Wondo's strike shakes up Chivas USA
Wondo's strike shakes up Chivas USA
Posted by Gio Franco

San Jose displayed Sunday night why they were the team to beat last season with their talisman Chris Wondolowski. Both teams at the start of the first half were showing valiant probing efforts on the opposing goals. Cordell Cato snuffed a chivas build up play with an intelligent step to take Alvarez pass in the ninth minute but the counter was fruitless. The Chivas USA midfield appeared a little slow to maintain possession with their five man midfield setup. Mejia in the opening 17 minutes looked a step behind the link up play for the goats; he found it hard to establish himself throughout the match. Shea Salinas created a quality effort attacking the Chivas box but is tackled out for a San Jose corner by de Luna in the 25th minute. Minda found his place in the game breaking down the San Jose Midfield and countering with de la Fuente on the left wing. De la Fuente's cross was met by 'Cubo' Torres to chest it down for Alvarez to send it high in the 28th minute. Minda achieved the first caution on the night in the 31st minute for a tackle on Wondolowski. Purdy had a stalwart night with his ability to contain Lenhart. Steve Purdy unfortunately picked up an injury and came off in the 40th minute for Jaime Frias. Lenhart the culprit for the injury to Purdy was awarded with a yellow before going into the break.

 At the start of the 2nd half, the fiery Lenhart had a goal called back for an offensive foul on de Luna. The second sub of the evening came again from the home side; Eric Avila made way for attacking Matthew Fondy in the 52nd minute. Fondy had an immediate impact, even though his header went straight to Busch’s hands in the 53rd minute. Fondy showed an extra attacking presence to the match, as he took on Jordan stewart with an intelligent through ball for himself to run onto to square away for de la Fuente to flash wide of the far post. Shea Salinas came close in the 68th minute, the ball fell to him inside the box and he dispatches his effort high over the bar. Kennedy was also cautioned; referee Rivero issued Kennedy a yellow for time wasting in the 69th minute. San Jose made their 2nd sub of the night Salinas made way for Marvin Chavez to come on and Chivas made their final sub of the evening; Tristan Bowen came on for Alvarez both in the 70th minute. The Earthquakes made their third and final sub of the night; Baca comes off for Alan Gordon. 

Things got a little heated in the Chivas box, as Lenhart tackles Kennedy after the whistle was blown. The Chivas players were quick to approach Lenhart and tempers flaired up temporarily. Lenhart was eventually shown his second yellow of the night and was given his walking papers for the challenge on Kennedy. The extra man advantage enticed the goats to charge on. San Jose broke the deadlock with 10 men, Chris Wondolowski pounced on a parried effort from Kennedy after making a save from Alan Gordon’s attempt. Final sub of the night for San Jose, Walter Martinez comes on for Cordell Cato in the 89th minute. Chivas in the final minutes began throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Earthquakes, trying to find the equalizer. At the end San Jose emerged victorious and Chivas found themselves foundering despite the numerical advantage. The Earthquakes didn't falter after the sending off of Lenhart. Regards to Chivas USA they again find themselves at a lost even after their side was awarded with an extra pair of legs. With these three points the Earthquakes will use them as a possible springboard into the play-offs, depending on the last results in the coming future. 

 


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