On Sunday night, the San Jose Earthquakes secured top spot in Group B thanks to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire. By picking out three key moments, here is how they did it.
The San Jose Earthquakes and the Chicago Fire, the two clubs in Group B with wins under their belt, met on Sunday night with both teams looking to move top of the group.
The Earthquakes entered the crucial tilt with four points thanks to a 0-0 draw against the Seattle Sounders and a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Meanwhile, the Fire won their only game of the MLS is Back Tournament against the Sounders.
With the top spot on the line and both teams and plenty to play for, here are the three key moments that defined the match.
Winning the physical battle
The first half saw both teams deal with each attack that came their way effectively. However, as the game progressed, things started to get physical. Most poignantly, Robert Beric and Florian Jungwirth exchanged some words after a few pushes were exchanged during a corner kick. They kept talking long after the ball had departed and, after consulting the other referees, Jungwirth was issued a yellow card.
Then an injury seemingly came out of nowhere as Luka Stojanovic went down in midfield. He could not continue and was replaced by Fabian Herbers. That cost Chicago Fire a substitution opportunity they would’ve loved to have in the second half. Stojanovic struggled to deal with the physicality of the match.
In the second half, the Fire tired. They failed to handle San Jose’s relentless high press and could not keep pace with Matias Almeyda’s well-drilled and fit side. Beric and Jungwirth started it, but in the end, the physical element to this match helped the Earthquakes.