The Houston Dynamo earned their first road win of the season Friday night by defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1. The win does little to help Houston’s last-place position in the West, but is a devastating setback for San Jose’s playoff aspirations.
Dynamo Defeat Earthquakes
The Good
The Earthquakes dictated the offense. San Jose dominated possession (60%-40%), shots (18-7), shots on goal (5-4), passes (408-291), scoring chances (13-5), corners (12-3), and crosses (45-11). With those numbers, it’s amazing the Quakes could only muster one goal, and that by the foot of center-back Victor Bernardez.
The Bad
The Earthquakes simply failed to convert their shots on frame. The Quakes averaged a 27.8% conversion rate, which meant roughly one in four shots challenged Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis.
The “spray and pray” game plan worked to Houston’s favor. San Jose sprayed Houston’s 18-yard-box with 45 crosses (a season record for San Jose). But the trio of six-foot Dynamo defenders David Horst (6’4″), Raul Rodriguez (6’0″), and Jalil Anibaba (6’0″) were ready as just 10 crosses found a San Jose target.
The Ugly
Forward/Captain Chris Wondolowski had one shot all game. Houston swarmed San Jose’s leading goal scorer all night and left Wondo with just 25 touches despite San Jose’s domination of possession.
Forward Quincy Amarikwa had a terrible night. Zero shots on goal despite three attempts, 31 touches, 58% passing accuracy, and four unsuccessful first touches. With the Quakes now dead-last in total goals scored in the West with 26 goals, the arrival of forward Henok Goitom, and his 26% shot conversion rate, Amarikwa probably played his way off the starting XI.
Midfielder Shea Salinas may have been worse than Amarikwa. With an injury sidelining starting left-wing Simon Dawkins, Salinas got the start. Salinas failed to earn a key pass, put up five crosses of which all were unsuccessful, completed just 69% of his passes, had zero tackles, had zero interceptions, and managed just one shot all game. All of these numbers were last among Quakes midfielders.
The normally reliable Earthquakes defense allowed Houston to score two goals from four shots on frame. No Quakes defenders managed a blocked shot. An out-of-character performance to say the least.
San Jose’s next game is against the New England Revolution Wednesday night at Avaya Stadium at 7:30pm.
