San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids Live Blog

A balmy night at el Estadio Buck Shaw as the Quakes take on the Colorado Rapids. The Stands are nearly full for this match celebrating Fiestas Patrias which honors the independence of all Central American countries (including Mexico) from Spanish rule in 1810. To honor this occasion, the Quakes are selling Coronas for $3. If that doesn't pack the stands then nothing will!.

Pregame- Starting Lineups:

Colorado: GK: Preston Burpo, DEF Julien Baudet, Drew Moor, Jordan Harvey, Scott Palguta, MID: Jacob Peterson, Mehdi Ballouchy, Nick LaBrocca, Kosuke Kimura , FWD: Conor Casey (Capt.), Omar Cummings

San Jose: GK: Joe Cannon, DEF: Chris Leitch, Jason Hernandez, Brandon McDonald, Ramiro Corrales (Capt.), MID: Andre Luiz, Ramon Sanchez, Bobby Convey, FWD: Cornell Glen, Ryan Johnson

1- And We're off!!

2- Shea Salinas with a great effort that hits the far post and falls to Cornell Glen who sees the ball cleared for a corner kick. Glen was calling for a hand ball but comes up empty.

3- After the corner is cleared Joe Cannon hits a long ball to Ryan Johnson who collides with Burpo and is slow to get up. It appears he collided with the same shoulder he injured a few weeks back. He earns a corner that is also cleared.

4- The Quaand the effort is cleared. Quakes are playing some inspired ball at the moment as a pass by Ryan Johnson ends up at the feet of Cornell Glen. A Rapids defender stands in the way and the effort goes for naught.

5- Back and forth match so far as Conor Casey shoots a laser of a shot that goes just wide of Cannon's net. Inspired play by both teams so far in front of a national audience.

7-QUAKES GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! Inspired play by the Quakes pays off as a Quakes corner meets the head of Ryan Johnson who puts in the back of the net. Clearly no one told Frank Yallop's side that they had nothing to play for because they look to show America that they have skill in San Jose.

12- The Quakes are the clear aggressors at the moment and are looking to put the Rapids out of it early. They are getting the lion share of the possession and with a great number of chances.

15- Rapids Corner.

15- The corner is weak and ends right into the safe hands of Joe Cannon. The ball is quickly cleared and after a Salinas pass ends up on the foot of Glen who fires it from distance but its over the bar. The Quakes are feeling confident tonight. As the shot goes over, a member of the 1906 Ultras carries a large banner across the stands eciting the crowd further.

17- Convey is warned on a challenge on Moor. No Card shown.

18- Good chance by the Rapids as Kimura the former Earthquake fires a shot that goes just wide of Cannon's net. Colorado is clearly desperate to get back in the match and looks to be pressing. The Quakes would be wise to wait on the counter and strike back when the Rapids extend themselves too far.

21- Cummings breaks free of the Quakes defense but Joe Cannon comes up big with a great save and Brandon McDonald bails the Quakes out further with a good clearance preventing a further opportunity.

24- The game appears to have settled down a bit but the Ultras are still very vocal.

25- Great sequence for the Quakes as Cornell Glen holds up the ball for San Jose and distributes to Salinas who is unable to find the shot but passes back to Glen. The pass catches Glen wrong footed and a good chance is wasted.

26- Kimura goes down hard after what appeared to be a weak challenge. The former Earthquake is slow to get up but is finally able to after 30 seconds on the ground.

27- Cummings with an effort that forces Cannon to dive but the shot goes wide to the near post. A chance wasted by a Colorado side that is clearly pressing far up the field. As stated earlier, the Quakes need to look to catch Colorado on the counter.

29- Nearly a chance for Ryan Johnson as Preston Burpo bobbles the ball but is eventually able to catch the ball. Kimura hits the ground again after being shoved to the ground by a Quakes attacker. Colorado looks dazed at the moment.

33- Free kick for San Jose due to a Rapids hand ball.

34- YELLOW CARD for Julien Baudet in the 24the due to that hand ball. The Free kick is taken by Luiz who shoots from distance but the ball goes way over the Rapids net. Not a great chance but I like that the Quakes are showing some confidence to take chances in this match even though they're ahead.

36- Great chance by Bobby Convey but the shot goes just wide. The Quakes are looking to take the Rapids out of the game.

37- Foul on the Rapids Nick LaBrocca for a body check on Andre Luiz. The foul results in a free kick which is cleared by Colorado for a corner.

38- The corner is cleared but San Jose is maintaining possession. The Quakes clearly need another goal to prevent losing this hard fought momentum.

39- Quakes free kick from midfield after a foul on Baudet.

39-Quakes corner. The corner is cleared by a great effort from the Rapids defenders but San Jose still maintains possession. If I am Rapids coach Gary Smith, I look to try to light a fire in my squad because they clearly look out of it at the moment as the Quakes are beating them to each and every ball. Look for a few more chances and possibly the inclusion of MLS veteran Pat Noonan in midfield.

43- The Quakes are keeping possession in the Rapids third but are unable to generate a shot on goal. The Rapids are clearly on their heels and a late goal right here could knock them out of the match and perhaps dent their playoff aspirations.

45-One minute of stoppage time

HALFTIME: As I watch this inspired Quakes preformance only one song is running through my head. the Say Anything classic, "Alive with the Glory of Love". San Jose is hungry and beating the Rapids to each and every ball. Beautiful display by Yallop's squad and the vocal crowd as well.

45- AND WE'RE OFF!

50- Great Save by Joe Cannon! Cummings was very dangerous on that header but Cannon comes up big.

51- A near chance for San Jose but Andre luiz does not pull the trigger at the edge of the box and the Rapids are able to clear.

52- The clearance on the Luiz effort results in a try for the Rapids but Cannon is more than up to the task with a save.

53- Break away effort by Corrales but the Rapids are able to clear. Quakes corner.

54-The effort is cleared but the Quakes are able to maintain possession. The team is clearly doing their job in the midfield and defense. Great support tonight.

55- Another Quakes corner off a Rapids clearance. The corner is taken but the chance falls to Ryan Johnson who is ruled to be offside.

56- As we approach the 60 minute mark, the Rapids are clearly getting a little bit more settled in the match and appear to be challenging the Quakes defense. Where the Quakes appear to be maximizing their efforts is by neutralizing the service to US International Connor Casey. The striker has been starved of service and when he does get the ball, Jason Hernandez has been up to the task of marking him.

59-Cornell Glen is on the ground after a challenge from a Rapids midfielder. The Trinidadian is slow to get up and will be removed.

59-QUAKES SUBSTITUTION: Chris Wondolowski for Cornell Glen

60- RAPIDS SUBSTITUTION: Michael Holody in for Scott Palguta.

63- The Casbah and the Ultras are doing a great job of keeping the crowd very loud and vocal tonight.

64- Screams come from the Quakes fans as a Rapids cross nearly results in a chance on goal but the Quakes defense is lucky to get the clearance.

66- Salinas gets a great amount of space from the Rapids defense as he attempts to cut up the Colorado backline but is stripped and the ball rolls harmlessly to Burpo.

67- Rapids Corner- Brandon McDonald clears a Kimura effort.

68- RAPIDS SUB: Facundo Diz for Jacob Peterson

68- QUAKES SAVE!!!! JOE CANNON with what will probably be SAVE OF THE WEEK. The corner falls to Connor Casey but Joe Cannon makes a diving effort to save the ball. The ball is not held and Brandon McDonald comes up big again and clears the ball out of danger. What an effort by Joe.

70- QUAKES SAVE! CANNON COMES UP BIG AGAIN. One handed save on a Cummings effort. The ball is cleared by Andre Luiz who nearly hits it into Cannon's net. Rapids corner.

71-Quakes clear the corner and the Rapids siege ends. We're hearing in the Box that Glen leaves due to a right knee sprain. Hopefully he'll be able to recover quickly but it is very disappointing as Glen has been hit with an injury or a knick each of the last few weeks.

74- Quakes cross from Luiz nearly finds the foot of Convey who is unable to get to the ball. Yallop is not dropping back and clearly wants that second goal.

77- The Quakes appear to be regaining the composure after being shelled in the first 20 minutes of the half

77- Beautiful Set up by Salinas who cuts through the Rapids defense like a hot knife on butter. However, the Quakes are unable to make a decent shot. Beautiful set up but the Quakes sould hace clearly scored on that opportunity.

79- Another effort by Convey leads to a Burpo save and a Quakes corner which is cleared by Colorado.

81- Rapids corner. Cleared by San Jose.

81- OH MY. The Quakes had the dagger but forgot how to use it. The clearance leads to a break of Convey and Wondolowski. Convey streaks up the left side but is unable to complete the give and go in front of the Rapids net and his shot goes horribly wide. VERY disappointing right there as the Quakes should have put the Rapids to bed.

83-Another near effort by Ramon Sanchez who gets a 1 on 2 with the Rapids defense and Burpo but elects not to shoot on the volley. The Quakes need to put the Rapids away or they may end up regretting it.

84-Wow! Cummings throws Hernandez to the ground but is able to recover the ball and earn a corner. Due to karma and a tricky Quakes defense the ball is cleared.

84- RAPIDS SUB: Pat Noonan in for Jordan Harvey

86- Rapids effort at goal goes painfully wide.

87- QUAKES SUB: Quincy Amarikwa in for Bobby Convey. Convey has looked very lively in this match but he will want that effort back as he could have put this game on ice.

89- Active play for Amarikwa earns a Quakes corner but the ball is cleared by the Rapids who lose possession immediately. Quakes Throw in.

90- Dangerous moment as Cannon plays the ball outside the box but the danger is cleared as he sends the ball into the midfield.

90- 3 MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME

91- The Rapids are desperately flinging balls into the box but clear the ball out to Burpo. The announced attendance is 10,525. Great showing by the Bay Area Quake faithful.

93- Last gasp for Colorado as they earn a corner. San Jose is on the edge of its seat.

93- PENALTY!!! PENALTY!!!!! COLORADO EARNS A PENALTY on a Johnson hand ball. Casey to take it.

93- COLORADO GOAL!!!!! Conor Casey takes a beautiful effort that Cannon nearly saves. The boos rain down on the field and the Quakes are still badgering the ref. The chant is ref you suck.

FINAL! 1-1 The Quakes are furious and Yallop will go have words with the ref for that late penalty call. Stay tuned for our interviews. you won't want to miss this.