San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski ran circles around the defense in a 1-1 draw with DC United on Saturday night. Literally.
Wondolowski ran all the way around full-back Jalen Robinson to connect with Nick Lima’s cross and head San Jose into an early lead against the Eastern Conference leaders. The Quakes captain has now scored seven goals in his last three matches, a career-high. He says that goals come in bunches but this is no longer a bunch; it’s a truckload.
While DC couldn’t stop Wondolowski, they matched him with an equally impressive offensive performance from Luciano Acosta. The Argentine midfielder netted a second-half equalizer to secure a draw for the home side, and he could have had more if not for a series of saves from Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega.
All of which made for an open, attacking spectacle.
Matias Almeyda’s men surprised DC in the first half with their high intensity, which compensated for a lack of sharpness on the ball. Danny Hoesen and Vako both tested Bill Hamid in the early moments of the match and Wondolowski also fired at the goalkeeper from Shea Salinas’ cross.
“That was a focus, to come out with high energy from the beginning,” said Quakes full-back Nick Lima. “We can’t let them come out on the front foot and I think we did a good job of that.”
Wondolowski’s opener came in the thirty-seventh minute and the Quakes entered the half with all the momentum.
DC, however, always showed signs of danger and began to turn the tide early in the second half. The home side peppered the Quakes goal with shots and Vega made numerous big saves to maintain the lead.
Finally, Acosta pounced on the rebound of one such stop to equalize in the sixty-seventh minute.
The Quakes, now W5-D3-L6 in MLS, remain in hot pursuit of a playoff position and have the opportunity to move into seventh place against Western Conference rivals FC Dallas next weekend.
PHOTO: ISI
