Real Salt Lake falls flat in 2-0 loss to San Jose
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
RSL’s playoff chances just got a little bit slimmer as Chris Wondolowski led the charge scoring both goals in San Jose’s 2-0 win.
Real Salt Lake just needed a win tonight to leapfrog both San Jose and Vancouver to put themselves back in the playoff race, but they were unable to get it done as Chris Wondolowski scored a brace to lift the Earthquakes to a 2-0 win. San Jose moves into 7th place as RSL stays in 9th, just two points below the playoff line with two more games to play in the season.
Wondo scored one of the most Wondo-esque goals of all-time in the 16th minute when Espionza’s shot sailed past Andrew Putna and bounced off the far post. Wouldn’t you know it — Chris Wondolowski ended up, unmarked, in the exact spot the ball fell to and he tapped it in for an easy goal, giving the home side an early 1-0 lead.
Marcelo Silva almost pulled one back near the end of the first half as he lifted up for a header, but the ball went a little bit wide and bounced off the near post and out away from goal.
RSL wouldn’t find a shot on target in the first 45 minutes while San Jose found three, but the visitors did out shoot them overall 6-5. San Jose also dominated possession with 57.5% percent at the halftime break as they went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
Aaron Herrera received a yellow card for a reckless foul while chasing down Carlos Fierro in the 59th minute and due to accumulation, he’ll miss the next game this weekend against the LA Galaxy.
Wondo did it again in the 74th minute as he found himself completely unmarked on the left side of the box. Fresh substitute Shea Salinas sent in a low cross that took a deflection and ended up right in a perfect space for Wondolowski, who easily slotted the ball in to the near side of the post doubling his team’s lead to 2-0 as the game inched nearer toward the end.
Neither team found the net for the rest of the night and the Earthquakes grabbed a much-needed three points. This win puts them into 7th place with 27 points as they close out the season against LAFC and the Seattle Sounders. RSL, sitting just two points below the red line, will need to salvage their final two games against the LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City if they want a chance of locking up a playoff spot by the end of Decision Day.