Chris Wondolowski, the Earthquakes captain and most popular player, took an unusual step by using Twitter to defend rookie coach Mikael Stahre from mounting calls for his sacking after the team’s latest defeat extended the winless streak to 10 games.

Wondolowski, 35, posted a tweet Saturday night after San Jose fell to the Montreal Impact 2-0 denouncing those criticizing the Swedish coach.

“Sorry kept quiet long enough but can’t take people who are not in our locker room blaming our coach! It’s on myself and is (sic) players to step up to do the right thing. #stahrein #knowwhotoblame,” Wondolowski wrote.

Fans chastised Stahre after his sideline encounter with fourth-year midfielder Fatai Alashe that was captured in broadcasts. Stahre said he had replaced Alashe at halftime because the defensive midfielder suffered a groin strain.

But after the halftime break, Alashe joined teammates on the field presumably because he thought he still was in the lineup. Then before the game resumed Stahre suddenly replaced him with central defender Jimmy Ockford.

Alashe, whose contract ends this year, looked confused as he walked off the field. After the player and Stahre began talking on the sideline the coach grabbed Alashe’s arm. Then the conversation became more heated with Alashe making forceful gestures.

The midfielder had played about five minutes in the first half when replacing Anibal Godoy, who also appeared upset about his substitution.

Stahre didn’t address the sideline incident with reporters after the game. Instead, he told them Alashe “was injured in his groin, so I was forced to change and of course, it was so unlucky for us. He just picked up an injury and couldn’t go on so we had to sub him. He was playing and reached for a ball and it happens.”

Alashe, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 draft, showed no signs of a muscle strain while walking off the field. But Wondolowski also told reporters the midfielder had suffered the injury.

Alashe started 27 games in each of his first two seasons but was out for almost two months last year because of a knee injury. He has 13 appearances with only two starts this year. The player previously told the Bay Area News Group that he was keeping a positive attitude about the changing role.

An Earthquakes spokesman said officials wouldn’t be available to talk until Monday because of travel from Montreal.

Godoy also left the field without appearing to be injured but Stahre said the Panamanian World Cup starter asked a few times to be taken out.

“He asked to come out because he was injured and was also on a yellow card,” the coach said. “We tried to keep him on the field for five minutes, but we were forced to change.”

Neither player was available for comment after the game but the sideline actions suggest a growing fissure among some of the players and their coach.

Wondolowski, who is five goals shy of the league’s all-time scoring record, dismissed the notion that the team has a problem.

“I think the belief hasn’t wavered, which I think is our best attribute right now,” he told reporters.

Many fans welcomed Wondolowski’s tweet supporting Stahre, general manager Jesse Fioranelli’s handpicked coach to help change the team’s culture by building a strong youth academy.

Some people, however, were not as forgiving as discontent grows over what is shaping up to be the Earthquakes (2-11-6) worst season in their 21 years in Major League Soccer.

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First pro sports event in Santa Clara County since March draws “crowd” “Always respect you, but to stand up for Stahre at the expense of our beloved team is not something I like to see from you,” one person responded. “There are video and audio recording now all over Twitter clearly showing what happened in Montreal. Stahre and Fioneralli (sic) are destroying @SJEarthquakes.”

Stahre told reporters he was focused on the next MLS game July 25 when the Quakes play host to the Seattle Sounders. The team ends a two-game homestand July 28 against Real Salt Lake.

San Jose also has an exhibition Sunday at Levi’s Stadium against Premier League giant Manchester United. Newly acquired Georgian center back Guram Kashia might be available for his debut for the 2 p.m. kickoff.