PHOTO: Quakes Epicenter/Alexis Flores
SAN JOSE, Calif. — At times, MLS team’s play with such divine fashion that it makes you forget what that we’re still in North America. A responsive, new-look San Jose Earthquakes under Mikael Stahre did that in 32 minutes. Answering four months of anticipation and questioning.
What happened after around the 70th minute mark, though, was questionable. The Quakes, you suspect, played the brand of football they dreamed when the Swede gained the keys to the club. Despite the outcome’s unattractive final result (and who they played against).
This is not, at least it shows so far, a Quakes side to be interdependent on the effectiveness of Wondolowski. As testimony to that, in the blink of an eye, Stahre’s fiercely instructed high-press resulted in two, team-fabricated goals. In the 59th minute, a piece of art, spearheaded by Danny Hoesen, dramaticized the scenes at Avaya, making us believe he can, in fact, be the Golden Boot winner.
In major part that was the result of the Quakes aggressiveness to win the ball high up the field. Plugging their attack that flourishes by being free-flowing inside the final third factored, too. Yet, it seems that game-changing effectiveness comes from certain players. Those who compromised to play out of position on both ends of the field. Especially, those playing forward roles.
Insert Vako, who on top of his goal and two assists, generated two tackles and an interception. Such quality performance from the Georgian last season would have been a one-in-a-thousand chance. Magnus Eriksson, who projects as Vako, but on the opposite side of the field, succeeded by either holding the ball or by falling deep into the midfield. Disorganizing Minnesota’s backline. His movements also allowed Nick Lima to charge down the right flank. Giving the Swede the ability to combine with the right back or slot passes between the channels. Then there was Wondolowski, who provided an assist by a blistering cross from the right flank. He was a nightmare for United, disrupting central midfielders Ibson and Rasmus Schuller with his movement off the ball.
But it wasn’t all fun and games after all, for 3-0 leads, at times, can get the best of every team.
It was concerning for Stahre that his side collapsed after the 81st minute mark. Which the Swede related to the Loons sudden “energy.” In all fairness, it could have been that. Yet it also relates to complacency and developing scenarios, e.g. Yeferson Quintana’s early substitution due to injury. As a result, the Quakes squandered in their own first third of the field. This allowed the Loons to win possession with ease in the final 45 minutes by more than 30 percent.
Lets not take away from the fact that it was the first 90 minutes under a new coaching staff. It doesn’t benefit to field an eleven with a couple of league debutants, who lack collective experiences to reference from.
Perhaps given the opponent and the timing of the match day, it was the best plot for the Quakes and Stahre. For MLS seasons are long, treacherous, and more than anything, volatile for the majority of teams. While the Quakes tactical identity is distinguishable and effective, there is plenty of learning and reflection ahead.
