Quakes Strong Start in MLS is Back Tournament

Vega, Frei standout as San Jose play to a draw with Seattle

San Jose Earthquakes forward Cristian Espinoza (10), battles for possession of the ball with Seattle Sounders defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade, right during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Friday, July 10, 2020, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

2020.07.10 – The Coronavirus could not slow down the strong start by the San Jose Earthquakes versus the Seattle Sounders FC for the opener to the MLS is Back tournament as they play to a 0-0 draw on Friday evening at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.

San Jose played a complete game Friday night to gain a valuable point in Group B with a scoreless tie. The draw is a hopeful sign that the Earthquakes have a real chance to advance to the knockout stage with two group games left against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Fire.

The MLS is Back tournament has 24 of the 26 league’s teams competing in Orlando to restart the 2020 MLS season. The winner receives a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2021.

Coach Matias Almeyda’s high-octane strategy worked to San Jose’s advantage in the heat and humidity of Central Florida. The Sounders, the MLS Cup defending champion, were penned in their half of the field much of the game.

It was the first match of the revamped Group B that lost FC Dallas when it was removed from the tournament after 10 players tested positive for COVID-19. Nashville was later removed after an outbreak of positive tests and Chicago was moved from Group A to Group B to fill out the tournament with six groups of four teams.

The San Jose Earthquakes were the last Major League Soccer team to start training because of Santa Clara County officials’ health concerns over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Quakes had not been permitted to practice in its home market prior to the start of the tournament and arrived in Florida 16 days before Friday’s first match.

2020.07.10 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC)

– First game against 2019 MLS Cup Champions!

Watch this video on YouTube

2020.07.10 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC)

The Quakes had two good scoring chances in the 24^th and 25^th minutes. Christian Espinoza made a move from the right into the middle for a shot that was saved by Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Then Valeri Qazaishvili (Vako) shot from the left wing that was also stopped by Frei.

San Jose looked to make a dent in the scoreboard late in the first half when Espinoza centered a pass into the middle, but Andres Rios’ attempt sailed just to the left of the goal in the 39^th minute.

The Quakes defense played sound defense in the first half. With the exception to letting Cristian Roldan get behind them for a point-blank shot that Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega made a two-handed blocker save in the 28^th minute, Seattle didn’t muster any other quality scoring chances in the first 45 minutes.

The second half saw Seattle increase the pressure in the Quakes defensive zone. Once again Vega made a point-blank save on Roldan in the 52^nd minute.

The steamy conditions began to take their toll on both teams with many players suffering cramps in the last 30 minutes of the second half.

San Jose dominated the game with nine corner kicks to just one for Seattle. The Quakes had a chance to take the lead in the 83^rd minute with their eighth of the match but were not able to score in the opportunity.

Seattle’s best chance to break the deadlock came in the 84^th minute when a centering feed split two Quakes defenders to a wide open Raul Ruidiaz inside the box but he hesitated on his shot attempt, allowing the Argentine goalkeeper Vega to come out and make the save. San Jose’s goalkeeper finished with six stops.

“Ever since I came to this team Matias really put that in us that we had to do our best,” Vega said through an interpreter. “I think tonight’s result shows that and we’re happy that we’re back.”

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, a former Cal star goalkeeper, made eight saves, including a diving stop on a deflected shot in the 70th minute, and had the more highlight-worthy saves, the best coming off Jackson Yueill’s deflected shot.

Almeyda took advantage of all five substitutions allowed in the tournament to keep up the pressure in the second half. His first changes came in the 64th minute with two defenders: Shea Salinas for Tommy Thompson and center back Florian Jungwirth for newcomer Oswaldo Alanis.

Nine minutes later, all-time leading MLS scorer Chris Wondoloswski, 37, entered the game with Mexican midfielder Carlos Fierro.

The final substitution was Cade Cowell, a 16-year-old homegrown player from Ceres.

Both west coast squads seemed to wilt in the heat and humidity of Central Florida as they combined for 28 total shots but could not beat either goalkeeper.

The Earthquakes started the season with a draw against Toronto before losing to Minnesota United in the final match before the league came to a stop in mid-March.

Seattle opened the season with a win over Chicago and a draw against Columbus. The Sounders are now unbeaten in their last nine MLS matches dating to a Sept. 22, 2019, loss to D.C. United.

RELATED: 2020.02.29 – (SJ Earthquakes – Alanis’ Sublime Free Kick!) See video

2020.02.29 – (SJ Earthquakes – Alanis’ Sublime Free Kick!) See video

Many MLS analysts doubted coach Matias Almeyda would dare employ his lung-sapping man-marking defense in a tournament. But Almeyda was determined to continue the identity he created last year in his debut MLS season.

San Jose’s dare-to-beat-me defense kept Seattle’s talented Jordan Morris and Nicolas Lodeiro off balance for much of the game. Put simply, it won the day.

“You saw a team with soul, a team with chances,” San Jose coach Almeyda said. “I’m really happy with the game my team played.”

“Despite the draw, it leaves us with a good taste in our mouth with the way we played,” Vega said. “There wasn’t a player that stood out more than the others. Everyone as a team had a great game.”

The scoring drought did not diminish the drama. It was a surprisingly well-played game considering the teams’ lack of preparation. The Quakes, in particular, looked in mid season form with an aggressive and organized effort.

It was nothing short of surprising how much San Jose dominated the ball much of the game — 62.4 percent possession to Seattle’s 37.6 percent.

Related en Español: Entrevista Exclusiva con Oswaldo Alanís (Telemundo)

GAME NOTES: Quakes center fullback Guram Kashia left the game late in the match with what appeared to be a cramp in his leg.

San Jose’s Thompson (19^th minute) and Seattle’s Xavier Arreaga (24^th minute) were issued yellow cards for unsporting behavior.

One new quirk the tournament features is teams have the ability to make five substitutions instead of the normal three. San Jose used all five opportunities while Seattle used four.

This was the Quakes first match since March 7^th when they lost to Minnesota FC 5-2 at Earthquakes Stadium.