The Earthquakes returned to San Jose on Saturday night for their first home game since April 11 and defeated Columbus Crew SC, 2-0, under the bright lights of Avaya Stadium. With the win, San Jose extended their unbeaten streak to four games, a 2-0-2 record over that time span.
In the seventh minute, Quakes defender Marvell Wynne nearly gave the home team an early lead. After receiving a pass from midfielder Fatai Alashe, Wynne proceeded to dribble nearly the length of the pitch down the right side, before cutting back onto his left foot and ripping a shot destined for the back of the net. However, Columbus’ keeper Steve Clark was up to task and made a diving save to his right.
San Jose created another chance in the 26th minute. Midfielder Matias Perez Garcia attacked Columbus’ penalty area with speed and drilled a left-footed shot on target. When the ball wasn’t played cleanly by Clark, Wondolowski rushed to put away the rebound, but was narrowly beaten to the ball by Crew SC defender Michael Parkhurst, who cleared the ball out of play.
Columbus created a chance of their own in the 32nd minute. After playing a one-two in the Quakes 18-yard box, Crew SC midfielder Federico Higuain had a strike on net, but San Jose keeper David Bingham did well to parry the ball away, which was eventually cleared for a corner kick.
Columbus went down a man in the 33rd minute, after midfielder Mohammed Saeid was sent off with two yellow cards.
The Quakes broke the deadlock in the 55th minute on the head of forward Chris Wondolowski. Earthquakes defender Jordan Stewart drove a cross from the left wing across the front of goal, where Wondolowski’s lunging header redirected the ball past keeper Steve Clark. It marked his team-leading sixth goal of the season and 99th of his MLS career.
San Jose doubled their advantage just five minutes later. Midfielders Shea Salinas and Perez Garcia played a give-and-go in Columbus’ penalty area and Salinas used some nifty footwork to maneuver through traffic before blasting a strike into the back of the net. It marked his first goal of the season and first since July 23, 2014 against Chicago.
The Earthquakes defense worked hard for the remainder of the match to keep the clean sheet and the team has now allowed one-or-fewer goals in four consecutive matches.
