SJ Quakes late tally top Rapids at PayPal Park
The San Jose Earthquakes striker Cristian Espinoza (center) takes a shot for the goal by a Colorado Rapids defender during the match of a 1-0 victory by San Jose on Saturday March 11, 2023. (Reuters)
2023.03.11- Cristian Espinoza’s first goal of the season provided the San Jose Earthquakes a 1-0 victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids on Saturday night at PayPal Park.
San Jose has won two of its first three matches to start the season. Colorado had its third consecutive game without scoring a goal. It’s the first time since 2015 that they have gone scoreless in its first three matches to start the season.
Espinoza is proving to be the guy you count on to seize the goal moment. It’s his first goal of the season and he got it at the 78th minute.
Espinoza, who is only five assists away from becoming the all-time assist leader in Quakes history, gathered the rebound off of a Miguel Trauco shot. The Argentinean striker dribbled to the right before firing a right-footed shot top from just beyond the box top shelf past Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough that sent the Quakes faithful into a frenzy.
“He is lethal with his right foot in terms of a cross or a shot,” said Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez regarding Espinoza. “Can we get him opportunities to get more shots? That is something that we want to keep working on. Also with his left foot, he is good at cutting inside and scoring with his left as well. He showed that in preseason. We are really proud of him and a player that is relentless with his energy and his mentality, and then when he has a little bit of space and can get a shot or a cross in, we know he can create issues. We want to keep doing that.”
2023.03.11 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids) Full Highlights!
The San Jose Earthquakes defender Carlos Akapo (center) runs by a Colorado Rapids defender during the match of a 1-0 victory by San Jose on Saturday March 11, 2023. (Reuters)
2023.03.11 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids) Full Highlights!
2023.03.11 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids) Full Highlights!
San Jose (2-1-0) had the pitch tilted in its favor for the majority of the first half as the generated numerous scoring chances. Their best chance came in the 35th minute when Espinoza’s attempt from 25 yards out was knocked off the cross bar when Yarbrough was able to get a hand on the ball keeping it out of the back of the net.
“I mean Cristian is a workhorse. You just see it every ball, every play, every second, and every inch matters to him. What a great leader in terms of intensity. And he trains this way, it is unbelievable.” Said Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez “He is just a great player to coach and has a great mentality. Yes, he is very talented, obviously, but he makes that talent count because of his mentality to work hard and work for his teammates.”
Carlos Akapo made his first career MLS start at right back for San Jose and made an impact with helping out on the offensive attack while providing stability on the back-line.
“This was Carlos’s first start in eight or nine months, and he has been working hard to build fitness and build rhythm, and he earned that start.” Said Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez. “He’s very competitive with his teammates. We still need to keep building his fitness, his confidence, and his rhythm for him and the team.”
Colorado (0-2-1) played on their heels throughout the opening 45 minutes as were not able to generate any quality scoring chances as the Quakes back-line held down the fort.
Throughout the second half San Jose came close to breaking through on the scoreboard as they generated four quality scoring chances, that included two saves from Yarbrough, before Espinoza’s tally.
Gonzalez praised his team’s effort and was happy San Jose came away with three points and not just one.
“You saw me celebrate it (Espinoza’s goal). I’m very happy for him (Espinoza) and the team find a goal because it wasn’t easy. Colorado defended well. Look had we not scored, and it ended up tied, I would’ve still been proud of how the guys played. Of course, I would’ve been disappointed had we not scored but would’ve been proud with the identity of our team we’ve established since training in the preseason,” Gonzales said.
2023.03.11 : Quakes Exclusive: Episode 4 (QUAKES AXIS)
The San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski (center) blocks a shot by a Colorado Rapids forward during the match of a 1-0 victory by San Jose on Saturday March 11, 2023. (Reuters)
2023.03.11 : Quakes Exclusive: Episode 4 (QUAKES AXIS)
2023.03.11 : Quakes Exclusive: Episode 4 (QUAKES AXIS)
Espinoza was glad he was able to contribute to the team’s success this early into the season.
“We always try to find the free spaces to take that kind of shot, especially in front of the goal. Sometimes we can do it, and sometimes we can’t. But for that it’s very important that the team is committed to move the ball side to side and today I think that we had a great game,” Espinoza said.
‘Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski, who made his first start of the season, had a perfect clean sheet as Colorado failed to generate any shots on target during the match. Yarbrough made three saves on four shots on target in the losing effort.
2023.03.11 – Earthquakes vs. Rapids (The Aftershock post game)
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES ELEVEN for a Colorado Rapids match of a 1-0 victory by San Jose on Saturday March 11, 2023. (Reuters)
2023.03.11 – Earthquakes vs. Rapids (The Aftershock post game)
2023.03.11 – Earthquakes vs. Rapids (The Aftershock post game)
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Colorado had three.
San Jose is now 32-25-18 all-time vs. the Colorado Rapids, including a 19-9-9 record at home. They went 1-4-2 against Colorado last season.
The Quakes have only lost once when hosting the Rapids at PayPal Park since its opening in 2015 (6-1-2).
Midfielder Jackson Yueill made his 150th MLS appearance. Yueill is now tied with Jon Busch for the ninth most appearances in club history.
MATCH INFORMATION
2023 MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 0 Colorado Rapids
Saturday, March 11, 2023 – PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 13,383
Scoring Summary:
SJ (1-0) – Cristian Espinoza (unassisted) 78’
JT Marcinkowski; Miguel Trauco (Tanner Beason 90+1’), Rodrigues, Jonathan Mensah, Carlos Akapo (Paul Marie 64’); Jamiro Monteiro, Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill ©; Cade Cowell (Benji Kikanović 73’), Jeremy Ebobisse, Cristian Espinoza (Tommy Thompson 90+1’).
Substitutes not used: Michael Baldisimo, Ousseni Bouda, Daniel (GK), Daniel Munie, Jack Skahan.
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 0
UP NEXT:
The San Jose Earthquakes will play against St. Louis City inaugural game next Saturday at 5:00pm at CityPark.
All San Jose games will be streamed globally on MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), and locally via radio 810 AM The Spread (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
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Read more at: San Jose Earthquakes Media Services / MLS.com /
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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