In the 63rd minute of Wednesday’s MLS is Back Tournament match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps, San Jose manager Matias Almeyda changed 40 percent of his outfield lineup in one fell swoop.
And the gambit worked.
Down 3-1 at that point after a mistake by goalkeeper Daniel Vega to give Vancouver an insurance goal, those four substitutes made a huge difference. Danny Hoesen set up Chris Wondolowski on the first goal in the rally, with Carlos Fierro inadvertently dummying the ball on the way in, before Shea Salinas scored the winner in the 98th minute, as the Earthquakes rallied to win 4-3 on the night.