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Volesky scores winner, Monterey Bay earns Open Cup upset of Quakes

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 04/26/23, 2:15AM EDT

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First-half goal sends hosts to victory at Cardinale Stadium as Yallop tops former club


Monterey Bay F.C.'s Christian Volesky scored the deciding goal as the USL Championship side defeated Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. | Photo courtesy Kiera Winslow / Monterey Bay F.C.

SEASIDE, Calif. – A year ago, Frank Yallop was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the San Jose Earthquakes.

On Tuesday night, the veteran Head Coach showed he’s still got a trick or two up his sleeve against the club with which he won a pair of MLS Cups.

A first-half goal by Christian Volesky and a stellar defensive display earned Monterey Bay F.C. a 1-0 victory against the Quakes at Cardinale Stadium, sending the USL Championship club into the Round of 32 in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on a memorable night for the second-year club.

“It was kind of bittersweet because I love the Quakes,” said Yallop. “I look for their result first anytime I look at MLS scores on a Saturday night. But we are competitors, and we are trying to win. I think tonight was a great game. In the end, we got the upset, I guess you could call it since MLS teams are packed and powerful, but it was a great night for us. I thought we played well and deserved to win in the end.”

Neither side was able to create a clear-cut scoring chance in the early going, and it wasn’t until the 15th minute that Monterey Bay recorded the first shot of the game. Off a corner kick, Mobi Fehr’s delivery found Kai Greene at the far post, and the defender’s header back across goal came to Jason Johnson, whose header went just wide of the right post. Moments later, Johnson had another opportunity but shot wide after the hosts created a turnover in the Quakes half.

The breakthrough came for the hosts in the 26th minute, however, as another turnover by the visitors gifted an opportunity to Volesky. The current USL Championship Player of the Week made no mistake with his finish, lifting the ball over San Jose goalkeeper Daniel and into the back of the net. 

“I feel confident, the team feels confident,” said Volesky. “To get a clean sheet, that was our goal tonight. Got a goal early and got the clean sheet, so that’s a win. We proved a point a little bit and we’re excited to see what’s next.”

San Jose’s response was immediate, and United States international Jackson Yuiell forced a fingertip save from MBFC goalkeeper Antony Siaha to push the ball over the crossbar. The hosts took their lead into the halftime break, however, and then dug in impressively to maintain their advantage. Just before the hour-mark, the Quakes’ Paul Marie curled a left-footed shot that went wide of the left post, while soon after Jeremy Ebobisse had a close-range chance denied by by Siaha.

Monterey Bay also had chances to add to its lead, the best coming in the 63rd minute when Walmer Martinez’s corner kick found Greene, whose powerful shot was well saved by Daniel. Second-half substitute Alex Dixon sprung the Union on the counter in the 73rd minute, but Nevello Yoseke’s shot from the right side of the penalty area flew high over the crossbar. Dixon was again in the middle of the action in the final minute when he set up Volesky on a counterattack only for the forward’s effort to be deflected just wide.

As hard as the Quakes pushed, however, Monterey Bay resisted defensively. Veteran center back Hugh Roberts stood tall, recording 12 clearances, nine of which were headed away, while winning 5 of 5 aerial duels to help thwart the visitors. Greene and the rest of the back line also played their parts as Siaha posted a four-save shutout to earn Monterey Bay its first win against an opponent from Major League Soccer in its first official meeting with a top-flight side.

“Anytime we have a chance of playing a cup game at home, you don’t want to be timid and sit back and see what is going to happen against a good team,” said Yallop. “We had a good chat before the match tonight. I just said don’t regret the night, just go for it – really enjoy the occasion and play our football. And it showed. We played free and played some nice stuff against a good side. They had their chances, but I felt our guys fully deserved the victory tonight.”

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