For the first time since September 2014, the San Jose Earthquakes are in town. The Impact hosts Dominic Kinnear’s team at Stade Saputo this Wednesday night at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 985sports.ca & TSN Radio 690). Here are 10 things to know about the Quakes.
Context
Two stretches of unwanted results ruined the Earthquakes’ season. From May 22 to July 8, the Quakes only picked up four points from a possible 21. Beforehand, their record used to be a respectable five wins, three losses and three draws – taking part in the MLS Cup Playoffs was a possibility, even a probability. The team then remained undefeated for five games, but it now hasn’t won since August 12. Worse still, the Quakes just suffered a 2-1 home loss that head coach Dominic Kinnear called a “killer” blow to his team’s postseason prospects, and forward Quincy Amarikwa picked up a nasty-looking knee injury seconds into the encounter.
Current form
L-D-L-D-D-L
Head coach
Dominic Kinnear (47-36-42 as Earthquakes head coach, 159-126-128 all-time) has been San Jose Earthquakes head coach since the start of the 2015 season. A head coach in Houston from 2006 to 2014, Kinnear led the Dynamo to four MLS Cup appearances and lifted the trophy twice, in 2006 and 2007. He had landed in Houston in 2005, along with the entire relocated San Jose Earthquakes team that he coached in 2004 and 2005 – Kinnear won the Supporters’ Shield just before the team was moved to Houston. A defender for eight North American teams, Kinnear also won a Mexican Cup and two lower-division championships as a player. The Scotland-born Kinnear has lived in the United States since he was a little boy and won 54 caps for the USMNT.
Current top scorer
Chris Wondolowski (10)
Players to watch
1. Simon Dawkins (#49) – Crucial to the Earthquakes’ play in 2011 and 2012, this Tottenham youth product returned to MLS this season.
2. Fatai Alashe (#27) – The fourth overall SuperDraft pick in 2015, Alashe has been a staple in front of the defence, although he has dropped down into the back four a couple of times.
3. Henok Goitom (#10) – Goitom was called upon after Amarikwa got injured last Sunday. He provided an assist – a back-heeled one, no less – on the Quakes’ only goal.
Team profile
Longtime MLS followers know a Dominic Kinnear team when they see one, and this Earthquakes side is no different: this is a team that makes plays on the flanks, through wingers that can provoke the opposition or cross the ball into the box. Lined up in a broad 4-4-2 formation, the Earthquakes want to play in the opposition’s half, but they also want to get there pretty directly. In the middle, Alashe and Cerén offer defensive know-how and an ability to play fine balls to the flanks, from where the team creates most of its goals. The Quakes cross the ball more than almost any other team in MLS, and in the area, Wondolowski still has a knack for turning a half-chance into a goal. However, Wondo’s 10 goals this season make up more than a third of the least productive attack in MLS: 28 goals in 29 games. This being said, the Quakes do a rather good job defensively, especially when it comes to stopping the opponent from playing through the middle. On the flip side, opponents can get at them via the flanks, particularly down the left – and while the Earthquakes hurt opponents with crosses, opponents can hurt them with crosses, too. Set plays are another issue; in September only, the Quakes have conceded seven such goals.
Tactical formation
In San Jose, 4-4-2 is usually the way to go. Lineup v. Kansas City (September 25): Bingham; Cato, Wynne, Bernárdez, Stewart; Dawkins, Alashe, Cerén, Quintero; Amarikwa, Wondolowski.
Most recent games against the Impact
The Impact remains unbeaten in MLS against San Jose. When the Quakes last visited, on September 20, 2014, they went down 2-0 to late Jack McInerney and Dilly Duka goals. The last game between the two teams was an honourable 1-1 tie in San Jose on September 16, 2015. Chris Wondolowski opened the scoring in the 35th minute, but Kyle Bekker replied, 25 minutes from full time.
Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of September 26)
D Clarence Goodson (back)
D Kip Colvey (ankle)
D Jordan Stewart (hamstring)
M Marc Pelosi (knee)
M Aníbal Godoy (hamstring)
A Mark Sherrod (knee)
A Quincy Amarikwa (knee)
Next games
San Jose Earthquakes v. Real Salt Lake (MLS, October 1)
Colorado Rapids v. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS, October 13)
San Jose Earthquakes v. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS, October 16)
