San Jose celebrates an early goal as they beat Houston 3-1
By Eric Maestas
Fielding a 4-4-2 formation, with Chris Wondolowski and Simon Dawkins in attack, the Quakes scored their fastest goal of the season in the 3rd minute when a Wondo cross met Alberto Quintero at the right edge of the Dynamo goal. The Quakes created another chance in the 8th minute, with Simon Dawkins putting a header just above the Dynamo goal. Wondo was a central figure in a 10th minute breakaway, but could not convert past Dynamo goalie Tyler Deric.
Midfielder Matias Perez Garcia streaked down the left flank in the 15th minute, producing a Quakes corner. The resulting Garcia corner failed to meet a waiting Wondolowski. A Dynamo free kick in the 18th minute did not produce any chance, and the Dynamo continued to struggle in establishing any meaningful possession. Yet another Dynamo free kick, this time by midfielder Cristian Maidana, yielded nothing.
Anibal Godoy and Alberto Quintero (91) were the best players on the field on Wednesday night.
The Quakes’ Anibal Godoy seized the ball in the 21st minute, and sped down the center of the pitch, only to be deliberately fouled by Alex, who was immediately booked by referee Jaime Herrera. A scrum for the ball in the Dynamo box led to a volley by Quintero, whose attempt on goal sailed wide left. An Earthquakes corner in the 28th minute did not threaten the Dynamo, yet San Jose continued to press the action. An errant pass by Shaun Francis did not prove to be a costly error, as the Dynamo could not hold onto ball
possession.
In the 31st minute, the Earthquakes put together some beautiful one-touch passing, with Perez Garcia, Dawkins, and Quintero all contributing. Quintero was taken down the in Dynamo penalty area, yet referee Herrera did not make the call. Quakes coach Dominic Kinnear leapt off the bench in the 34th minute, encouraging his team to continue to move forward and press the action. The Houston Dynamo produced a corner kick in the 35th minute, but the ensuing play did not test the Quakes’ David Bingham.
Fatai Alashe found acres of space on the right side of the pitch, yet the San Jose’s midfielder’s run was unable to produce anything for forwards Wondo and Barrett. The Dynamo found their equalizer in the 43rd minute, as a Ricardo Clark rocket found the top-right corner of the net. This was despite a valiant attempt by Bingham, who seconds before had repelled a right-footed shot from Houston’s defender Agus. A Perez Garcia free kick sailed over the goal in the dying minutes of the 1st half.
Houston celebrates scoring what would be their only goal.
Anibal Godoy was fed a ball by his Panamanian compatriot Alberto Quintero to produce a scintillating go-ahead goal in the 50th minute. Despite the 2-1 scoreline, the Quakes continued to keep the Dynamo on their heels, as Simon Dawkins’ right-footed volley in the 56th minute sailed over the Dynamo box. Dynamo coach Owen Coyle attempted to spark his team by using all three of his substitutions almost all at once, taking off Andrew Wenger, Will Bruin, and Cristian Maidana; Coyle put on the pitch Leonel Miranda, Erick Torres, and Boniek Garcia, respectively.
A Dynamo corner at the hour mark forced Quakes’ goalkeeper David Bingham to leap into action, and he was able to disrupt a meaningful Dynamo attempt. The Quakes’ Panamanian contingent were hot in this match, as Anibal Godoy ripped a shot from the top of the box in the 62nd minute, producing a save from Houston’s Tyler Deric. The 64th minute saw Shea Salinas come on for Matias Perez Garcia, and he made his presence immediately felt, battling for possession of the ball in the middle portion of the
pitch.
Quintero struck again in the 70th minute, coolly slotting it home from inside the six-yard box. The intense pressure from the Quakes frustrated the Dynamo, leading to a sending-off of goalie Tyler Deric. Because Houston had used all three of their subs in the span of two minutes (between the 58th and 59th minutes), they had to resort to putting defender Jalil Anibaba between the sticks.
Keeper Tyler Deric gets sent off late in the second half.
Alberto Quintero was subbed off in the 80th minute, with Chad Barrett coming on in relief. Despite the one-man advantage, the Quakes seemed to become more defensive-minded, seemingly inviting the Dynamo to come forward. Consequently, the Dynamo produced an attack in the 84th minute, with an Erick Torres header missing from the center of the Quakes’ box. Alas, the Quakes were able to see out the rest of the match, sealing a comprehensive 3-1 win at Avaya.
PLAYER RATINGS: Bingham- 6, Sarkodie- 6, Wynne- 5, Bernardez- 6, Francis- 7, Quintero- 9, Alashe- 8, Godoy- 9, Garcia- 8, Wondolowski- 6, Dawkins- 7.
San Jose Earthquakes
Houston Dynamo
