Category: San Jose Earthquakes

Sporting Kansas City playoff-bound while Quakes close out season

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~ Photo credit: USA Today Sports Images

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Benny Feilhaber scored the game winner and had an assist as Kansas City reached the playoffs for the sixth straight year with a 2-0 win over San Jose Sunday.

Feilhaber scored for the first time in over two months.  His goal came off a penalty kick as Cordell Cato was called for a handball.

It was the third time in five games where a penalty kick has occurred in one of the Quakes’ games and second game in three where a penalty has been converted against them.

Sporting was one of six teams hoping to clinch the four playoff spots remaining.

Both teams were coming off scoreless draws as they played for the second time in a month. In terms of shot activity, the number by each team were about half of the shots in San Jose’s last game.

The Quakes’ Chris Wondolowski had a game-high four shots and at least four shots for the third straight game while was Tim Melia was forced to make four saves.

On generating chances, but not being able to capitalize, Wondolowski replied, “Yeah, I think it’s just a microcosm of our season. It’s very frustrating, but credit to Kansas City, they did a good job and they are very hard to break down defensively.”

The first of Wondolowski’s chances came in the 10th minute. Tommy Thompson was in good position but Matt Besler was able to block the attempt.

In the 24th minute, Simon Dawkins’ shot rebounded off Melia. Wondolowksi was able to get the ball but Melia won by recovering in time.

Graham Zusi put the game result pretty much out of doubt when he scored in the 88th minute, as his team came to congratulate him.

Wondolowski had a high header earlier and his last attempt came in the 90th minute.

Game notes: Sporting won the season series 2-1. The first game was won by San Jose by way of penalty kick. Kansas City midfielder Brad Davis announced his retirement before the game. Sporting ended the regular season in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 13-13-8 record and the Quakes finished in ninth place with an 8-12-14 record.

San Jose Earthquakes Sunday post game wrap: Whitewash–Rainy day session Whitecaps and Quakes play to a 0-0 draw

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by London Marq

sjearthquakes.com photo: It was a sparse crowd during the last San Jose Earthquakes home game of 2016 against the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps at Avaya Stadium on Sunday afternoon

SAN JOSE–It was a dreary, rain soaked afternoon when the San Jose Earthquakes hosted the Vancouver Whitecaps at Avaya Stadium this Sunday. Both teams entered play battling for nothing more than pride, as both were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this season. The game was dominated in possession by the Earthquakes, but in the end, their finishing left more to be desired.

San Jose controlled just under 60% of possession and amassed 18 shots on goal. 12 of them from inside the box, 7 of them on target. They were in sync as a unit and the ball movement was excellent. The Quakes were just shy of 500 passes total with 490 in the match. It was indicative of their season that they were held scoreless, as they failed to capitalize on more than a few excellent opportunities to bulge the net.

Vancouver was only ever second best and never had any lasting momentum in the match offensively. The Whitecaps conceded 18 fouls on the day and managed only 40% of possession. Their defense should be commended, as they were constantly under pressure from crosses into the box that never seem to find there intended target. They walk away with a draw that probably feel more like a win.

Final Score: Vancouver 0 San Jose 0

The season concludes next Sunday as the Earthquakes travel to Kansas City to face Sporting Kansas City for a 1:00PM kick off  Pearl Lo will have the post game coverage right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

London Marq is a radio talk show host at KWDC at facebook.com/LondonMarqRadio

 

 

Quakes miss playoffs

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~ Photo credit: SJ Earthquakes

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The Colorado Rapids’ Kevn Doyle’s brace singlehandedly sent San Jose home for the rest of the season with a 2-1 win Thursday.

Doyle broke a five month drought with a career-high two goals in two different scenarios. He last started on September 3.

If the Quakes were looking for any consolation, it could be that they lost to the team with the best MLS record, who are now at the top of the Western Conference table. The Rapids are now 11-0-5 at home on the season.

San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski had a game-high and tied a season-high with six shots and three shots on goal for the second time in last three games. However, the Quakes’ playoff drought now extends to four years. They finish 8-11-13.

Doyle had his first score in the 38th minute. Dominique Badji passed to a free Marc Burch who set the ball up for a diving Doyle.

Badji almost became the star of a play as he got past goalie David Bingham. However, that was not enough as Bernardez took two touches, one with each foot, for a goal line clearance in the 45th minute..

In the 49th minute, San Jose had an ample opportunity to tie the game. Wondolowski had a free kick as he sent the ball along the grass through the wall. Howard stopped the attempt then fumbled. The rebound then went to Henok Goitom nearby, who skied the ball.

Wondolowski broke through on the penalty kick in the 57th minute. This came after after he missed a penalty kick September 28, as he broke through goalie Tim Howard.

After Bingham made a stop against Doyle, he was not nearly as close with Doyle’s second attempt. The Rapids were awarded a penalty kick and Doyle went straightaway as Bingham went to his right to give Doyle a brace in the 73rd minute.

Later, another Quakes player acted as goalie again. Bingham boldly went straight to Caleb Calvert, who had the ball and stopped his first touch. On Calvert’s ensuing second touch, Marvell Wynne was in net to head the ball away.

Game notes: This loss marked an end to a 14-game win streak over Colorado as Bingham experienced his first loss versus them. It was just the second time in over 30 meetings San Jose gave up more than one goal to them. Next up for the Quakes is their home finale against the Vancouver Whitecaps. It will be Fan Appreciation Day and starts Sunday at 2pm.

Earthquakes get much-needed win over Real Salt Lake 2-1

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By: Eric He

sjearthquakes photo: Simon Dawkins and Fatai Alashe both found the back end of the net in the San Jose Earthquakes one goal win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium

With the schedule dwindling and their playoff hopes fading, the San Jose Earthquakes received a much-needed boost on Saturday night in a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake at Avaya Stadium.

The three points came at a pivotal time as the Earthquakes snapped a seven-game winless streak.

Fatai Alashe netted the game-winner in the 72nd minute, heading a cross from Shea Salinas into the net off the hand of the diving Real Salt Lake goaltender Nick Rimando. It was Alashe’s third goal of the season and biggest one yet to give the Earthquakes a 2-1 lead, which they held on to for the win.

San Jose struck first in the 34th minute on a long-distance shot by Simon Dawkins, who took a back-heel touch from Chris Wondolowski and buried it to give the Earthquakes a 1-0 advantage.

Real Salt Lake answered just six minutes later, though, as the Earthquakes could not a clear a free kick sent into the area, and Justen Glad poked it off the cross and in off goaltender David Bingham’s back.

But Bingham did well to keep the game even and, later, seal the win. He made big save after big save, stopping point-blank opportunities in a duel with Rimando, showing why both goaltenders were recently called upon to play for the U.S. National Team.

With three games left to play, the Earthquakes sit four points behind Seattle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their next opponent is Colorado on the road Oct. 13.

Impact continue dominance over Quakes

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Photo credit: The Canadian Press via AP – Paul Chiasson

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Jose remained winless over Montreal, as the Quakes were held without a win in their last seven games as well Wednesday, 3-1.

It was San Jose’s first loss versus a Canadian team this season, as the Impact ended their four-game winless streak.

Just like last game versus Montreal, Chris Wondolowski scored and almost scored again. His game-high six shots tied a season-high and he remained after the game, the only current player on the team to score versus the Impact.

Dominic Oduro scored first for Montreal, after Matteo Mancosu’s shot went off Bingham in the 22nd minute.

10 minutes later, the Impact doubled their lead. Ignacio Piatti capitalized on a turnover, passed ahead to Mancosu and Mancosu returned the favor, sending the ball behind him to Piatti in the center.

In the second half, Wondolowski split the lead in the 62nd minute. It started when teammate Darwin Ceren took a long shot from beyond the box that goalie Evan Bush punched with his hands. Bush’s punch then went to Hassoun Camara’s head and to Wondolowski’s left foot.

Things looked even better for the Quakes when Laurent Ciman fouled Shea Salinas, resulting in a penalty kick. Wondolowski took the kick, but Bush made the save with his legs in the 85th minute.

Substitute Johan Venegas then essentially put the game out of reach in the 92nd minute. He took a side pass from Piatti and beat Bingham on his right side.

San Jose’s Alberto Quintero could be seen limping after the game after suffering seven fouls.

Game notes: The Quakes finished with 62.1% possession. San Jose next plays Real Salt Lake October 1 at 7:30pm.

Quakes Post-Season Looks Bleak After 2-1 Loss at Home

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By: Joe Lami

photo by sjearthquakes.com: They battled they tussled but the San Jose Earthquakes came up a goal and three points short in their loss to Sporting KC at Avaya Stadium on Saturday

SAN JOSE, Calif.–On the same night three MLS team stamped their ticket to the playoffs, the San Jose Earthquakes stubs were torn to shreds by Sporting KC in a 2-1 loss. Dropping three important points for San Jose makes their playoffs dreams extremely bleak with just five games remaining in the season.

The Quakes nightmare started early, as star striker Quincy Amarikwa went down in the opening minute after a mid-air collision with KC keeper, Tim Melia. After reviewing the replay, it appeared that Amarikwa sustained a brutal knee injury that will likely put him out until next summer. Quakes’ head coach, Dominic Kinnear confirmed that Quincy will undergo the proper scans on Sunday.

After Amarkiwa was finally stretchered off the pitch, Sporting added insult to injury burring a goal in the seventh minute. Dom Dwyer found the back of the net heading home a set piece after he spilt between three different Quakes defenders that failed to pick up the assignment.

Kansas City’s second goal also came on a set piece, as Kevin Ellis backheeled a corner kick for the game-winner. Kinnear mentioned the importance of the set piece and how they have not been up to Earthquakes’ standards.

San Jose’s lone goal came from Simon Dawkins, who hit a near empty net after beautiful footwork from Henok Goitom, who picked up his first assist in an Earthquakes kit. Goitom mentioned that the team has to take it one match at a time, “and if you’re thinking about the playoffs, you’re looking too far ahead”.

San Jose has two games remaining at Avaya Stadium, and it is unknown at this time whether or not the Ultras will be making a return this season, as the protested the game on Saturday night due to sanctions placed on them after incidents involving smoke bombs at the September 10th home game.

If the Ultras decide not to support their local team, Avaya Stadium definitely has the potential of being dead silent for the final two games of the 2016 campaign after Saturday night’s near elimination.

Quakes continue streak over Rapids

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~ Photo credit: Garrett W. Ellwood/Colorado Rapids

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Several streaks were continued as San Jose and Colorado drew Saturday 0-0.

The Quakes now have a 14-game unbeaten streak (7-0-7), including a third straight shutout versus the Rapids. San Jose’s winless streak was extended to five.

Colorado had their third straight shutout at home.

The first half was an even 50/50 in terms of possession.

Both goalies made big plays in the first half.

In the 24th minute, Rapids’ Dominique Badji had a breakaway but David Bingham stood his ground. Bingham got his hands on the ball and when Badji got his feet back on the ball, Badji kicked the ball across the net.

All the cards in the game went to Colorado in relatively quick succession. Former Quake Sam Cronin, Dillon Powers and Axel Sjoberg received yellow cards for unsporting behavior.

San Jose threatened late in the first half. In the 42nd minute, Darwin Ceren and Fatai Alashe shot at net, Chris Wondolowski with the assist on the latter one. Then in the following minute, Tim Howard stopped Simon Dawkins right up front with a hook save.

In the second half, Bingham was forced to make saves in the 67th and 68th minute.

After the 74th minute, it was the Rapids’ defense that kept them in the match.

The Quakes continued with attempts near the end of the second half. Quincy Amarikwa had the most with attempts in the 80th, 84th and 93rd minute, but two were blocked and one missed.

Andres Imperiale also had a blocked attempt in the 83rd minute and made a tackle in the box in the 86th minute.

Game notes: Badji had a season-high five shots. San Jose next plays Kansas City September 24 at 7:30pm.

Earthquakes Draw In Crucial Match Against Sounders

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By Shawn Whelchel

sjearthquakes.com photo: San Jose Earthquakes Chris Wondolowski scores his tenth goal becomes the first player to score ten or more goals in seven seasons as he faces off here against the Seattle Sound on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium

SAN JOSE, Calif.-The Earthquakes struck early, but failed to fend off a late surge from an aggressive Seattle Sounders team on Saturday night, settling for a 1-1 draw in a crucial game in the Western Conference race.

The draw between the Western Conference rivals caps off a frustrating four-game skid for San Jose in which the team has been held without a win while sitting in the 7th spot in the standings.

While the Earthquakes will certainly take the one point allotted to them in Saturday night’ tie, the frustration is mounting within an organization that’s on the fringe of being eliminated from the playoff race.

“It hurts,” said head coach Dominic Kinnear. “If you look at New York, Houston and even tonight, you walk off the field with two points out of those three games. It hurts you in the standings and it hurts because I think we should have had more.”

Entering the day just three points behind the red line in a tight race for the final playoff position, San Jose looked to snap their untimely winless streak with a relentless attack that kept Seattle on their heals through most of the early going.

San Jose tested Seattle’s net minder Stefan Frei early and often while scrapping their way to multiple set pieces early on in the match, sending multiple dangerous attempts towards the net that were just barely turned away.

But it would be none other than Chris Wandolowski who would snap the Earthquakes’ streak of 235 straight minutes without a goal, as the captain would flick a shot passed the outstretched hands of Frei in the 20′ minute after a nice touch by Jordan Stewart sent the ball towards the front of the net.

Wandolowski’s score would mark his 10th career goal against Seattle, the most by a single player in MLS history against the team.

The Sounders would respond with a tempered attack of their own, as Seattle’s Tyrone Mears threatened an equalizer after skipping a ball across the front of the San Jose goal just minutes later, but San Jose would escape the half holding their 1-0 advantage.

Entering the final half of play in a desperate bid to keep their own playoff hopes alive, the Sounders pushed forward against the San Jose defense with relentless pressure of their own, dominating the control of the game.

San Jose’s defense would eventually break on a costly mistake, allowing a free kick from Nicolas Lodeiro to squeak past goaltender David Bingham to notch things up at 1-1.

San Jose fought desperately for a last-minute score to reclaim the lead, sending multiple threatening free kicks and a botched strike by Chad Barrett towards Seattle’s net, but had their efforts turned away to end the night with just one point.

After the game, both coaches expressed dismay at the outcome that barely helped either of the two playoff hopefuls.

“You can’t creep up, you have to take big steps,” said Kinnear. “But right now we’re creeping instead of taking big steps.”

San Jose will look for the elusive three-point win next Saturday in the tough confines of the Colorado Rapids

 

Earthquakes fall short at home in international friendly

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by Michael Martinez

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Earthquakes invited C.F. Pachuca, a club from Mexico and last year’s Liga MX champions, to play in an international friendly in San Jose. The Quakes attempted a big comeback but ultimately fell short, losing 4-3 as time expired.

The first half was all Pachuca as the international club netted two first half goals to hold a two goals to none lead. It appeared that if the first half continued into the second, San Jose was headed for some major trouble.

And when the second half begun, it looked troubling as the visiting team struck first with another goal early in the half from a penalty kick. Fortunately, San Jose was poised to fight back down by  three goals and they did just that.

In minute 64, the Earthquakes were on the scoreboard, when midfielder Tommy Thompson found the back of the net for the first time this season. Thompson has been on loan from SJ’s affiliate, the Sacramento Republic FC, since July. Four other players from the Sac Republic squad came on loan to compete in the friendly as well.

The Quakes showed a ton of fight, even though their opponent scored on a penalty kick again just two minutes later. San Jose battled back down by three goals and actually scored a minute after Pachuca. Midfielder Shea Salinas was the shooter as he nailed the far side netting.

In between minutes 60 and 70, the two teams scored three goals altogether as both offenses hit their stride with a little bit of help from chippy play. Pachuca’s midfielder, Ruben Botta, received two yellow cards and was sent off the field around the same time as all the goals.

With their opponents down a man, the Earthquakes hoped to take advantage and cut the two goals lead. However, it took the team too long as they  were finally able to cut the lead to one in the second minute of extra play.

Once again it was Salinas who got it past the goalkeeper, but ultimately the Earthquakes fell short, 4-3.

Salinas had a tremendous game and some incredible  goals to go with it. The Quakes have struggled to score recently so Saturday night’s friednly was a positive for them going forward.

San Jose’s next matchup is against the Seattle Sounders, next Saturday in San Jose at Avaya Stadium.

 

Earthquakes fall 2-0 to Crew on the road in Columbus

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By: Eric He

photo by sjearthquakes.com: The Columbus Crew stopped the San Jose Earthquakes at every turn for a shutout at Mapfre Stadium

In a battle for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, the San Jose Earthquakes couldn’t move up in the standings after a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew on the road on Saturday.

The Crew scored a goal in each half in their shutout of the Quakes, who were outshot 14-7. Ethan Finley converted in the 32nd minute off a cross from Justin Meram. Finley slid the ball past David Bingham to give Columbus a 1-0 lead.

Bingham had to leave the game late in the first half, after an apparent back injury sustained while diving for a ball. That allowed Andrew Tarbell to make his MLS debut in net, and he impressed immediately with a big save off Adam Jahn.

But Tarbell had little help in front of him. The Earthquakes managed few offensive chances, with Chris Wondolowski not making much of an impact.

Meanwhile, the Crew put the game away in the in the 84th minute on a penalty kick goal by Meram. Merman drew the penalty attacking the net and was taken down by Marvell Wynne. Up 2-0, Columbus was well on its way to winning three points.

The Earthquakes’ next match will be Sept. 10 against the Sounders. They are currently tied with the Timbers for the sixth and final playoff spot