At last. The expression was clear as members of the San Jose Earthquakes left the rain soaked field of R.F.K. Stadium, the Quakes 2-1 victory over playoff contender D.C. United ended a 20 game losing streak on the road which was the 2nd longest in MLS. At last, the team had proved that it could win away from the friendly confines of Estadio Buck Shaw. "It was a long time coming" said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop after the match. However, the victory was far from assured at the start of the second half.
The first half was dominated by United as they held the lion share of the possession. This led to D.C. challenging Earthquakes reserve goalkeeper Andrew Weber who took over for an injured Joe Cannon. United broke the stalemate in the 26th minute thanks to a goal by United All time leading goal scorer Jaime Moreno. The United captain received a Chris Pointus cross in the penalty box and a perfect left footed touch was enough for the Bolivian to beat Weber. The Earthquakes had sever goal chances to restore the tie but were unable to break through. The best of those chances was 28 minute shot by Simon Elliot that tested D.C. keeper Josh Wicks but did not beat the United keeper. Disaster nearly struck for San Jose as a Bobby Burling gave away a pass in the penalty area which was nearly pounced on by United midfielder Santino Quaranta but the Earthquakes defender recovered to clear the shot.
The second half began with changes for San Jose as Arturo Alvarez was inserted into attack coming back from injury. This move motivated the Earthquakes who began to push towards net. The game truly seemed to change however in the 50th minute when D.C. United keeper Josh Wicks was pulled from the match due to injury. The United goalkeeper was injured after coming off his line to play a corner kick when hit the ground hard on his right shoulder forcing rookie reserve Milos Kocic to replace him. Before the back up could prepare himself, the Earthquakes equalized in the 58th minute on a Ramon Sanchez free kick from 20 yards out. The Salvadoran captain's kick cleared the wall and curled into the top right corner, a beautiful strike that Kocic had no opportunity to save.
Salvation came for the Earthquakes in the 73rd minute when Ryan Johnson netted his ninth goal of the season which gives him the team lead. The goal began with an shot by Arturo Alvarez which careened off the bar pulling Kocic out of position and giving Ryan Johnson an easy header for the goal. After the match reflecting on the goal Johnson said, “I anticipated that it might hit the cross bar so I got myself in good position. I saw it coming down and I thought that I had a chance for a diving header. I just stayed focused and put as much power behind it as I could.”
However, the drama was not over for the Earthquakes as United began to push forward. Their best chance coming in the 82nd minute when a Anthony Wallace cross careened off a United attacker falling to United attacker Chris Pointus who delivered a beautiful bicycle kick shot but Earthquakes captain Ramiro Corrales was able to clear the shot off the line providing the necessary heroics to give the Earthquakes the victory.
After the match, the Earthquakes captain Corrales had this to say, "We have been a bit unlucky lately. We could have had two wins against Colorado, but we gave up some late goals. We wanted to close this one out correctly and we were able to do that. It was a good performance from everyone."
The win severely damages the playoff hopes for United as it forces them out of a tie for the 8th and final playoff spot as the season winds down. News got worse for DC United as the team learned on Tuesday that goalkeeper Josh Wicks will be out of action for 4 to 6 weeks. For the Quakes however, the win is a huge confidence booster as they prepare for next season. The Earthquakes return home to Buck Shaw Stadium this weekend to take on the New York Red Bulls at 8pm on Saturday night.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
History Repeats: Earthquakes tie Rapids 1-1 due to last second penalty
It's Deja Vu all over again, the immortal words of Yogi Berra sum up the Quakes season as the team once again is unable to finish a match and loses vital points after a 1-1 against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night.
After 92 minutes of hard fought defense and fantastic defending by Joe Cannon, the match changed after Colorado forward Omar Cummings made a great cut towards the net on the left side bypassing the San Jose defense and was cut down on a late tackle by San Jose defender Jason Hernandez. Unlike Friday's controversial penalty, the Hernandez tackle was a very clear penalty. In a deja vu moment, Connor Casey lined up against Joe Cannon again with the game on the line and slotted it past the Earthquakes goalkeeper's left side for his league leading 15th goal.
The story of the first half was dominated by the Rapids who controlled a lion share of the possession but were unable to convert any chances. Both teams lost key contributors in the 9th minute when an Andre Luiz challenge on Jacob Peterson shot left both players injured and forced them from the match. Luiz was ruled to have suffered a right ankle injury while Peterson sustained a right knee injury. The Quakes took the lead in the 67th minute after a San Jose free kick careened off the extended arm of Pat Noonan. Chris Wondolowski took the spot kick and coolly beat Rapids goaltender Preston Burpo. Following the Wondo goal, the Earthquakes had a variety of opportunities to put the Rapids away due to a number of chances by Earthquakes leading goalscorer Ryan Johnson, however, each chance was stopped by Rapids goalkeeper Burpo who had a fantastic game.
After the match, the mood in the Earthquakes locker room was very reflective, “We have not had any luck recently, but the team is playing hard and fighting for everything. We have a good group here and we play for each other. I think we played a smart game tonight and if we keep playing like that, we will start getting some wins.” said goal scorer Wondolowski.
The Quakes are now winless in their last 20 road matches while Colorado remains in the second wild card spot. San Jose continues their road swing on Sunday as they take on D.C. United at RFK stadium which will be televised on Telefutura. Check out BSB tomorrow for our preview of the match.
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In other news announced on Thursday, the Earthquakes will start off the 2010 season against the Real Salt Lake Saturday, March 27 at 6 p.m. PT at Buck Shaw Stadium. This will be the second straight year that the Quakes will open up at home. In the third week of the season, the Quakes will make their first road match against the Chicago Fire on April 10th.
After 92 minutes of hard fought defense and fantastic defending by Joe Cannon, the match changed after Colorado forward Omar Cummings made a great cut towards the net on the left side bypassing the San Jose defense and was cut down on a late tackle by San Jose defender Jason Hernandez. Unlike Friday's controversial penalty, the Hernandez tackle was a very clear penalty. In a deja vu moment, Connor Casey lined up against Joe Cannon again with the game on the line and slotted it past the Earthquakes goalkeeper's left side for his league leading 15th goal.
The story of the first half was dominated by the Rapids who controlled a lion share of the possession but were unable to convert any chances. Both teams lost key contributors in the 9th minute when an Andre Luiz challenge on Jacob Peterson shot left both players injured and forced them from the match. Luiz was ruled to have suffered a right ankle injury while Peterson sustained a right knee injury. The Quakes took the lead in the 67th minute after a San Jose free kick careened off the extended arm of Pat Noonan. Chris Wondolowski took the spot kick and coolly beat Rapids goaltender Preston Burpo. Following the Wondo goal, the Earthquakes had a variety of opportunities to put the Rapids away due to a number of chances by Earthquakes leading goalscorer Ryan Johnson, however, each chance was stopped by Rapids goalkeeper Burpo who had a fantastic game.
After the match, the mood in the Earthquakes locker room was very reflective, “We have not had any luck recently, but the team is playing hard and fighting for everything. We have a good group here and we play for each other. I think we played a smart game tonight and if we keep playing like that, we will start getting some wins.” said goal scorer Wondolowski.
The Quakes are now winless in their last 20 road matches while Colorado remains in the second wild card spot. San Jose continues their road swing on Sunday as they take on D.C. United at RFK stadium which will be televised on Telefutura. Check out BSB tomorrow for our preview of the match.
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In other news announced on Thursday, the Earthquakes will start off the 2010 season against the Real Salt Lake Saturday, March 27 at 6 p.m. PT at Buck Shaw Stadium. This will be the second straight year that the Quakes will open up at home. In the third week of the season, the Quakes will make their first road match against the Chicago Fire on April 10th.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids Preview
On Friday night, the San Jose Earthquakes held the Colorado Rapids off the scoreboard until a controversial penalty call was given by referee Edvin Jurisevic that allowed Rapids forward Conor Casey to score and allowed the match to finish in a 1-1 draw. Tonight, the Earthquakes will get their chance at revenge as they head to Colorado in the final part of this home at home series with the Rapids (6:30PM PST, TV: MLS Direct Kick, Radio, KDOW 1220).
"We're gonna have a little extra chip on our shoulders going into the game on Wednesday because we've got something to prove", said Earthquakes forward Ryan Johnson after Friday's match. In addition to fighting for pride, San Jose will also have each team with realistic playoff aspirations in their corner tonight as they look to overtake the Rapids who have moved into a tie for the 2nd MLS Wild Card spot.
The role of spoiler will not be easy however as the Quakes come into tonight's match losing three regular starters as Cornell Glen has been ruled out with a right knee sprain, Shea Salinas is doubtful with a hamstring injury while Arturo Alvarez is also questionable. In their place expect a starting side that includes Chris Wondolowski in place of Glen, rookie sensation Quincy Amarikwa for Salinas and Ryan Johnson to remain in the starting XI for Alvarez.
The Rapids however will be boosted by the return of Pablo Masteroni who has now finished his three game suspension for a previous charge. Although the Rapids will have much more to play for in this match and as well as the home crowd, expect Yallop's side to come out energized after the penalty call decided the last match at Estadio Buck Shaw. As always, stay with BSB for our post game commentary and live blog. Also check us out tonight for our Ryan Johnson interview.
Monday, September 21, 2009
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids Post Game Interviews
BSB's Post game Interviews from the Quakes 1-1 tie to the Colorado Rapids. Warning when watching the Cannon and Johnson Interviews please skip ahead to the 10 sec mark to avoid the shifting of the camera.
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Frank Yallop, Earthquakes Head Coach
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Ryan Johnson, Earthquakes Forward
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Joe Cannon, Earthquakes Goalkeeper
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Jason Hernandez, Earthquakes Defender
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Gary Smith, Colorado Rapids Head coach
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Stay tuned tonight for a Cal Soccer recap, our thoughts on the new stadium unveiling and check us out tomorrow for our interview with Jason Hernandez and Ryan Johnson.
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Frank Yallop, Earthquakes Head Coach
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Ryan Johnson, Earthquakes Forward
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Joe Cannon, Earthquakes Goalkeeper
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Jason Hernandez, Earthquakes Defender
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Gary Smith, Colorado Rapids Head coach
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Stay tuned tonight for a Cal Soccer recap, our thoughts on the new stadium unveiling and check us out tomorrow for our interview with Jason Hernandez and Ryan Johnson.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids Recap
The Crowds were out for kick off of Friday's match.
The lasting moment of the Quakes disappointing 1-1 tie against the Colorado Rapids was the scene in the Earthquakes locker room as Shea Salinas frantically watched the replay of Edvin Jurisevic penalty call that lead to a Conor Casey goal and snatched 2 points from San Jose. "It's offside, he's offside right there. He's not gonna score from there" Salinas claimed as the locker room watched the flat screen television hoping to make sense of the call. The penalty call came as Ryan Johnson was ruled to have pulled down Colorado defender Drew Moor in the box. The play lead to a disappointing end to the Earthquakes evening which saw them take a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute on a Ryan Johnson header from a throw in by Brandon McDonald. This set off an already lively crowd of 10,525. However, what a national audience witness was a typical game for the Earthquakes as they witnessed Joe Cannon's mastery in goal and the Quakes wastefulness in front of it. As the Rapids began attacking, Joe Cannon had to prove that he was up to the task and showed it making two spectacular saves in the 68th and 70th minutes to keep the Earthquakes ahead. In addition to Cannon's heroics, the defense was on task shutting down MLS leading goal scorer Connor Casey for 94 minutes by stifling the service he could get from his midfielders. The team had number of wonderful opportunities to put the game away but were on able to display the killer instinct necessary to get the win. The biggest chance came in the 81st minute when Chris Wondolowski played a beautiful ball to Bobby Convey at midfield which allowed Convey to break away from the Rapids defense. However, Convey slowed down enough to allow the Rapids defense to recover and his shot was fired wide of goal.
The moment of the game came in the 95rd minute when Colorado began throwing everything at the Earthquakes net, their prayers were answered when amidst the struggle Ryan Johnson was ruled to have brought Moor to the ground forcing the penalty. After the penalty was called, several of the Earthquakes including Salinas and Goalkeeper Joe Cannon were livid at the call and began to pester referee Edvin Jurisevic about the call. The confrontation lead to a pair of bookings by Brandon McDonald and Chris Leitch for dissent. Conor Casey, the leading goal scorer in MLS set up to take the penalty and placed it just past a diving Cannon sealing the draw. The tie put the Rapids at 27 points tied for the second wildcard spot in the MLS players while the Earthquakes remained second from last in the MLS Standings with only 21 points, only four points from last place Red Bull New York. Below are BSB's photos from the match.
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The Quakes defense remained tricky throughout the night and prevented Rapids chances at goal.
The Ultras were out in force trying to rally support during the match
Three Earthquakes in the top corner have words with the Referee at Full time.
Friday, September 18, 2009
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.
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.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids Preview
This Scene is dead.
In the words of the immortal We Are Scientists, the all too short Darren Huckerby era is over in San Jose. The Quakes take their first Post-Hucks steps tonight as they take on the Colorado Rapids tonight at 8pm on ESPN2. The past two weeks have been hard on the Quakes even having not played a competitive match since August 29th. Since their last match, San Jose has lost Huckerby to season ending surgery, Arturo Alvarez to a nagging hamstring and released Brazilian defender Fabio Da Silva who never quite acclimated to the speed of Major League Soccer.
The Colorado Rapids come to the Estadio Buck Shaw in the thick of the playoff race, tied for the 8th and final spot in the MLS with only two points separating them from joining the Earthquakes in early vacation. Colorado arrives in Silicon Valley badly needing maximum points to create some distance between them and the other playoff contenders. The Rapids will however be without talismanic midfielder Pablo Mastroeni who will be serving the last game of a three game suspension tonight. Colorado has an easier schedule than many of its playoff competition but will look to avoid a hiccup against San Jose.
Despite the recent negativity, Frank Yallop will have a few positives as Shea Salinas and Bobby Convey will be available despite recent injury troubles. The risk for the Earthquakes will be how much rust the team will have accumulated having endured a stretch of 20 days between matches. Speaking to Centerline Soccer's Jeff Carlisle earlier this week, Yallop stated that, "There’s going to be a little bit of rust just because we haven’t played. But I think our energy will be good. Whatever you do in practice is never like playing matches, but I feel we’ve trained the group well, and they’re at their peak and ready to play. Hopefully it will show in the performance.”
These two teams will be able to get very familiar with one another as the Quakes and Rapids will also face off at Dick's Sporting Good's Stadium in Colorado next weekend par of a home at home series. As always be sure to follow along with BSB tonight for our Liveblog as well our post game analysis and interviews.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
San Jose Earthquakes vs C.D. Aguila Live Blog
A beautiful evening at Estadio Buck Shaw, as the Earthquakes take on C.D. Aguila from El Salvador. The stadium is sparse and the Earthquakes are fielding what is mostly a reserve side but there is some drama tonight as recent signing Fabio Da Silva will make his Earthquakes debut. Stay with BSB for live coverage.
Starting Lineups:
SJ Earthquakes: GK: Andrew Weber, DEF: Jamil Roberts, Fabio Da Silva, Jason Hernandez, Mike Zaher, MID: Quincy Amarikwa, Antonio Ribeiro, Andre Luiz, Ramiro Corrales(Capt.), FWD: Ryan Johnson, Chris Wondolowski
C.D. Aguila: GK: Benji Oldai Villalobos, DEF: William Torres Cabrera, Hermes Martinez, Issac Zelaya, Mauricio Perala, MID: Arturo Albarra, Gilberto Murgas, Juan Lazo Cruz, FWD: Alison Batista, Francisco Jovel
6- Andre Luiz with a free kick opportunity but the ball sails just above the bar.
8-YELLOW CARD FOR C.D. AGUILA- A comical display for Alison Batista as the Salvadoran forward receives a beautiful cross but extends his arm to try and score the goal. The ref is wise the play and rightly books the forward.
10- The mostly Salvadoran crowd tonight is very boisterous. The chants of ole! and viva aguila! are surely helping the atmosphere in the park tonight.
17- NEAR MISS FOR THE QUAKES- Ramiro Corrales with a header that he attempts to keep down but the ball bounces over the net of Villalobos.
18- SAVE QUAKES! Juan Lazo Cruz gets a throughball and creates a break away but Quakes keeper Andrew Weber is up to the task and makes a finger tip save. Great effort from Weber.
25-The Aguila fans are clammering for a penalty after Mike Zaher makes a beautiful last second stop of Juan Cruz who goes down after the ball is cleared away. Tough call but it looks like the right one from the ref.
27- QUAKES MISS- The Quakes nearly have a another shot at the Aguila goal after Ryan Johnson makes contact with the Aguila goalkeeper who attempts to catch the ball but the ball falls to a waiting Quincy Amarikwa who shoots far above the cross bar.
35-Free kick for Aguila near midfield. Murgas to take the kick. The free kick is just wide of the mark. Ending up somewhere near Santa Cruz.
38- Fabio Da Silva goes down after attempting to clear the ball. The new signing has looked fairly decent so far but has done little to write home about. It appears as if the Aguila offense may be going after the slower Brazilian.
39- As we approach the half, the Aguila offense is clearly very energized by the challenge the Earthquakes are offering, the team is trying to have fun as we have seen many fakes, nutmegs and fancy footwork from a jazzed central American side.
40-YELLOW CARD for C.D. Aguila- Hard challenge by Francisco Jovel results in a yellow after a foul for a hard elbow hit to Antoio Ribeiro. Ribeiro is very slow to get up but is finally able to rise from the turf.
44- Another try for Quincy Amarikwa who skys another chance above the bar. Disappointing
45- 0-0 at Halftime. Nothing much to report but the Aguila team is clearly the more energized side so far at half and I must say have quite impressive jerseys.
46- Kick off!
51- Leitch and Salinas into the game. Roberts and Amarikwa.
52- Shot by Wondolowski goes straight into the hands of Villalobos. Poor shot.
65- Attendance for the match 2,989
65- Bobby Convey enters the match for Andre Luiz.
67- NEAR MISS! Alison Batista with a shot that goes just wide! The Salvadoran crowd goes wild.
70- Corrales gets an attempt but decides to play the ball with his feet rather than what seemed like an easy header but the shot goes way over.
75- The story of the season for the Quakes in one sequence. Salinas with the nutmeg and a beautiful pass to a waiting Antonio Ribeiro but the midfielder falls down and is unable to register a shot.
77- RED CARD QUAKES- Shea Salinas is sent off for a second yellow after a studs up challenge on the Aguila keeper Villalobos. It appeared to be quite a bit of acting from the Aguila keeper who stayed on the mat for several minutes but seems to be fine. Very disappointing for Shea.
79- Aaron Pitchkolan enters the match after a long injury. Lets see if it can inspire some sort of attack from the Quakes.
81- Ryan Johnson with a good effort at goal! However, Villalobos makes a great save to keep the Jamaican international off the board.
82-Reserve player Ismael Ibarra enters the match for the Quakes for Mike Zaher. Ibarra, a close friend of Ramiro Corrales is playing for the Quakes as a guest
90-3 minutes of stoppage time.
FINAL 0-0. The fans really livened up this match but it ends in a 0-0 score.
Starting Lineups:
SJ Earthquakes: GK: Andrew Weber, DEF: Jamil Roberts, Fabio Da Silva, Jason Hernandez, Mike Zaher, MID: Quincy Amarikwa, Antonio Ribeiro, Andre Luiz, Ramiro Corrales(Capt.), FWD: Ryan Johnson, Chris Wondolowski
C.D. Aguila: GK: Benji Oldai Villalobos, DEF: William Torres Cabrera, Hermes Martinez, Issac Zelaya, Mauricio Perala, MID: Arturo Albarra, Gilberto Murgas, Juan Lazo Cruz, FWD: Alison Batista, Francisco Jovel
6- Andre Luiz with a free kick opportunity but the ball sails just above the bar.
8-YELLOW CARD FOR C.D. AGUILA- A comical display for Alison Batista as the Salvadoran forward receives a beautiful cross but extends his arm to try and score the goal. The ref is wise the play and rightly books the forward.
10- The mostly Salvadoran crowd tonight is very boisterous. The chants of ole! and viva aguila! are surely helping the atmosphere in the park tonight.
17- NEAR MISS FOR THE QUAKES- Ramiro Corrales with a header that he attempts to keep down but the ball bounces over the net of Villalobos.
18- SAVE QUAKES! Juan Lazo Cruz gets a throughball and creates a break away but Quakes keeper Andrew Weber is up to the task and makes a finger tip save. Great effort from Weber.
25-The Aguila fans are clammering for a penalty after Mike Zaher makes a beautiful last second stop of Juan Cruz who goes down after the ball is cleared away. Tough call but it looks like the right one from the ref.
27- QUAKES MISS- The Quakes nearly have a another shot at the Aguila goal after Ryan Johnson makes contact with the Aguila goalkeeper who attempts to catch the ball but the ball falls to a waiting Quincy Amarikwa who shoots far above the cross bar.
35-Free kick for Aguila near midfield. Murgas to take the kick. The free kick is just wide of the mark. Ending up somewhere near Santa Cruz.
38- Fabio Da Silva goes down after attempting to clear the ball. The new signing has looked fairly decent so far but has done little to write home about. It appears as if the Aguila offense may be going after the slower Brazilian.
39- As we approach the half, the Aguila offense is clearly very energized by the challenge the Earthquakes are offering, the team is trying to have fun as we have seen many fakes, nutmegs and fancy footwork from a jazzed central American side.
40-YELLOW CARD for C.D. Aguila- Hard challenge by Francisco Jovel results in a yellow after a foul for a hard elbow hit to Antoio Ribeiro. Ribeiro is very slow to get up but is finally able to rise from the turf.
44- Another try for Quincy Amarikwa who skys another chance above the bar. Disappointing
45- 0-0 at Halftime. Nothing much to report but the Aguila team is clearly the more energized side so far at half and I must say have quite impressive jerseys.
46- Kick off!
51- Leitch and Salinas into the game. Roberts and Amarikwa.
52- Shot by Wondolowski goes straight into the hands of Villalobos. Poor shot.
65- Attendance for the match 2,989
65- Bobby Convey enters the match for Andre Luiz.
67- NEAR MISS! Alison Batista with a shot that goes just wide! The Salvadoran crowd goes wild.
70- Corrales gets an attempt but decides to play the ball with his feet rather than what seemed like an easy header but the shot goes way over.
75- The story of the season for the Quakes in one sequence. Salinas with the nutmeg and a beautiful pass to a waiting Antonio Ribeiro but the midfielder falls down and is unable to register a shot.
77- RED CARD QUAKES- Shea Salinas is sent off for a second yellow after a studs up challenge on the Aguila keeper Villalobos. It appeared to be quite a bit of acting from the Aguila keeper who stayed on the mat for several minutes but seems to be fine. Very disappointing for Shea.
79- Aaron Pitchkolan enters the match after a long injury. Lets see if it can inspire some sort of attack from the Quakes.
81- Ryan Johnson with a good effort at goal! However, Villalobos makes a great save to keep the Jamaican international off the board.
82-Reserve player Ismael Ibarra enters the match for the Quakes for Mike Zaher. Ibarra, a close friend of Ramiro Corrales is playing for the Quakes as a guest
90-3 minutes of stoppage time.
FINAL 0-0. The fans really livened up this match but it ends in a 0-0 score.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Pac-10 Soccer Preview
With each Pac-10 team having played at least one match, BSB has decided this is as good a time as any for our Pac-10 Soccer Preview. The 2008-2009 season ended with the UCLA Bruins finishing top of the table in the PAC-10 and breaking the attempt for back to back to back titles for the Golden Bears. This year, the two are set to be the main contenders for the crown with Washington and Stanford as well as the potentially dangerous SDSU on the heels of the two UC Schools.
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#1 (National Ranking: #8/7) California Golden Bears
The Golden Bears enter the season under high expectations having been ranked so highly in both the College Soccer News and Soccer America polls. This appears to be the season where the Bears can finally challenge for Final Four appearance that has alluded Kevin Grimes' men for so long. The Golden Bears are lead by junior forward Andrew Weidman who led the conference in goals scored last season and was named to the Preseason All-American squad as well as being placed on the Herman Trophy watch list (College Soccer's answer to the Heisman Trophy). Despite the good signs on offense, the Bears will be without the star of last year Stefan Frei who now plays professionally with Toronto FC, however, the Golden Bears expect that the safe hands of Frei's replacement sophomore David Bingham will be able keep the team in the hunt for a NCAA Championship.
Key Matches out of Conference:
vs. Cal Poly 9/13 2 P.M. PST
vs. Santa Clara 9/20 2 P.M. PST
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#2(National Ranking: #19) UCLA Bruins
The perennial powerhouse in the conference, the UCLA Bruins return 8 starters from last year's Pac-10 title team as they prepare to try for back to back titles. The Bruins are lead by USA Under-20 goal keeper Brian Perk who looks set to be the next UCLA product to make a name for himself at the professional level. In addition to Perk, the Bruins have a number of weapons in the attack including, 2008 Pac-10 points leader Michael Stephens who pulls the strings in the midfield. In addition to having stars like Stephens and Perk to call upon, UCLA head coach has the Soccer America's #3 ranked recruiting class from which to reinforce his squad. The Sons of Westwood are sure to be the Bears strongest challengers and the Pac-10 title could very well be decided by the team's two matches in late October.
Matches against Cal:
@UCLA: 10/16 7 P.M. PST
@ Berkeley 10/23 P.M. PST
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#3 Washington Huskies
A dark horse to steal the Pac-10 crown, the Washington Huskies represent a real challenge to the conference's California powerhouses. The Huskies are seeking to continue their impressive run of appearances in the NCAA tournament, having appeared in 12 of the last 15 tournaments. In order to maintain this impressive run, the Huskies will rely on offense from its leading goal scorer from last season Sophomore forward Brent Richards who lead the Huskies last season with 8 goals. If the Huskies are going to challenge Cal and UCLA for the title, it will be vital that Richards continues his scoring from last season. Despite the optimism in Seattle, Washington will have to replace two key starters from last season George John and Raphael Cox who were both drafted by MLS teams.
Matches against Cal:
@Berkeley: 10/9 - 4 P.M. PST
@Seattle: 10/30 - 7 P.M. PST
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#4 San Diego State Aztecs
The Aztecs have always been a team to defy the ranking system, finishing above their projected spots in the last four seasons, and are currently ranked in the coaches poll to finish 5th in the conference. Despite their penchant for the dramatic, the Aztecs face one of the most difficult schedules as the Aztecs prepare to face four former national championship teams as they strive for PAC-10 supremacy. The Aztecs are lead by defender Nick Cardenas who has been incredibly dangerous for SDSU on dead ball opportunities while remaining a stalwart in the back. The Aztec Captain has started to receive a great amount of attention having been named to the Preseason All-American Squad.
Matches against Cal:
@ SDSU: 10/18 - 2 P.M. PST
@Berkeley: 10/25 - 2 P.M. PST
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#5 Stanford Cardinal
Boasting one of the most tenacious defenses in the conference, the Cardinal could surprise and cause some considerable damage for the heavy hitters in the Pac-10. The Cardinal are lead by 2008 First team All-Pac-10 Selection defensive midfielder Bobby Warshaw. The Junior lead the farm with 8 points last season, notching three goals for the Cardinal. In addition, the Cardinal are aided by the inclusion of Soccer America's #4 recruiting class as well as Gatorade California High School Soccer player of the year Adam Jahn. The freshman forward, a former member of the US Under-18 team has the potential to be the break out player of the season for Stanford with his ability to not only score goals but also create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Matches against Cal:
@Berkeley: 10/2 - 4 P.M. PST
@Stanford: 11/14 - 7 P.M. PST
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#6 Oregon State Beavers
Traditionally, one of the weaker teams in the conference, the team will be a team of transition this season with the debut of new head coach, Steve Simmons formerly of Northern Illinois University. On the field, the Beavers are lead by Sophomore forward Danny Mwanga. Mwanga was voted Pac-10 freshman of the year and led the team in goals with 4. Should Mwanga continue to develop into a scoring threat, the Beavers may be able to get out of the cellar of the Pac-10 but may risk losing the skillful forward to the beacon of the MLS.
Matches against Cal:
@Berkeley 10/11 - 4 P.M. PST
@Corvallis 11/1 - 2 P.M. PST
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