Despite generating multiple chances, the San Jose Earthquakes could not score an equalizer and fell to Minnesota United at PayPal Park on Saturday night.
““We could have been better in creating some better chances, but they were a tough team to break down with the numbers they put behind the ball and the back line,” said Quakes head coach Bruce Arena about Minnesota after the game. “They did a good job.”
Minnesota took the lead in the 33rd minute thanks to a Kelvin Yeboah header assisted by Micahel Boxall after a poor clearance attempt from the Quakes’ defense.
“We obviously made a mistake on the goal, not clearing the ball properly, and not doing a good job stepping to the player who finished,” said Arena. “I don’t even know who finished the goal, but bad defending on our part on that particular play.”
In the second half, San Jose unleashed eleven shots, looking for the tying goal. Their best chance was a Cristian Espinoza free kick in the 65th minute that almost squeezed inside the right post.
“As soon as I saw the ball going over the wall, I was almost expecting that it was going to end up inside the net,” said Espinoza after the game. “It was very close, but unfortunately, I didn’t score the goal.”
With Minnesota compact in defense, they proved difficult to break down, especially missing midfielder maestro Hernán López after receiving two yellow cards last week.
“We tried everything to break down the line of five they put in the back. I think it’s very difficult to have the opportunities to score when they put the lines too low, and when they defend for most of the game with almost nine players inside the box,” noted Espinoza. “But as I say, we need to keep working and improving, because probably during the season, we’re going to face another similar situation.”
Despite the first loss, the Quakes’ newfound confidence is still intact.
“We just need to keep working. We’re going to face this situation again during the year,” said Espinoza. “We’re going to face teams here at PayPal Park, who are going to defend the whole game, and we need to be ready for that.”
The Quakes will have a chance for another home win next Saturday against the Colorado Rapids at 7:30 pm.
