San Jose Earthquakes vs. F.C. Dallas Live Blog

Its a chilly night at estadio buck shaw as the red hot earthquakes prepare to take on FC Dallas in a match with massive playoff implications. Both teams need victories in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. As always follow our live blog below.

FCD Line Up: GK: Dario Sala, DEF: Heath Pearace, Ugo Ihemelu, George John, Jair Benitez, MID: Marvin Chavez, Daniel Hernandez, Dax McCarthy, Dave van den Bergh, FWD: Jeff Cunningham, David Ferriera,

SJ Line Up: GK Joe Cannon, DEF: Chris Leitch, Bobby Burling, Brandon McDonald, Michael Zaher, MID: Shea Salinas, Ramiro Corrales, Antonio Ribero, Bobby Convey, FWD: Ryan Johnson, Chris Wondolowski

Pregame: Injury News: Jason Hernandez is out of tonight's match but Cornell Glen is on the reserves bench. Some pregame festivities before first kick as the end of the year awards are handed out. Humanitarian of the Year went to a very deserving Shea Salinas, Defender of the Year to Chris Leitch and MVP to a very deserving (BSB Favorite) Ryan Johnson.

1- And we're off

3- Decent shot from Jeff Cunningham who gets his first shot at Joe Cannon but Cannon stops the slow effort.

3- Nice move by Bobby Convey who gets a good cut past two defenders but loses the ball to George John.

4- Wondolowski is ruled to have fouled Hernandez attempting to get the ball to a streaking Johnson and Dallas gets a free kick.

6- Still little from both teams in the opening minutes. Both teams still trying to feel each other out. One thing of note tonight are the loud chants coming from the Ultras in the left corner of the stadium. Great atmosphere.

9- Chance of the match right there as Cunningham hits a ball that is deflected byChris Leitch. The ball goes past Joe Cannon but is saved at the line by Brandon McDonald. Close one the Quakes. Jeff Cunningham is in impressive form as he is doing what he can to find the open spaces to give Dallas scoring opportunities.

9- Quakes Counter results in some fancy footwork by an inform Ryan Johnson who is able to beat two Dallas defenders but RJ's cross results in nothing as no Quakes attacker comes to play the cross. Dallas Free kick.

11- Bobby Convey nearly sets up a Quakes opportunity in the attacking third but his pass leaves much to be desired.

13- Some early impressions inside the first 15 minutes are that the Quakes need to find the proper service to Ryan Johnson because RJ is clearly looking to do what he can to score. Likewise for Dallas who seem to be trying to feed the ball into goal scorer Jeff Cuningham.

14- Scary moment in the 14th minute as an FC Dallas Midfielder hits Ryan Johnson to the ground in a clear foul that goes uncalled. After some scary moments on the ground, RJ is back up showing a slight limp from the injury.

18- YELLOW CARD - Quakes midfielder Bobby Convey called for a Yellow after a a challenge from behind on a FCD midfielder. Convey is getting a lot of opportunities to make something happen tonight but has currently unable to put finish.

20- QUAKES SAVE! Cunningham beats Burling down the right side of the box but Joe Cannon comes up big with a save to keep the score leveled 0-0.

23- Still little action from two teams as we approach the 25 minute mark but one player who seems to be very successful is FCD's Honduran winger Marvin Chavez who is burning the Quakes defender. Back at his home club CD Marathon, they call him El Hijo de Viento" The Son of the Wind. Never more has a nickname been so apt. In the words of the wise Marshawn Lynch, "he's stupid fast".

24- Near Effort for the Quakes as Chris Wondolowski beats Ihemelu but is unable to make the last past to an open Johnson resulting in no shot on goal.

29- Free kick earned just to the left of the box taken by Convey

29- The free kick hits Burling who hits the ball across the width of goal but goes wide. Nice effort by the defender who has been great since coming over from Chivas USA.

31- Yellow Card for Antonio Ribero for diving in the box. The Earthquakes wanted a penalty but Ribero did not even attempt to play the ball and went straight down after contact.

32- Good effort by Wondo who nearly makes contact with a ball that is sent up field by Ribero and clearly covered up by the Dallas keeper Sala.

33- FCD Corner after Burling clears a header out.

34- The corner is cleared by the Quakes but Chavez is on the ground after some contact with Brandon McDonald. After a few tense moments the FCD winger is back on his feet.

37-Johnson gets a beautiful steal and attempts to feed the ball to an open Bobby Convey but the former US International does not take the shot and attempts to cross the ball back to Johnson. Convey really needed to take a shot there.

38- Earthquakes free kick after a foul by Hernandez on Ribero. Quakes free kick to the right of the box.

39- SAVE DALLAS!!!!! A Semi Scissor shot by Shea Salinas from a Ryan Johnson cross nearly gives the Quakes the early lead. Beautiful shot by Shea but Sala was clearly up to task to mke that save.

40- Foul by FC Dallas on Wondolowski in anothr questionable non Yellow Card call sets up a Quakes free kick.

41- SAVE DALLAS!!!! Wondolwski heads it after a beautiful cross by Convey. Wondolowski with a beautiful header but Sala is once again in the right place at the right time.

42- FC Dallas has been incredibly lucky not to be down 2-0 at this point thanks to some inspired play by Wondo and Ryan Johnson in attack. If the midfield can continue to find these attackers, the Quakes may be able to break the current stalemate.

45- one minute of stoppage time.

45- Salinas with a play inside of the box but is unable to find the last pass needed to get a shot on goal and effort goes for not as Dallas clears.

HALFTIME- A tale of two first halves. Inside the 30 minute mark Dallas was clearly the aggressor and created a few beautiful chances that challenged the Earthquakes but since the 30, the Earthquakes are clearly making the extra efforts to challenge the Dallas defense. A very lackluster half for both sides despite the fact that both teams need maximum points to keep their playoff hopes alive. Look for more intensity at the start of the second half.

45- We're off!

49-FC DALLAS GOAL! David Ferreira gets a picture perfect pass from Jeff Cunningham and fakes out Joe Cannon and puts it coolly past the Quakes goalkeeper 1-0 Dallas. Ferreira nearly gets cautioned by the referee for holding up a piece of paper during his celebration. No word yet on what was written on the paper.

53- QUAKES SHOT! Ribero with a beautiful shot on goa but Sala comes up with a finger tip save to keep Dallas in the lead. Sala has come up big this mach and is clearly keeping his team in the game.

55- Offsides ruled on Ryan Johnson who puts a beautiful header into the diving arms of Sala. Beautiful save even though it was for not.

58- Corrales takes a shot from just outside the box after receiving a dump off from Wondo. Nice effort by the Captain to force a save by Sala.

60- QUAKES SUB - Qunicy Amarikwa preparing to come on to the field for Ribero. Quincy should give some much needed pep into the Quake attack for a midfielder who has provided little tonight.

62-Los Toros are clearly the agressors in the last 15 minutes. Jeff Cunningham nearly places a volley into the back of Cannon's net but the shot gose wide.

65-FC DALLAS SUB - Eric Avila coming on for Marvin Chavez. Hard to believe that hijo de viento will be coming out but he may still be feeling a tweek from his fall in the late first half.

66- Quakes corner as a Salinas cross is cleared by FCD

66-The Cross just misses Johnson and goes out for a Dallas throw in.

68-FOUL- Just outside the box as Benitez trips a streaking Wondolowski. Beautiful positioning for the Earthquakes right here as Convey will take the kick.

69- Corrales takes the kick and puts into the snack stand. Not even close as the Captain wasts a scoring opportunity.

70- Quincy plays a ball into a streaking Johnson but the pass goes terribly wide to a Dallas defender. Amarikwa has provided a lot of pep in the Quakes step since coming in but has been unable to make the final touch to an attacker.

71- FCD Shot by Jeff Cunningham goes terribly wide.

72- SHOT- Cunningham is clearly causing Brandon McDonald a world of panic as he cuts past the Quakes defender again to earn another shot

73-QUAKES GOAL!!!!!!! QUINCY AMARIKWA! Amarikwa gets a beautiful pass from Shea Salinas and it was off to the races. Amarikwa out runs Ihemelu and puts it over a charging Sala and into the net. Game on and Season on for the Quakes. Lets see if they can find the go ahead goal.

75- Ryan Johnson nearly provides the necessary heroics as he sends a beautiful left footed shot just wide of goal.

76- FCD Corner iss taken and cleared by the Quakes.

77-What looked like a Quakes break away is taken away as Ryan Johnson is ruled to be offside. Questionable call.

78- FCD SUB - Blake Wagner comes in for Dave van der Bergh

79- Corrales takes a shot from distance but the ball goes into row Z. Perhaps the 49ers should sign him up if they need a kicker

80 - Corrales feeds Shea Salinas who attempts to clear the ball across goal to Amarikwa but Sala makes the save

81- FC DALLAS GOAL!!!!!! JEFF CUNNINGHAM! Cunningham scores his league leading 17th goal of the season after receiving a pass from Dax McCarthy. It appears McCarthy stole the ball from the Quakes midfield and pulled Cannon out of position for the easy pass to the open Cunningham. The Quakes have very little time to respond.

84- As the referee calls a foul on the Quakes, it appears that Cornell Glen is preparing to come on to the field. Lets see if he can save the Quakes season right here.

87- QUAKES SUB: Glen to come on for Zaher

87-FC Dallas SUB: Brek Shea to come on for Jeff Cunningham. Cunningham has been something special today and clearly looks to challenge Conor Casey for the MLS Golden Boot.

88- Only two minutes and stoppage left. Lets see if the Quakes can tie the score and do the rest of the MLS race a favor by eliminating Dallas.

89- Quakes free kick into the box is cleared by FC Dallas.

90- YELLOW CARD for Ugo Ilhemelu. For a defender that has caused as much havoc as he has this game its a shock for him to only be seeing his second yellow.

90- A Cornell Glen free kick gets sent into the stands

93- Quakes Corner: Joe Cannon nearly puts the ball in the back of the net with a header but Ihemelu saves the Dallas season with his face as he clears the ball. It appears however that Beintez is in a bit of pain as he is still on the ground in the box.

FT- Full Time at Buck Shaw as the Earthquakes lose their home finale against FC Dallas 2-1. The win keeps Dallas alive for a playoff berth. Full recap and Interviews to come soon here at BerkeleySportsBlog.com