weekend to surpass Landon Donovan’s league record of 145 goals and up his career total to 148.
Richie Laryea opened the scoring for Toronto (5-6-2) in the 28th minute
San Jose (5-6-2) won for the first time in six road games this season.
Wondolowski past Donovan in MLS History, Quakes beat Fire
San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski, center, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Fire during the first half of an MLS soccer match in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, May 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2019.05.18 – Chris Wondolowski scored four times to pass Landon Donovan for most career MLS goals, and the San Jose Earthquakes beat the Chicago Fire 4-1 at Avaya Stadium.
Wondolowski tied Donovan’s record at 145 with his first goal in the 21st minute. Shea Salinas sent in a curling pass that Wondolowski punched home from just inside the 6-yard box.
He has shined with little fanfare — just the way “Wondo” prefers it as he focuses on the preparation he still so enjoys and being an example for young teammates — playing at home in the Bay Area, having grown up in the East Bay suburb of Danville. He went to college at tiny Division II Chico State, not part of an elite youth national team program. He didn’t even make his debut with the U.S. national team until six days before his 28th birthday in January 2011.
The 36-year-old two-time Golden Boot winner (2010, 2012) broke the record in the 48th minute with a left-footed punch from close range to the upper corner after poaching a loose ball from goalkeeper David Ousted as he tried to control a shot by knocking it down.
“I always wanted to do it and be done with it,” he said. “I didn’t picture a day like this.”
Wondolowski said he envisioned the record goal coming on a 30-yard blast into the upper 90.
“I probably crashed in on every shot like that probably 1,000 times,” he said. “And 999 times he catches it and holds it and I have to run back.”
Not Saturday when everything Wondolowski touched seemed magical.
“It’s a perfect way to break the record,” long-time teammate Shea Salinas said. “He’s so vigilant around the box. The ball falls, and he’s right where he needs to be and he pokes it in.
Wondolowski had a special feeling driving to Avaya Stadium on Saturday but had no idea he’d start for the first time in eight games. Starting forward Danny Hoesen suffered an upper thigh injury in practice Friday and trainers determined he couldn’t play.
It led coach Matias Almeyda to call on Wondolowski. The coach said he told Quakes staff members before the game, ‘Maybe he’ll score four goals today.”
WONDO. 145. HISTORY. pic.twitter.com/Up645w16Nx
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 18, 2019
THE ALL-TIME SCORING RECORD BELONGS TO @CHRISWONDO! #Quakes74 https://t.co/MXZoyTUMA0
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 18, 2019
“I love visualization, I love going through different things. I always pictured hitting a 30-yard blast going upper 90, didn’t really picture the goalkeeper dropping it and tapping it in, but I’ll take it,” Wondolowski said. “Honestly, I’m just having fun right now. It’s kind of rejuvenated, reignited this passion and I’m really having fun right now.”
“It was an honor to play with and against you @ChrisWondo Congrats on an incredibly well deserved achievement,” Donovan posted on Twitter.
Wondolowski added goals in the 74th and 76th minutes, finishing assists from Cristian Espinoza and Jackson Yueill to make it 4-0 for the Quakes. Wondolowski hadn’t scored a goal so far this season coming into the match but ended the day with 148 career goals.
Wondolowski’s teammates tossed him in the air. He high-five fans on a rainy Bay Area day as soaked supporters chanted “Won-do! Won-do!”
Passing someone like Donovan, widely considered the best player in MLS history, means so much . Dating to last season, the Quakes tracked each Wondolowski goal in the lead-up to the record-breaker on social media with “Wondo Watch.”
He had to wait until this season, perhaps a good thing after a lost year in 2018 for San Jose. Former Argentina midfielder and Guadalajara Chivas coach Almeyda is now in charge.
“It’s looming just ’cause it’s there, but to be honest this year has been so much fun,” Wondolowski said. “I think that this coaching staff and this locker room have reignited that passion and a love for the game and I’m just enjoying it out there. I’m going out there not to score goals, I’m going out there because it’s fun.”
Other Bay Area professional teams were among those to offer congratulations, including the San Jose Sharks, Oakland Athletics and two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
2019.05.18 (SJ Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire) Full Video Highlights
2019.05.18 (SJ Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire) Full Video Highlights
Wondolowski will long be remembered for a miss at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He failed to score from close range in the final minute of second-half stoppage time as the Americans were eliminated with a 2-1 extra-time loss to Belgium in the round of 16. He sailed that one-touch try wide and over the crossbar as the goalkeeper charged out.
Aleksandar Katai scored with a long-distance shot in the 83rd minute for the Fire (4-5-4).
Getting the record brought relief in a season that started with five defeats in the first six games.
It was equally important to Wondolowski that the record came on a day the Earthquakes (4-6-2, 14 points) won their fourth consecutive home game.
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Read more at: San Jose Earthquakes Media Services / MLS.com /
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