San Jose Drop Crucial Three Points in Tight Western Conference Playoff Race
As the MLS regular season winds down, every point becomes even more crucial to determine playoff seating. The Western Conference playoff race has heated up where second place and eighth place are only separated by a mere two points. Two teams in the middle of it all are the San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake as they battled for second place at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. For the Quakes, this would be the last game of Coach Matías Almeyda’s suspension. Who would snatch all three points in this playoff duel?
In a defensive heavyweight battle, both teams held their ground keeping a clean sheet throughout the first half. San Jose controlled possession, but Real Salt Lake had created most of the prominent chances. The goal would finally arrive in the 75th minute, as RSL’s Damir Kreilach broke the stalemate with a towering header off a cross from teammate Brooks Lennon. San Jose was punished in the box and never seemed to recover.
Both keepers from both sides starred in this 1-0 affair. Nick Rimando finished with vital saves to keep Salt Lake in the game and ultimately helping Real Salt Lake improve to 9-1-1 in its last 11 home games. Daniel Vega made 5 superhuman saves for the Quakes, but it wasn’t enough as his defense failed him in the end.
San Jose had its chances throughout the game, perhaps none better than defender Florian Jungwirth’s shot in the 61st minute. Chris Wondolowski and Christian Espinoza also had chances early in the game but were denied by MLS legend Nick Rimando.
Ultimately, in the end, the difference was Kreilach out-jumping San Jose’s Anibal Godoy and Real Salt Lake would take all three points, securing second place in the West. Utah goes on to face Minnesota United at Allianz Field. As for the Quakes, the team had looked superb in the absence of Almeyda, winning their previous two games emphatically and in style. However, this test on the road proved too much as San Jose drop to 5th place. The Quakes take on NYC FC at Yankee Stadium.
