PHOTO: Los Angeles Football Club
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Days removed from an inspiring performance against Atlanta United, the San Jose Earthquakes failed to showcase that same midas touch in Black-and-Gold territory, Banc of California Stadium, loosing 2-0 against LAFC.
Quakes interim coach, Steve Ralston, tinkered with the Black-and-Blue’s line-up in his second game in charge, bringing in Joel Qwiberg, Jahmir Hyka, Chris Wondolowski and Florian Jungwirth as starters. Despite the changes, the Quakes failed to generate a threatening attack and were unable to keep tabs on LA’s Walker Zimmerman, who headed home two goals off of corners; a flaw Ralston thinks cost his side chances of leaving Southern California with points.
“Set pieces. Well, at the end of the day, of course they had chances,” Ralston said to a gaggle of reporters. “We didn’t create much going forward. I thought we possessed at times; we moved the ball but we never could really get through in the final third.”
“We kinda ran out of ideas,” he added. “Defensively, we gave up a few bad giveaways that got us in trouble. Corner kicks, we gave up way too many, and, ultimately, that’s what killed us.”
Tallying only four shots throughout 90 minutes, it was the Quakes’ bleakest attacking performance of the season. Jackson Yuiell’s first-time volley in the 21st minute was the Quakes only threatening chance, and Tyler Miller’s lone save of the day. The attacking trio of Vako, Wondolowski and Hyka offered little to nothing, as San Jose found themselves pinned 10-men behind the ball.
While on the other side of the field, the home side pounced time after time, forcing JT Marcinkowski, who made his second career start, to six saves. Carlos Vela made a statement early on with a near-goal-of-the-week candidate, before culminating his 81-minute cameo with two assists.
So, what was it that caused the Quakes to play antithetic soccer to that of Wednesday’s?
To Marcinkowski, Wondolowski and Ralston, the last seven days have had a physical toll on the team. Los Angeles’ mid-summer-esque heat, which caused officials to grant both teams a water-break per half respectively, didn’t help either.
“Wednesday night we created a lot more chances,” Marcinkowski said on what went different. “Whether that’d be Atlanta’s defense, we were a little more dynamic up top.”
“Whatever it was, I think today’s heat, playing 48 hours after Wednesday, definitely had a toll on us,” he added. “You can see by the 60, 70th minute that the guys were kinda lagging, but also I think LAFC is really good. We have a lot of work to do.”
Tactically, Ralston says he hopes to have his side pressure and “step forward” ahead of Saturday’s trip to Houston, while accepting that sitting back is not an option. But, most importantly, the interim coach with only two games under his belt wants wins above all.
“Win,” Ralston said bluntly. “We want to win.”
“Obviously, it’s nice to say moral victories here and there. In the end, when you win, you feel like you’re actually earning something and you’re building something. It’s hard to lose and say, ‘Hey, we are getting better.'” “You want to win.”
