By the transitive property, the San Jose Earthquakes are now apparently the best team in the West after their promising 3-1 road victory over MLS Western Conference leaders FC Dallas on Saturday night. By any other logic, however, San Jose remain rock bottom of the MLS table, yet tonight’s win – just their third of the season – shows that the team still have fight left in them.
For the Quakes, it was a strong performance on all fronts. Although Dallas have among the best defensive records in the league, Quakes designated player Vako shipped a brace past goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez and Jahmir Hyka also found the scoresheet.
In the middle of the pitch, Anibal Godoy’s distribution was markedly improved, assisting Hyka’s early second-half strike with a long, raking ball, and Luis Felipe effectively stymied Dallas’ counter-attacks. The Quakes haven’t enjoyed a strong midfield core since the firing of Dominic Kinnear last season, but Godoy and Felipe appear to be setting the foundation of a capable partnership.
The difference maker, though, appears to be new signing Guram Kashia’s leadership at the back. The Quakes owned the league’s worst defensive record for a number of weeks, but have now allowed just two goals in the three games since Kashia’s arrival from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.
On this occasion, goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell was also a key figure, making multiple stops to deny Dallas’ second-half onslaught. After Vako’s early go-ahead goal, assisted by Shea Salinas’ gorgeous through ball, and Ronald Lamah’s immediate equalizer, Hyka’s crafty finish in the forty-sixth minute gave San Jose a one-goal lead to defend in the second period. Hyka has been unusually successful against Dallas, netting three of his four MLS goals against the Texan side.
Tarbell made an impressive double save in the fifty-second minute, and, shortly thereafter, got down quickly to deny Michael Barrios to keep the Quakes in front. San Jose rode their luck, as Maxi Urruti hit the crossbar and Cristian Colmán headed wide, and Vako sealed the victory with a late tap-in after substitute Chris Wondolowski danced down the left and fired a cross to the far post.
PHOTO: ISI
