SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes and Nathan welcomed Colorado Rapids and Gyasi Zardes to PayPal Stadium on Saturday night. San Jose were coming off a disappointing loss last Sunday. Colorado had gotten back in the win column and were looking to build on that despite injuries.
Nathan goal gets Earthquakes second win of 2022 against Rapids
Both teams made changes from the previous game. Nathan was in at center back and Cade Cowell started at left midfielder. Lucas Esteves started for the first time in three weeks coming back from a minor injury. Collen Warner started in midfield in a 4-3-3 with Max Alvez pushed up due to Diego Rubio’s red card last week.
The first half was not the most exciting. Colorado shot wide or straight at goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski. San Jose’s best opportunities came from Cowell, who was energetic.
A half hour in, he got in behind, cut around goalkeeper William Yarbrough and crossed from a bad angle. He couldn’t set up a direct shot on goal and a foul was committed, letting Colorado off the hook. Cowell then hit the post just before halftime on a shot from the top of the box.
Things opened up in the second half. Zardes got more service in the box. Coloarado made a double substitution seven minutes in, bringing on Drew Moor and Gustavo Vallecilla to play with three center backs. The home side created more in transition. Jeremy Ebobisse should have made it 1-0 in the 58th. He got in behind with Yarbrough off his line but his shot went outside the post.
The Quakes deservedly took the lead on 64 minutes. Off a short corner, Cristian Espinoza found Nathan in the box, who got a step on Auston Trusty to score with his right foot.
Colorado wanted a penalty in the 74th. Off a set piece, Mark-Anthony Kaye shot from the middle of the box. Nathan blocked the shot, with the ball going off his upper arm, which was not tucked against his torso. VAR did not call for the play to be reviewed at the next stoppage.
The match ended 1-0 with San Jose dictating the play and having the better chances in the final fifteen minutes.
#Quakes74 take the lead off the set piece, and it’s Nathan with the finish! 💪 pic.twitter.com/gp04natUHI
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 8, 2022
Three Key Takeaways:
Limited Rapids attack: Colorado were not threatening enough in this game. They were clearly missing Diego Rubio’s creativity and goal threat in the box. Zardes was isolated for much of the night. On performance, they did not deserve a goal with 0.7 xG according to MLSSoccer.com. But they felt hard done on the penalty non-call.
The Brazilian is welcomed back: That Nathan goal was yet another goal off a corner for the Goonies. Nathan’s defensive performance and score were welcomed back.
Energy and pace: San Jose controlled the game. Fraser’s 4-3-3 couldn’t control the midfield and they were not dense or anticipatory enough in defense. The Quakes were direct and accurate in their pass. They controlled the tempo and found space with five in the midfield.
