Category: San Jose Earthquakes

sjearthquakes.com photo: Marco Ureña and Chris Wondolowski  who both scored goals for the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium edged the Columbus Crew as the Quakes keep their home winning streak going at four

By London Marq

SAN JOSE–Though the San Jose Earthquakes are one of Major League Soccer most storied franchises, success over the past few seasons has waned away from the San Jose football club. With a win tonight against Columbus Crew 2-1 Saturday night at Avaya Stadium, success may be back on the docket. Following a mid-season coaching change due to the teams less than satisfactory start to the season, the Quakes have found their stride. Under rookie coach Chris Leitch, play has at a higher level consistently and wins have begun to string together.

The Columbus Crew currently hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the East and are eager to hold that position. This match, a true test for San Jose against a team desperately trying to maintain contention. Given the circumstances, this match is the most important one of the Quakes season so far. A win would vault them from seventh in the west to fifth and well into playoff contention for the latter part of the season.

The first half of the match was chippy, physical, and entertaining. Between both clubs, ten fouls were conceded and Columbus’s Jonathan Mensah drew a yellow card early. San Jose took nine shots in the opening half. The opening goal was scored from Ureña (SJ). A an excellent piece of skill from near the baseline, left of the goal.

The second half saw Columbus take the pitch with a sense of urgency. Despite their vigor play, the next score was, again, San Jose. A nutmeg pass, from the baseline into the box found star captain Chris Wondolowski who only needed one touch to bulge the net. Columbus would score on a corner kick late, to make the score 2-1. By that point, it was too little, too late. The Quakes had all of the momentum, taking the wind out of their opponents sails.

The Quakes have a 11 games left this season in league play. Their next matchup comes Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup Semifinal against Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City. A win will gain a berth in the final for the prestigious tournament and also confidence that they can play with any team in the league.

“It would be a great thing,” Chris Wondolowski said, when asked what a win on Wednesday would mean for the teams league play. “You want to be clicking at the time in the year. It’s the final stretch with 11 games left this season. It’s a great opportunity for us to gel.”

It’s an exciting time, no doubt, for the San Jose Earthquakes. They get the win tonight over Columbus Crew.

Quakes win Final 2 – 1

sjearthquakes.com photo: San Jose Earthquakes Homegrown defender Nick Lima scores game-winning goal during Saturday night against the Colorado Rapids at Avaya Stadium

By London Marq

The San Jose Earthquakes welcomed in the Colorado Rapids to Avaya Stadium as they try to prove they are better than the standings might suggest. Mere weeks from a mid-season coaching change, the Quakes are making a push for the playoffs many thought impossible.

As of late San Jose has played excellently in their defensive third. Colorado had issues all match finding scoring opportunities. After the full 90, the Rapids only attempted eight shots, with only two threatening the goal. Defensive efforts such as these are exactly what rookie coach Leitch needs from his team if they want to contend in the post season.

The Quakes superb defense played directly into their offense. While they also only had two shots on target, they attempted 15 goals total and drew 11 fouls. The scored in the 59th minute off a corner set piece that fell to the defender Lima well outside the box. Lime put it past the keeper with a beautiful bending long shot. It was the maiden goal of the game and would be good enough for three points in the standings.

The Quakes face Columbus, the team currently sixth in the eastern conference on August 5th. While it will not be a potential championship matchup, it will be a great chance for San Jose to see how they fare against a team currently in the playoffs, if the season were to end today. The Quakes sit one point out of being tied for 6th in the West. Can they make the push between now and the final game of the season on Oct 22nd? If they can continue the good play of late, they’ll be playing into November.

~ Photo credit: Jane Gershovich

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The Seattle Sounders scored three in the second to shut out San Jose 3-0 Sunday despite having less possession. Head coach Chris Leitch said he was frustrated after conceding two straight goals “It’s a game, right? We take chances to go after our goals and we don’t get it. We concede one and then shortly thereafter concede two. And then 10 minutes later off of another set piece. So two set pieces. The second one wasn’t necessarily off of a great play, it was just a mistake on our part. I thought we were moving the ball well in the first half and even parts of the second, but we have to be a little more assertive in that final bit.”

Cristian Roldan scored twice in two minutes starting in the 54th minute. He also led all with five shots and three shots on goal.

Seattle now has scored three goals in each of their last three games as a part of their three game winning streak. The Quakes now have given up at least three goals in their last three games as a part of their there game losing streak. Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas said the possession game was good in the first half but it was the second half that things came unglued, “It’s frustrating. You never want to lose a game. Especially 3-0. I think we ended the first half well with a lot of possession and a few chances. That just didn’t seem to carry over. In the first part of the second half they jumped on us early. Got three goals pretty quickly and then sat back. It was a frustrating 15 minutes there at the start of the second half.”

Kelvin Leerdam scored the Sounders’ third goal in the 65th minute. He also assisted with Roldan’s first goal.

San Jose had all of the game’s three yellow cards in the second, the first one starting a minute after Seattle’s second goal.

Game notes: next play the Colorado Rapids July 29 at 5pm.

 

~ Photo credit: AP

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The home side prevailed, five goals the New York Red Bulls’ most in a match this year, with San Jose getting a goal Wednesday in the Quakes most lopsided loss this season 5-1.

Five goals was also the most the Quakes have given up in MLS play this year, with the four goal margin their worst loss as well.

The Red Bulls’ Daniel Royer had two goals, leading all with six shots and teammate Sacha Kljestan had a goal and two assists.

New York Sean Davis’s goal was the only goal in the first half. It came at 38 minutes.

The Red Bulls’ other goals came in two quick pairs. Kljestan and Felipe scored in the 73rd and 75th minutes. After San Jose’s newest Designated Player Valeri “Vako” Qazaishvili scored in the 88th minute, Royer was quick to respond with his two goals in the 90th and 91st minutes. It was Qazaishvili’s MLS debut.

Game notes: Tommy Thompson led the Quakes with four shots in 66 minutes. San Jose’s next match is Sunday at 7:30pm versus the Seattle Sounders.

sjearthquakes.com photo: San Jose Earthquakes huddle up before their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match with the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday night at Avaya Stadium in San Jose

By London Marq

SAN JOSE–Tonight, the Los Angeles Galaxy traveled into Avaya Stadium for the quarterfinal matchup of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup versus their California rival San Jose Earthquakes. In just his third match as head coach, rookie Chris Leitch is proving why he the difference for the San Jose Earthquakes this season. nine days ago, he led his team to a stunning victory over this LA Galaxy club, where the Quakes scored two late goals including one that came in the final 2 minutes to win the California Clasico.

It seemed bleak early for the Quakes after the opening whistle. In just the 3rd minute, LA’s Van Damme put a goal in the back of the net. The Quakes would fire back quickly, however. Unlike in the previous match between these two clubs where 63 minutes came and went between the first and second goal, it only took 13 minutes before the second goal bulged the net tonight. Like the previous match, the second goal came from same player: Chris Wondolowski in the 16th minute. The Quakes were in control for that point on.

Wondolowski would go on to score one more goal in the 51st minute and Hoesen would score a goal as well. San Jose took full advantage of their momentum and had plenty of chances in the scoring third. San Jose took 20 attempts on goal, 12 of which we on target or blocked. Los Angeles had 8 attempts total. The Galaxy would go on to score one more goal in the 84th minute. It was too little, too late.

San Jose advances to the semifinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy.

© The Associated Press FILE – In this July 14, 2015, file photo, San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Matheus Silva, right, challenges Club America forward Alejandro Diaz (30) for the ball during the second half of an International Champions Cup…

By Joe Lami and Matt Harrington

SAN JOSE–San Jose Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli and the family of Quakes midfielder Matheus Silva have made their way to Reno Hospital Renown Regional Medical Center where Silva was in ICU from a drowning incident at 6:00 AM on Monday July 4th in South Lake Tahoe. Silva was recused by nearby paddle boarders and also by his teammates from the Reno 1868s.

He was given CPR on shore at a resort where he was swimming, fortunately for Silva and those rescuing him the fire and emergency rescue was right across the street from the resort. A bystander on the beach performed CPR on Silva and revived his breathing and heartbeat after he was rushed to Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe and later transferred to Renown Regional Medical Center where he was placed in ICU until he gained consciousness and is able to speak on Thursday. Monday was a worrisome day as Silva’s eyes were dilated and there was a concern that he might have brain damage from not getting oxygen from the drowning.

Meaning the four grueling days of waiting for the Silva family and his teammates came to a relief when he awoke on Thursday and was able to speak. “We are incredibly excited and relieved to announce that Matheus Silva has awoken from his coma and is fully responsive,” said Fioranelli. “The entire Earthquakes organization is grateful for the invaluable effort by the doctors, players and staff at Reno 1868 FC and bystanders on the beach that contributed to Matheus being alive and well today.”

The Earthquakes were in Atlanta where they were playing the Atlanta United in a 4-2 loss on July 4th and were aware of the drowning and that Silva was in the hospital. Siva’s 1868 teammates contacted Silva’s high school coach in Florida where it just so happen Silva’s mother Marcia was visiting the school at that time and the Silva Family was contacted in Brazil where they flew out to join Fioranelli at the Reno Hospital to check on Silva.

Silva will begin a series of physical therapy to build his strength back up according to reports Silva is making tremendous progress in his recovery considering he was near death on Monday morning. Don’t be surprised to see him kicking the ball around in a month or two.

Joe Lami and Matt Harrington cover San Jose Earthquakes MLS Soccer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com catch complete game day coverage on Monday July 10th from Avaya Stadium with London Marq when  the Quakes host the Los Angeles Galaxy

photo by gilabola.com: San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Matheus Silva

By Joe Lami and Matt Harrington

SAN JOSE–20 year old midfielder Matheus Silva of the San Jose Earthquakes who was on loan to the Reno 1868s of the United Soccer League nearly drowned early Tuesday morning around 6AM. Silva swimming in the icy waters of Lake Tahoe called out to his friends who were with him for help. The friends thought that Silva was joking around at first but later knew something was wrong when it got all quiet and there was no one answer from Silva as his friends called out to him.

The friends reportedly fished Silva out of the water and started CPR and chest compressions at the beach. Eric Guevin of the Lake Tahoe Fire & Rescue told the media that Silva’s “his heart stopped and he wasn’t breathing” Luckily for Silva’s friends the rescue station was right across the street from the resort where Silva had been swimming. The theory on what might have got Silva in trouble was he might have been having “water shock syndrome” which Silva was in shock and couldn’t move or swim from the sudden cold of the frigid water.

The friends called Florida Montverde Academy High School where Silva went to school looking for Silva’s old coach Mike Potempo who Silva said was like a father to him. It turned out that Silva’s mother Marcia was visiting the school and the coach who told Marcia about the medical emergency and Marcia caught the first flight from Miami to Reno. Doctors reported that Silva’s eyes were dilated when they shined a light in them according neurological tests at the hospital.  Silva is listed in critical condition and doctors are reportedly checking for brain damage after Silva stopped breathing and if Silva did not get enough oxygen while being unconscious.

The 1868’s parent team the San Jose Earthquakes were playing in Atlanta on Tuesday night and that Silva was on loan with Reno and had played only two games with the 68s this season. Last season Silva played in four games for the Quakes and mostly played in Arizona for the USL team there.

Joe Lami and Matt Harrington cover San Jose Earthquakes MLS at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

~ Photo credit: Atlanta United FC Twitter

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The Atlanta United FC scored four goals in the second to overcome an early deficit Tuesday, winning 4-2 over the San Jose Earthquakes.

For a first time matchup, there were plenty of sparks on the Fourth of July. Two red cards and six yellows were issued. Quakes’ Kofi Sarkodie got his second yellow in the 32nd minute, putting San Jose a man down in the first half. Teammate Victor Bernardez got his red card in the 93rd minute.

Tommy Thompson kicked off the scoring with his first career MLS goal in the 2nd minute. He entered the league in 2014. Thompson led the Quakes in the game with four shots and two shots on goal.

The rest of the half consisted of Sarkodie’s first yellow in the 10th minute, a yellow card to Atlanta Anton Walkes in the 15th minute, a yellow card to San Jose goalie David Bingham in the 18th minute, Sarkodie’s red card and yellows to Atlanta’s Carlos Carmona and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez in the 42nd and 45th minutes.

Atlanta dominated possession in the game by a percentage of 67 to 33.

In the 55th and 65th minutes, Carmona and Josef Martinez made it 2-1.

Chris Wondolowski re-tied the game a minute later, with his second goal in as many games.

Anton Walkes and Martinez tacked on two more goals though, in the 81st and 89th minutes. Martinez now has four goals in his last five games. Miguel Almiron assisted on both of his goals.

Game notes: The loss ended a five game unbeaten streak for the Quakes and became a three game win streak for Atlanta. The last time Atlanta gave up two goals was April 8. San Jose will next play in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Galaxy July 10 at 7pm. The Quakes eturn to MLS play July 19 at 4:30pm versus the New York Red Bulls.  

 

 

Photo by San Jose Earthquakes: The fans give one of their favorite Quakes players a congratulations as San Jose gets a late goal in the 90th minute to get by the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium

By London Marq

PALO ALTO–The Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes collided at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto for the California Clasico. A huge test for recently hired Quakes coach Chris Leitch. 50,000 jeering Earthquake fans created a raucous environment for the Galaxy in San Jose’s 2-1 win.

11 minutes in, Los Angeles would draw first blood with a goal from Van Damme quieting the crowd. From that point on, LA had the clear upper hand in the first half. San Jose’s play was lackluster, and they were seemingly unable to get out of their own way. While they had numerous chances in the scoring third of the pitch they failed to put any balls in the back of the net. The Galaxy fell into a level of complacency, and seemed content to hold onto their one goal lead.

The second half began with a sense of urgency for San Jose, but they still were having trouble finishing their chances. It took 30 minutes and some savvy footwork from Chris Wondolowski for the Quakes to get on the board in the 75th minute to tie it up. With 15 minutes left in the 90, LA became more aggressive trying to get their lead, that they had held for 64 minutes back.

At the end of the 90, four minutes were added to play. It seemed like we were dated for a draw. With two minutes left in additional time,  Shea Salinas bulged that back of the net. Sending LA home with no points in a dramatic finish.

These two teams meet again on nine days for the next round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. If this league match was a preview, it will surely be a fun one to watch.