One game in 118 words: The first game in Avaya Stadium history might’ve been the most entertaining MLS match of the weekend... at least for a solid 45 minutes. Three goals in the match’s first half-hour set the tone, as the Quakes built a 2-1 lead. San Jose keeper David Bingham made some nice saves, including a 32nd minute stop on Eric Gehrig’s powerful header off a corner kick. David Accam came on to make his Fire debut at halftime, and fellow DP Kennedy Igboananike followed, but the second half was a stagnant display without much to offer the neutral fan until the very last gasps. The home fans got a victorious stadium debut, which was nice for them, and Chicago has its first 0-3 start in franchise history.
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Goals
San Jose Earthquakes: Alashe (5'), Harden (21')
Chicago Fire: Shipp (29')
Three moments that mattered
5’ — Fatai at Avaya -- First-round SuperDraft pick Fatai Alashe scored the first goal in Avaya Stadium history, and it came from less than a yard in front of the line. A San Jose corner was flicked around a few times before Alashe headed past mark Lovel Palmer.
21' -- Can’t Harden Wait -- Seven years after his MLS debut, Ty Harden poked in a rebound to give San Jose a two-goal lead with his first goal. It came off a free kick, and neither Sean Johnson nor his Fire defender teammates will not enjoy the replays.
29' - Harry halves the hole - Joevin Jones slipped a neat through ball for Harrison Shipp, and the Homegrown Player from Notre Dame darted past Alashe to hit it home.
LINEUPS
San Jose: Bingham, Wynne, Goodson, Harden, Francis, Alashe, Koval, Perez Garcia (Jahn, 83'), Nyassi (Cato, 87'), Wondolowski, Emeghara (Salinas, 76').
Chicago: Johnson; Gehrig, Larentowicz, Adailton, Palmer; Polster, Shipp, Stephens (Igboananike, 67'), Maloney, Jones (Accam, 46'); Amarikwa (Guly, 74')
