Red Hot Quakes Cruise Past Rapids Moving up the Western Conference
With the All-Star break looming, both San Jose and Colorado looked to finish on a high note in this Western Conference clash. San Jose, being the talk of the MLS, have put together an impressive run with the Quakes winning 8 out of their last 11 matches and only looking to move higher up in the standings. The Rapids, on the other hand, were in search of three vital points to get back on track as they only have secured one point in the month of July.
Overflowing with the confidence of a team that’s lost only once in their last 10 MLS matches, the Quakes burst out of the gates, taking the lead less than two minutes of action with the help of an own goal by Colorado defender Lalas Abubakar. Facing his own net with Chris Wondolowski lurking behind him at the back post, Abubakar could not deal with a low, driven cross by Cristian Espinoza as the ball ricocheted off his foot past keeper Clint Irwin, who was filling in for Tim Howard.
The Earthquakes looked the better team against a rattled Rapids side who could not respond to the early San Jose pressure. After half an hour play, the Quakes doubled their lead through a magical solo effort by in form Vako after the hard work of fullback Nick Lima in the corner winning the ball back. Lima found Vako in the box as he took care of the rest turning defender Keegan Rosenberry inside out then curling a beauty into the far post. That marked Vako’s seventh goal of the season and three in three matches.
However, with everything seeming bleak, Colorado nearly responded through a Diego Rubio strike after a dangerous low cross by Kei Kamara. San Jose keeper was up for the challenge, though, saving the point-blank effort and maintaining the Quakes’ two-goal lead. After a long-shot attempt by Vako skying over the bar, the half-closed with San Jose dominating.
As the second half started, it seemed to be more of the same as the Quakes kept testing the Colorado defense. Clint Irwin was called upon to make some big saves with the most dangerous Quakes’ chance being a Vako strike inside the box after he beat his man. San Jose dominated possession throughout the half and after a chance to regroup at the half Colorado had no response.
The game seemed at a stall mate until Cristian Espinoza hit the woodwork after a cannon right foot strike that nearly put the game out of reach. However, only two minutes after San Jose hit the post, up rose substitute Shea Salinas scoring a third goal for the Quakes with a devasting run into the box from the left flank, skipping past Colorado defenders and coolly slotting it past Clint Irwin.
The Rapids did eventually score through a deflected strike from Diego Rubio, but it only proved to be a consolation to a nightmarish team performance from the mile-high city team. This marked their third defeat in four MLS matches in July making it a month to forget for Rapid fans. For San Jose, this convincing win now saw Matias Almeyda’s high flying side add to their unbeaten home record with nine wins on the bounce and now sit fourth in the Western Conference standings.
