Striker Wondolowski scored after nearly a 3 month MLS drought.
Wondolowski, coming off the back of a run of five goals in the USA’s march to the Gold Cup championship, scored twice in his league return to lead the Quakes to a 2-0 victory on Saturday night over a Goats team that was reduced to 10 men in the second half.
Wondolowski had not scored in MLS since the 8th of May, nearly 600 minutes, so these two goals added to his form for the national team will give San Jose fans plenty of optimism.
The win took San Jose’s winning streak to three straight matches, putting them back in the picture for the Western Conference playoff chase. The Earthquakes are now 7-1-4 at home this season, and haven’t lost at Buck Shaw Stadium since a season-opening 2-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake five months ago.
Both goals were a pleasure to watch, the first starting with Steven Beitashour who initiated the play by playing a long ball over the Chivas USA back line. Victor Bernardez got underneath it and cushioned a lovely header across for Wondolowski to attack from just outside the six-yard box.
His second came in the 87th minute, pouncing on the rebound from Salinas’ deflected shot and coolly lifting the ball over Kennedy to propel San Jose to their first multi-goal victory of 2013.
Wondolowski, whose grandfather was in the stands to see him play for the first time, was happy to be back on the field after being away from the side for the Gold Cup and the MLS All-Star game.
“I’m telling you, I sure like playing them rather than watching them,” said Wondolowski. “I almost had a heart attack, pulling out my hair. I don’t know how fans do it. It’s crazy. I’m glad I could try to be a part of it. … I’m glad I didn’t mess it up. We had two wins coming in, so I’m glad we could get another win and really get this thing moving.”
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