Tag: San Jose Earthquakes

Big win keeps Quakes hopes alive in the Champions League

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Ivan Makarov

SANTA CLARA, CA – Facing elimination in the CONCACAF Champions League with a draw or loss, San Jose Earthquakes delivered one of their best performances this season against Montreal Impact on Tuesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium, defeating them 3-0.

After trading chances early on, the Quakes scored first on the 21st minute. A long throw in the Montreal’s zone landed on Steven Lenhart’s head who passed it back to Chris Wondowski. This caught Montreal’s defense by surprise and there was no one able to stop Quakes forward as he put the ball into the net, scoring first Champions League goal for the club in the tournament.

While the game looked even prior to the goal, the lead gave the Quakes needed confidence and they started to take over the pocessing and the scoring chances.

“The game changed a little bit [after the first goal],” said Montreal’s center back Alessandro Nesta. “We had some opportunities, and some chances, but as it happened today, if you don’t score, you start losing these opportunities.”

Impact’s best moment of the first half came at the very end when the cross from the left zone came within inches of Daniele Paponi’s foot and the empty net. Justin Morrow read the play and cleared it away from danger last moment.

Marvin Chavez delivered the second blow on the 57th minute. The ball was inside Montreal’s penalty box and Matteo Ferrari cleared it outside the box. It wasn’t a good clear, however, and it fell to Chavez chest who stopped it and put a hard volley on the net right after. It flew fast and into the net, giving the Quakes two goal lead they desperately needed to improve their standings.

Desperate for change, Montreal head coach Marco Schallibaum made double substitution on the 63rd minute, sending Felipe and Marco Di Vaio (current leading MLS goalscorer) onto the field. That didn’t help, however and neither forward had a scoring chance the rest of the game.

Coming on as a substitution for Marvin Chaves, Shea Salinas scored a similar goal as Chavez on 84th minute. It was another failed clearance by Montreal, and Salinas got the ball just at the top of the penalty box, with only Jeb Brovski and the goaltender to beat. Salinas accelerated with his signature takeoff speed, and blew past Brovski who couldn’t keep up. With just the goalkeeper Troy Perkins in front of him, Salinas put the ball into the net with the low kick to make it 3-0 for the Quakes.

Salinas could have made it 4-0 when he got the ball on the edge of the box during stoppage time, but he shot the ball straight into Perkins.

How pleased was the Quakes interim coach Mike Watson with the three goals in one game after scoring just once in the last three games?

“Very pleased,” he said after the game. “I thought at 1-0, there was still a lot to do in the game. We still had to defend a lot. It shows our persistence. We feel very good about our performance. Maybe three goals is what we need to get going offensively.”

Quakes are next back in action on Saturday when they travel to Salt Lake City on take on Real in the MLS regular season. Their next Champions League game is at home against CD Heredia on October 23.

Quakes Falter in Guatemala

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Elliot Alagueuzian

August 28, 2013

The San Jose Eathquake’s hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the CONCACAF Champions League are all but over after losing 1-0 to Heredia in Guatemala City. The Quakes are now left with 0 points out of two games away from home.

Fortunately the final two games will be at Buck Shaw stadium but even maximum points from those games may not be enough to save the men in black. A substantial goal difference may be the Quakes best to salvage whatever they can from this Champions league campaign. In other words they must blow out Montreal and Heredia at home in order to give them a chance of progressing through the group stage.

The Quakes first real chance of the game fell to Chris Wondolowski who skied a cross coming from the near post over the bar from about 8 to 10 yards out. Ramiro Corrales then hit a freekick from about 30 yards out the just grazed the top of the crossbar and that was about as close as the Quakes got to scoring a goal in the second half.

Enrique Miranda from Heredia though broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with a right footed shot outside the penalty area. It was one of two shots on goal that Heredia had and the Quakes only had one.

With having already traveled to Dallas and now Guatemala City the Quakes will now head off to SoCal to face arch rivals LA Galaxy in the California Clasico this Saturday at the StubHub Center.

Quakes win crucial encounter against SKC

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Elliot Alagueuzian

SAN JOSE- San Jose Earthquakes will be happy that their playoff hopes got a big boost Sunday night as they shutout Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at Buck Shaw Stadium. After a disappointing result in Vancouver the Quakes were looking to bounce back against one of the top teams in MLS.

The game started out pretty slow for both teams with SKC hunkering down their defense and not letting the Quakes create too many chances. Both teams enjoyed good spells of possession but never created anything that made the crowd stand on its feet and cheer.

It wasn’t until Steven Beitashour served a great ball into the box to forward Chris Wondolowski that the Quakes finally took a chance and finished and one of the most hardest defenses in MLS. Wondo was about 10 yards away from goal and got a powerful header to the far post that beat the outstretched fingers of KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.

Wondo had a lot of great things to say for the back line who kept great organization throughout the game. “I thought we kept our defensive shape and were hard to break down.” An amazing night for one Quake in particular, Jon Busch celebrated his 100th win in the league as well as his 37th birthday. Wondo could not emphasize how big Busch has been since joining the Quakes. “He’s such a true professional, he comes in works hard everyday. Day in day out. Couldn’t be happier for him and he definitely deserves it.”

The Quakes will face FC Dallas in Frisco Texas next Saturday.

Whitecaps shutout Quakes in Vancouver

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Elliot Alagueuzian

August 10, 2013

143VANCOUVER–The San Jose Earthquakes will be disappointed they did not finish their chances after conceding two goals and losing 2-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. The Whitecaps offense was led by Nigel Reo-Coker, Kenny Miller and Camilo Senvezzo. Reo-Coker took on Clarence Goodson and beat him out wide before crossing into the box to Senvezzo who tapped the ball into the back of the net to give the Caps a 1-0 lead.

Earthquakes tried to respond when Sam Cronin took a shot inside that rebounded off a Whitecaps defender and above the head of Shea Salinas who attempted an overhead kick whoever, the shot lacked power and fell straight into the arms of goalkeeper David Ousted.

The second goal came when midfielder Russell Teibert passed the ball into the box from the right hand side, Reo-Coker missed his shot but Kenny Miller didn’t and made it 2-0 Vancouver.

Quakes Head Coach Mark Watson was disappointed his team couldn’t take their chances against a good team away from home. “The game quite simply was they took their chances and we didn’t, we had a couple opportunities to score one or two early on that would’ve changed the game.” Said Watson who believes his team still have a great chance to qualify for the playoffs. “We’re disappointed but we know that there are enough points on table so we keep working, we get back to work next week and prepare for our next game.”

Vancouver made the game’s first great chance when Senvezzo hit a freekick and Miller headed the ball inches over the crossbar. Quakes created a few chances to try and take the lead but the best chance of the first half came when the ball fell to Cordell Cato who struck the ball very well but Ousted made a fantastic save.

Chris Wondolowski thinks the team can bounce back against Sporting Kansas City next week. “They’re very good, it’s good to be home but we have to go out there and play to the best of our capabilities.”

Quakes lose Champions League opener

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment
By Ivan S. Makarov

August 7, 2013
 
8760993

Playing in their first game of the CONCACAF Champions League on the road in Montreal, San Jose Earthquakes fell 1-0 to their host Montreal Impact.

Despite the score, it wasn’t for the lack of scoring chances that the Quakes went down. They outshot the Impact 8-6 and had the ball more, but still came short in the most important category – goals.

Quakes best chance came early in the game when they were awarded penalty kick on the 10th minute, but were unable to realize it. Six minutes later, Montreal’s new player Hernan Bernardello delivered a cross from 40 yards out that was headed into the goal by Hassoun Camara for the only goal of the game.

San Jose’s Sam Garza had a great scoring chance in the second half, but his header went just inches wide.

“Obviously we leave the field a little disappointed,” said Quakes interim head coach Mike Watson. “I thought overall our performance was quality. The key moment in the game was the penalty save, which would have given us a lead and something we could have hung onto for the rest of the game. Even after the goal I thought we responded well and had a bunch of chances. So, I’m disappointed to come out of the game with nothing.”

San Jose has three Group 5 games remaining, including a pair against Guatemalan side CD Heredia and a home match against Montreal. Next up is another road trip, this time to Guatemala City on Wednesday, Aug. 28. The club hosts Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and CD Heredia on Wednesday, Oct. 23 to close out of group play. The winner advances to an eight-team knockout tournament to be contested next year.