SEATTLE — The San Jose Earthquakes walked out of CenturyLink Field with a point Wednesday night, thanks in no small part to the atypical defensive doctrine utilized by head coach Matías Almeyda. The Earthquakes’ man-marking system is a rarity in the world of soccer, but Wednesday’s result proved that sometimes less-utilized methodologies can still find success at the game’s higher levels.
In the realm of sports, unorthodox styles are always met with raised eyebrows. The A-11 offense in football, Chad Bradford’s submarine delivery and Roy Jones Jr.’s almost flailing approach to pugilism all stand out as stark departures from the established norms in their respective fields.