A bad night got worse for the Revs when goalkeeper Matt Reis was sidelined with a groin strain in the 55th minute of Saturday’s 4-0 loss to San Jose. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Ronnie O’Brien scored two goals and spearheaded a resurgent San Jose side that easily dispatched the depleted New England Revolution 4-0 Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.
O’Brien bookended the Earthquakes’ victory with goals in the 11th and 87th minutes. Ryan Johnson (71st minute) and Scott Sealy (76th minute) also scored, and Joe Cannon earned the clean sheet.
The victory extended San Jose’s unbeaten streak to five games. The New England loss kept the Revolution winless in San Jose since 2000 and, coupled with the Columbus Crew’s 2-1 win over FC Dallas, drops the Revs out of first place in the MLS East for the first time since May 24.
San Jose wasted little time acquiring the only goal they’d need when Francisco Lima crossed to O’Brien, who volleyed an arching shot into the pocket of the far post to give the Earthquakes the lead in the 11th minute.
The Revolution midfield did not react well to the early goal, racing around the pitch like headless chickens and sending series of passes well off the mark. The absence of holding midfielder Shalrie Joseph (red card suspension) became more glaring as the match went on.
As the Revolution struggled to settle down, San Jose continued to find greater real estate in the midfield. When the Earthquakes counterattacked, O’Brien routinely weaved his way through traffic with alarming ease as Revolution backs were often left kicking at air.
Fielding a depleted midfield and forward line, the Revolution struggled to muster any quality chances on the attack. A telling sign was Mauricio Castro’s clear frustration with his teammates’ service, and open criticism of his cohorts on the pitch.
In spite of its dreadful form, New England was awarded a fortuitous free kick just outside of the box in the 36th minute, when Sainey Nyassi was fouled by Eric Denton, who was awarded a yellow card for the transgression. Castro, who had launched the revs’ first shot on goal from almost the same spot in the third minute, sent in a left-footer that forced Cannon to his knees to corral the ball well off the line.
The Revolution slowly regained their composure, but dodged a bullet as the half wound down. Scott Sealy nearly gave the Quakes a two-goal edge when he headed Darren Huckerby’s cross outside of the near post in the 44th minute.
Revolution manager Steve Nicol shook up his lineup at the half, removing Castro and inserting still-gimpy striker Taylor Twellman up top, and dropping Khano Smith back on the left wing.
The move nearly paid dividends within minutes, when Nyassi intercepted a lazy San Jose backpass and charged in on Cannon, who shoved his point-blank shot aside in the 49th minute.
The Revolution defense took a major blow in the 55th minute, when netminder Matt Reis strained his right groin muscle and could not continue, ending his MLS-best streak of consecutive minutes played at 7,975. Backup Doug Warren took the field for his first MLS first-team appearance in nearly three years.
Shortly thereafter, Nicol’s men discovered the rhythm absent during the first frame. Adam Cristman nearly equalized off Steve Ralston’s corner kick, forcing Cannon to make his fifth save of the match.
The Earthquakes turned up the pressure, and claimed their second goal when Sealy pushed a gentle ball into the box for Ryan Johnson, who slotted past Warren’s grasp in the 71st minute.
The Revolution defense was caught painfully off-guard once again, in the 76th minute, when Nick Garcia sprung a quick counterattack deep in his own end that culminated on Sealy pushing another goal into the back of the net.
To add further embarrassment for the guests, O’Brien dribbled forward toward the box and fired a curling shot that sailed into the upper corner of the far post to give San Jose the commanding four-goal lead, and cap the comprehensive victory.
New England will return to the comfort of Gillette Stadium to face D.C. United on Wednesday night.
