The San Jose Earthquakes halted a seven-game winless streak on Saturday, besting Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake, 2-1, at Avaya Stadium. The win provides San Jose a massive three points, bolstering their scant playoff hopes with a boost in the right direction.
Both Nick Rimando and David Bingham were called upon multiple times, and each net-minder delivered for their clubs, making huge saves to keep the game level.
Fatai Alashe put San Jose in the driver’s seat in the 72nd minute, heading in a lofted cross from Shea Salinas that Rimando could not keep out of the net.
RSL pressed hard for an equalizer – and a potential playoff-clinching result – but Alashe's effort held up as the game winner, producing a crucial win in the Earthquakes battle to rise above the red line in October.
- SJ:San Jose Earthquakes keep playoff hopes alive with crucial victory
- RSL: "No's one stepping up" for Real Salt Lake as chance to clinch slips away
Box Score
- 34’ – SJ – Simon Dawkins (Chris Wondolowski)
- 40’ – RSL – Justen Glad
- 72’ – SJ – Fatai Alashe (Shea Salinas)
- Full Box Score
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Three Things
The focus now shifts to if San Jose can build off of an excellent performance and sneak into the Western Conference playoffs. Their task will certainly not be an easy one.
TOP CLASS GOALKEEPING
: Both David Bingham and Nick Rimando recently have suited up for the US national team. Tonight’s performance provided excellent fodder for why they caught Jurgen Klinsmann’s eye: Each player displayed athleticism and fearlessness, swatting away multiple clear-cut opportunities in an exciting round of "Can you top this?"
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