A week ago, the story was how consistency in the San Jose Earthquakes lineup was helping the team build its chemistry on the field. For three games to start the 2018 Major League Soccer season, the Quakes featured the same starting eleven.
Following a season opening 3-2 win over Minnesota United, however, San Jose dropped its next two games, and head coach Mikael Stahre promised that there would be some changes ahead of the fourth game of the year: an away game against the Philadelphia Union.
True to his word, Stahre started MLS newcomer Joel Qwiberg at left back in place of veteran Shea Salinas — it was his only change to the starting lineup — and the Quakes survived an early Union attack to take a one goal lead.