It was the worst kept secret in San Jose: Chris Wondolowski was benched. Coach Mikael Stahre dropped the Quakes captain for Saturday night’s clash with the Houston Dynamo, ending a run of fifty-six consecutive appearances in the first eleven.
The move was part of a broader slate of changes introduced by Stahre to optimize for the team’s current offensive talents. It didn’t entirely go as planned as the Quakes settled for an uninspiring 2-2 draw. Stahre debuted a 4-3-3 formation with Vako, Danny Hoesen, and Magnus Eriksson up top, but they struggled to connect for much of the first half. Hoesen was isolated up top and, having to fill Wondolowski’s hold-up role, didn’t find runs in behind. Attacking midfielders Anibal Godoy and Jackson Yueill were disjointed in a midfield three and crowded the spaces in which Vako and Eriksson operate.
Although Eriksson’s strike gave the Quakes the lead in the first half, Houston surged ahead with two goals at the start of the second half. Only substitute Jahmir Hyka’s late effort prevented a disastrous loss for the Quakes as Stahre abandoned his new look in search of a late equalizer.
Defensively, Stahre moved full-back Nick Lima to the left and slotted midfielder Florian Jungwirth at right-back. It was a fairly solid configuration in the first half, although Jungwirth was caught out by Romell Quioto on multiple occasions. In the seventh minute, Quioto crossed for Alberth Elis and the forward shot narrowly wide at the near post and also tested Tarbell with a towering header later in the half.
The Quakes were most dangerous from set pieces, which yielded their opening goal in the twenty-fifth minute when Yueill laid off for Eriksson to finish from the remains of a free-kick attempt. Quintana also came close with a diving header from Eriksson’s delivery in the forty-first minute and Hoesen fired at Chris Seitz from the rebound.
Even the first-half advantage failed to insert an intensity into San Jose’s game, though. Their second-half opening was, quite frankly, insipid. The Quakes were a step off the pace and Houston deservedly equalized as Tomás Martinez capitalized on Quintana’s poor pass. Martinez also fired at Tarbell on the break shortly thereafter and Houston completed the comeback as Elis crossed for Mauro Manotas at the far post. The move originated down the left side when Vako ignored his defensive duties and the Georgian international was substituted for Hyka not long after. Wondolowski was also introduced for Alashe as Stahre reverted to the time-tested 4-4-2.
The move breathed life into San Jose’s offense and Hyka equalized in the eightieth minute. Houston could have won it late on the break but the home side managed to hold onto the 2-2 draw.
