SAN JOSE – San Jose Earthquakes captain Chris Wondolowski was left out of the starting lineup against Houston on Saturday night because of a coach’s decision – the first time in three years he was on the bench at kickoff.
Wondolowski has 135 career goals in MLS, the second-most in league history, and his 128 goals since 2010 are 39 more than any other player. But the 35-year-old striker, who played in every minute of the team’s first four games under new coach Mikael Stahre, has just one goal and one assist this season.
The Earthquakes (1-2-1) were held to one goal in each of their past two games.