DC United 0–0 San Jose Earthquakes: A Mutual Missed Opportunity
Whether you watched the game kick off at 4:30 pm or 7:30 pm, chances are fans from the Bay Area had a similar reaction to this result as those who call our nation’s capital home. This was a missed opportunity, especially with other clubs breathing down the necks of those above with games in hand.
Who should feel more aggrieved? On one hand, DC United finished the game with a numerical player advantage and maintained significant pressure. They peppered Daniel’s goal, the Earthquakes goalkeeper who has been heroic in nearly every game he’s appeared for the club. DC was also the only club on the night who saw the ball go into the back of the net, albeit with the goal being ruled out by an offside call via VAR.
On the other hand, VAR turned a yellow card issued to Tanner Beason for a challenge on Theodore Ku-DiPietro into a red (despite Rodrigues’s presence in the play casting doubt on the clear goal scoring opportunity). Furthermore, San Jose Earthquakes had the best opportunity of the first half that fell to their best player Cristian Espinoza. Unfortunately it was the one time out of 50 he would miss such a golden opportunity.
Defensively, both teams did a solid job weathering the storm. Each side yielded chances such as those described above, but featuring depth players in important roles, they defended bravely tonight. You had the likes of Brendan Hikes-Ike fill in for the injured Derrick Williams, and then Daniel Munie making his first MLS start. Wayne Rooney and Luchi Gonzalez will likely wonder how to get the best out of their attacking forces because that’s where the points were dropped. Aside from Christian Benteke’s threat on set pieces and crosses and Ku-DiPietro’s dynamic runs, other attacking options were static. In an off day for Jeremy Ebobisse (the likes of which have piled up since his latest injury) and Cristian Espinoza, the rest of the Earthquakes midfield lacked ideas. Cade Cowell and Carlos Gruezo were unavailable due to international duty, but Niko Tsakiris appears to be providing more energy than his more experienced counterpart Jamiro Monteiro. Carlos Akapo provided width in attack and impressed with his speed, but his decision making inside the box could have been better.
The San Jose Earthquakes don’t need me to tell them that draws will only keep them afloat when teetering above the playoff line for so long. The form since the Leagues Cup has been alarming with 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses. It doesn’t get any easier with Real Salt Lake coming to PayPal Park next Saturday. This game feels like a microcosm of the season which is an all too familiar story for Quakes fans this past decade: flashes of brilliance on the precipice of disaster. Signs of a good enough team to make the playoffs but also flawed enough to miss out. I’m worried it’ll come down to the final day and they’re gambling with their lives. When you leave things up to chance, you have to live with the results.
