Matias Almeyda values patience, but only to a point.
After seventy-five minutes of tepid, scoreless play between his San Jose Earthquakes and Western Conference rivals Real Salt Lake, the manager knew it was time to take a risk. He introduced forward Danny Hoesen in place of defensive midfielder Judson, an aggressive substitution that signaled his team to push for the victory.
“When I started looking around, I was almost laughing to myself because it was really offensive,” said Quakes midfielder Magnus Eriksson.
Imprudent though it may have seemed, the move paid off. Hoesen snatched a stoppage-time winner, securing a huge victory with important implications in the early MLS playoff race.
The Quakes are now in sixth place, back above the playoff line after a midweek defeat at Minnesota United, and this victory ends the club’s brutal eleven-day, four-match stretch on a positive note.
Almeyda stuck with the same starting lineup for all four games, and the wear and tear showed tonight. In contrast to their dynamic performance against the LA Galaxy last weekend, San Jose’s front-line looked tired and uninspired. They struggled to break down RSL’s compact defensive setup, creating few clear cut chances.
“They had two good banks of four, they defended with all eleven as well,” said forward Chris Wondolowski. “There wasn’t that much space in behind, they suffocated the wings pretty well. Each time Cristian or Vako got the ball, there were two guys getting sent out there. They also had three guys…clogging up the middle. They did a good job.”
RSL threatened to steal the three points as Nick Besler poked a low shot just wide in the sixty-fourth minute, but the Quakes held on for their sixth shutout of the season.
And at the death, Hoesen nipped the victory from Paul Marie’s low cross.
“We train a lot on set pieces but this was made up,” said the goalscorer. “Cristian [Espinoza] and Paul were paying attention so they took it quick. Everybody was sleeping and I saw it just in time.”
