Why can’t the San Jose Earthquakes find a way to win?
The Earthquakes are showing no signs of being relevant in coach Matias Almeyda’s first season in Major League Soccer.
The Quakes dropped their third consecutive game to open the season after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to New York on Saturday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
Three games and three poor efforts will be on the team’s mind while taking a break from MLS action this week. San Jose returns to action March 30 at home against Los Angeles FC.
New York (1-1-0) won its ninth consecutive home game. San Jose has not won since Aug. 29. The Quakes have lost 10 of their last 11 MLS games counting last year. The only one they didn’t lose was a scoreless draw Oct. 21.
After taking a 1-0 halftime lead the Quakes allowed four second-half goals and now have given up nine goals in three games. That’s going to lead to more questions about Almeyda’s defense as the famed Chivas de Guadalajara coach tries to change the Earthquakes’ fortunes.
Captain Chris Wondolowski, who is one goal shy of tying Landon Donovan for the league’s all-time scoring record, didn’t even get off a shot Saturday.
The Quakes led after playing their best half of the season, highlighted by the 8th-minute goal from Argentine midfielder Cristian Espinoza.
The goal came off a superb pass from Magnus Eriksson, who fed his teammate on the right side. Espinoza got his first MLS goal by deftly slotting a shot inside the far post.
Equally as impressive was the Earthquakes’ man-marking defense that seemed to click after serious problems in the first two games at home. Almeyda preached patience. But it’s going to take more than that after what unfolded in the second half.
New York, which fell to Santos Laguna on Tuesday in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, regrouped after halftime.
The San Jose defense faltered early in the second half when Alex Muyl equalized in the 51st minute. New York looked re-energized when Bradley Wright-Phillips fired on goal in a shot goalkeeper Daniel Vega dove to push away.
But the ball fell to Daniel Royer on the left side of the penalty area. The Australian winger found Muyl alone in front of the net. The former Georgetown star tapped into the back of the net.
New York took the lead in the 71st minute after a foul from San Jose’s Valeri Qazaishvili. Muyl scored his second goal off a set piece after Royer served into the mixer.
Wright-Phillips scored the clincher in the 85th minute with an easy goal from deep inside the penalty area. Then Royer made it 4-1 in the 90th minute off a perfect serve from midfielder Vincent Bezecourt.