Great Home Opener as Quakes beat Dallas

Breakout performance for forward Cowell.

The Earthquakes’ Cade Cowell, left, celebrates his goal in the 59th minute with Carlos Fierro against FC Dallas at PayPal Park on Saturday in San Jose. PHOTOS BY KARL MONDON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

2021.04.24 – Cade Cowell had a goal and a spectacular assist as the San Jose Earthquakes beat FC Dallas 3-1 at the home Opener in Paypal Park.

It was the first professional sporting event with fans in Santa Clara County since March 2020.

It took a full team effort for San Jose’s first win of the season, and after a shaky opening for the first few minutes of the game, they all seemed to play themselves into the game, before taking complete control over the match.

Matias Almeyda made one change to his XI for San Jose, starting Paul Marie at left back in place of the injured Marcos Lopez. Tommy Thompson, who suffered a shoulder injury early in the season opener, was fit and started the game at right back.

JT Marcinkowski had a nervy moment in the opening seconds, as Franco Jara nearly stole the ball from him in the 6-yard box, but Jader Obrian’s subsequent attempt for Dallas sailed wide.

The Quakes had a header saved off the goal line in the 8th minute, San Jose knocking on the door off a corner kick.

San Jose got some traction in the 18th minute, when Cristian Espinoza dribbled into the box and Obrian caught him with a trip, the referee showing for a penalty right away.

But Espinoza’s penalty was saved by FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, keeping the Quakes off the board.

Just after the half-hour mark, an early ball from Cade Cowell led to a block from Tanner Tessman that was handled in the box. VAR stopped the game, and the referee gave a second penalty. On review, it was a clear call.

Oswaldo Alanís stepped up for the second spot kick of the game for the Quakes, and he buried it to make it 1-0 in the 34th minute.

2021.04.24 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Dallas FC) Full Highlights!

The Earthquakes’ Oswaldo Alanis (4) gets celebrated by team mates after he scores on a penalty kick in the 34th minute of the first half against FC Dallas at PayPal Park.KARL MONDON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

2021.04.24 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Dallas FC) Full Highlights!

Watch this video on YouTube

2021.04.24 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Dallas FC) Full Highlights!

It looked like Dallas were on the board a few minutes later but a shot from Ryan Hollingshead was tipped by Marcinkowski and saved off the line by Carlos Fierro.

Fierro took the defensive play of the game when he raced back from his position on the right wing to kick the ball off the goal line in the 37th minute and keep the Quakes ahead.

“It’s a representation of the team spirit that we have,” Marcinkowski said. “Everyone is willing to work for each other and do the dirty work. Like Matias says, ‘Everybody runs, everybody plays.’ ”

The Quakes picked up their intensity in the 2nd half, as Cristian Espinoza took a channel-splitting ball from Cowell and calmly chipped it over Maurer to make it 2-0 in the 49th minute.

The 17-year-old had a spectacular assist in the second half. But it got better, as Cowell got his first goal of the season just before the hour mark, taking a speculative feed from Fierro, deking two defenders in the box and hitting it pure to make it 3-0.

“You can tell the more he plays, the more confident he becomes,” Quakes winger Carlos Fierro said through an interpreter. “You can see he contributes on goals and assists, so I definitely see him as a player who can make that jump to Europe soon.”

Cowell became the youngest player in the Quakes club history to start and the youngest to score a goal when he debuted last August at 16.

He finished 2020 with one goal and one assist in 17 appearances, but coach Matias Almeyda made him a starter ahead of all-time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski and veteran Andy Rios to start this year. Cowell matched his scoring totals from last year on Saturday.

After the third goal, Maurer was forced out of the game with an injury, and was replaced by Phelipe.

Almeyda made three substitutes in the 72 minute, bringing on Wondolowski, Shea Salinas and Rios for Fierro, Thompson and Chofís Lopez, respectively.

Dallas pulled a goal back in the 79th minute, as Ricardo Pepi had a tap-in after Andres Ricaurte’s attempt was saved by Marcinkowski, but the rebound trickled over to the youngster.

2021.04.24 – The Aftershock: (SJ Quakes vs. FC Dallas – Postgame)

The Earthquakes’ Cristian Espinoza (10) celebrates with coach Matias Almeyda after he scores in the second half against FC Dallas at PayPal Park.KARL MONDON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

2021.04.24 – The Aftershock: (SJ Quakes vs. FC Dallas – Postgame)

Watch this video on YouTube

2021.04.24 – The Aftershock: (SJ Quakes vs. FC Dallas – Postgame)

Shortly after that, Judson made his season debut off the bench in the 81st minute for Marie. A few minutes later, Siad Haji made his first appearance of the season, replacing Cowell, who had a goal and an assist on the day.

Wondolowski was sent off in the 89th minute, as he got a straight red card after catching Dallas’ Jose Martinez with a rake on the ankle and Achilles.

I think it was a complete accident, and Wondo immediately apologized, but he got his marching orders after the referee reviewed the play on VAR, presumably because it was a dangerous play. He will be suspended for the next game Saturday at home against D.C. United.

The Earthquakes (1-1-0) bounced back from a 2-1 loss at Houston in the season opener.

Cowell’s showcase game added to the celebratory atmosphere at newly-renamed PayPal Park. The team did not announce an attendance number, but 3,600 tickets were sold, approximately 20 percent of the stadium’s capacity, to allow for social distancing.

“(Fans) are the heartbeat of this club,” Marcinkowski said. “Their passion, their noise, their intensity throughout the game, it’s what gives us the extra boost. The fans are what makes the game so special.”

The added energy didn’t help at the start, as the Quakes were almost burned a few times while trying to play methodically from the back line. Marcinkowski and Alanis both had balls stolen from them in their own box in the first few minutes, and FC Dallas defender Bressan hit the crossbar with a header off a corner kick.

“I told players (when they) make the mistakes, have the character to repeat that play, because that’s the only way to grow,” Almeyda said through an interpreter. “So I value those two mistakes we had, but I also value greatly the braveness that they have to try it again.”

The Earthquakes regrouped and earned two penalty kicks later in the half.