The San Jose Earthquakes salvaged a 2-2 draw against Toronto FC in their 2020 regular-season opener courtesy of a superb stoppage-time free-kick from Oswaldo Alanis. Despite the last-minute heroics, head coach Matias Almeyda should still be concerned about his team’s lack of energy going forward and defensive deficiencies in the midfield.
Set-Piece Specialist Gives Quakes New Attacking Weapon
Alanis’s dime piece, which should be an obvious contender for MLS goal-of-the-week, was San Jose’s first free-kick goal since on May 18, 2013, when Martin Chavez scored this belter against the Colorado Rapids.
But it didn’t come out of nowhere. According to Cristian Espinoza, the Quakes had been practicing precisely that type of set-piece throughout the week, and there was never any doubt that Alanis would be shooting from that tight angle. His strong left-foot will be particularly dangerous this season given Espinoza’s ability to win free-kicks down the right, though it may prove difficult for Alanis to strike a sweeter shot.
Even before the goal, Alanis was already San Jose’s man-of-the-match, shutting down Jozy Altidore with a consummate performance at the back that bodes well for the team’s back-line.
Said Almeyda: “I think [Alanis] played well throughout all ninety minutes, with a certain personality and enthusiasm that demonstrated why we brought him on, and he showed that. I think the beginning for any player at any club, like the one that he had today, is the dream start for every player.”
Vako Goes Missing
While Alanis’s equalizer kept the fans satisfied, the truth is that the Quakes lacked energy in attack for large parts of the match.
They were missing a chief playmaker in the center of the pitch, someone to open up space by taking players on the dribble, to break lines with incisive passes, and, most importantly, to feed Espinoza, who assisted both San Jose’s goals. That someone should have been Vako, San Jose’s highest-paid Designated Player, but the Georgian was missing in action. According to WhoScored, Vako registered only nineteen touches on the ball and completed fewer passes than any other Quakes starter, so it came as no surprise when he was substituted in the seventy-second minute.
Looking forward, Vako’s shortcomings could be a major problem for a team that relies on their quickness in the attack. Although he has been highly inconsistent for the Quakes, last season offered hope that Matias Almeyda could unlock the player’s potential. After a lukewarm start to the 2019 season, Vako lost his starting spot for the Quakes and was consequently snubbed for the Georgian national team in late May. Yet the midfielder was evidently able to use the setback as fuel for a promising resurgence, scoring seven goals and tallying two assists in his next nine matches. Unsurprisingly, that was San Jose’s best nine-game streak of the season, with six wins and a draw.
San Jose’s 2020 season might hinge on whether Vako is able to rediscover that flying form, and his performance on Saturday indicated that he’s a long way off-pace.
Judson’s Absence Leaves Hole in Midfield
One of last season’s revelations was just how much Jackson Yueill improved defensively; however, his performance against Toronto revealed that he’s not quite ready to adopt the number-six role in Almeyda’s midfield triangle.
Yueill featured in a deeper role than usual because starting-defensive-midfielder Judson was sidelined with various knocks, and Yueill struggled to protect the center-backs. He was at least partly at fault for Toronto’s second goal, stepping up to a ball that he couldn’t win, which allowed the visitors to break right down the middle.
Given that he’s the only natural defensive-midfielder on the roster, Judson’s return will be eagerly awaited.
