Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski celebrates an Anibal Godoy second half goal in San Jose's 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City Friday night.
When they needed it most, the San Jose Earthquakes delivered a 1-0 clean-sheet win over Sporting Kansas City Friday night to keep their MLS playoff hopes alive.
After a tense, scoreless opening 45 minutes, Anibal Godoy delivered the game’s only score just two minutes into the second half.
Godoy deftly swept a Chris Wondolowski crossing volley into goal from the left post to complete a sequence started outside the box by a gently arcing Shea Salinas pass directly to Wondo’s right boot. Kansas City goaltender Tim Melia had drifted left to protect against a Wondolowski attempt, but instead found himself helplessly out of position for Godoy’s winning score.
The San Jose Earthquakes top Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.
Forward Chris Wondolowski and the San Jose Earthquakes kick off the MLS campaign on the Avaya Stadium pitch Sunday at noon against the Colorado Rapids.
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski celebrates an Anibal Godoy second half goal in San Jose's 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City Friday night.
San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas (6) fires the ball toward the net for an assist in the second half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
San Jose Earthquakes forward Quincy Amarikwa (25) leaps for a header in the first half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
Sporting KC defender Matt Besler (5) evades San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Matias Perez Garcia (10) as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham (1) deflects a shot on goal in the first half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham (1) blocks a shot on goal in the first half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
San Jose Earthquakes Clarence Goodson (21) redirects the ball from Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer (14) in the first half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
San Jose Earthquakes defender Marvell Wynne (4) breaks up a drive by Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer (14) in the first half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas (6) gets a shot on goal in the first half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
Sporting KC midfielder Bernardo Anor (11) trips up on the turf in front of San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Cordell Cato (7) in the first half as the Sporting KC face the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, October 16, 2015.more
Photos by Scot Tucker/SFBay
With just one game remaining — visiting FC Dallas October 25 — the Quakes’ playoff destiny is largely out of their hands. A win Sunday by Seattle at Houston eliminates San Jose from the MLS playoffs.