"Ties are the same, but they’re a little bit different where, if we would have got scored on late, it would have been sickening but it does give you a lift when you score late and get something out of the game."
With the Quakes reuniting the 1996 San Jose Clash and celebrating the inaugural match in Major League Soccer history, a game won 1-0 by San Jose, it was the Earthquakes substitutes on Saturday night who saved the day vs. D.C. United with Shea Salinas finding Adam Jahn for an 89th minute equalizer to make it 1-1 and salvage a point for San Jose.
Jahn was an 82nd minute substitute and Salinas came in the 71st. Salinas provided an almost immediate spark for a San Jose attack that didn’t lack for opportunity and offensive build up during the match. It took a Salinas cross from the right side and a tremendous sliding finish by Jahn to the D.C. far post that finally got the ball across the line and into the United goal.
“I thought even at halftime, we were good for a couple of goals and to go in down 1-0, we were kind of shaking our heads as to how that happened,” said San Jose head coach Dominic Kinnear.
“We were creating a lot of chances. I just told the guys, keep the same energy, we’re going to get chances. Keep fighting for second balls that are dropping in midfield and I thought the effort tonight was great. Ties are the same, but they’re a little bit different where, if we would have got scored on late, it would have been sickening but it does give you a lift when you score late and get something out of the game.”
The Quakes produced a number of dangerous scoring opportunities in the first half. Quincy Amarikwa had a shot saved in the 25th minute and sailed the rebound over the D.C. United crossbar. Ten minutes later, Amarikwa put a Chris Wondolowski pass into the back of the net only to have it disallowed by an offside call.
San Jose owned 57 percent of the possession in the first half with Alberto Quintero and Matias Perez Garcia proving crafty and dangerous for the Quakes.
So it stung even more when Lamar Neagle chipped a ball into the box and found a cutting Nyarko for the header from about seven yards out to put D.C. up 1-0 on a goal against the run of play.
“They (United) took their chance well,” Kinnear said.
San Jose pressed in the second half, but with time ticking away, it looked like D.C. would spoil the party and get a bit of revenge some 20 years in the making.
“We were playing well and a little more direct the last 20 minutes or so,” Kinnear said of his decision to go with Jahn late in the contest. “A lot of balls were falling so I thought with Adam we could get a little more territory by his height. His finish was great. At that particular time, it helped to have Adam’s height and his eagerness to get on the end of crosses. Good for him.”
The Jahn goal began a flurry of offensive urgency by San Jose to try and score the game-winner. A Marvell Wynne throw-in found Jahn in the box who flicked it over to Wondolowski, narrowly missing that game winner with a tap.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Jahn gets the nod as the Man of the Match for his timely goal. Jahn spent some time last week training and playing for United Soccer League affiliate Sacramento Republic. Kinnear commented postgame that Jahn had an extra skip in his step and showed more confident during training this week because of his time in Sacramento. Jahn rewarded Kinnear’s faith with a goal.
TURNING POINT:
It’s easy to point at Jahn’s goal as the turning point of the match, but Salinas coming into the match in the 71st minute was huge for San Jose. While the Quakes didn’t lack for opportunities throughout the game, Salinas’ presence gave San Jose an extra boost. It was his cross that found Jahn for the game-winning goal.
BOOKED:
San Jose: Shaun Francis (yellow, 31’), Andres Imperiale (yellow, 59’)
D.C. United: Taylor Kemp (yellow, 59’), Patrick Nyarko (yellow, 64’), Luciano Acosta (yellow, 86’).
ATTENDANCE:
Reported attendance at Avaya Stadium was 18,000.
INJURY REPORT:
Kinnear commented on the status of midfielder Anibal Godoy. He said that Godoy has a bruised knee and was on crutches as recently as two days ago.
UP NEXT:
The Earthquakes will look for their first positive road result on April 9 when they face FC Dallas. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and you can catch the action on Comcast SportsNet California
Instant Replay: Quakes fight back for late draw vs DC United
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