The San Jose Earthquakes knocked off D.C. United Saturday night 2-0 at RFK Stadium, and when Seattle beat the Kansas City Wizards 2-1 later Saturday night, the Quakes clinched their first playoff berth since their return to MLS in 2008. Playoff tickets for the first leg of the Conference Semifinals will go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT.
Playoff tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. PT on Tuesday morning to the general public. Fans can purchase tickets through www.SJEarthquakes.com online or by calling them directly at 1-800-225-2277. For groups of 10 or more, tickets can be purchased through the Earthquakes front office by calling 408-556-7700.
MVP candidate Chris Wondolowski scored twice in the span of 10 minutes on Saturday night, giving him 14 goals on the season. That has him currently second in MLS in scoring behind Los Angeles Galaxy forward Edson Buddle, who has 16. Wondolowski now sits just one goal behind Ronald Cerritos as the single season franchise record holder for goals scored. Cerritos scored 15 times in 1999.
The Danville native scored his first goal of the night in the 45th minute, as a Tim Ward cross found him alone at the back post, and he made no mistake, finishing on the right footed volley, leaving D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins no chance. His second came after a corner, when it was played short to Bobby Convey, who sent a cross into the six yard box. Perkins got a touch to it, but it fell to Wondolowski, again alone in the area, and he finished again on the volley, this time with his left foot.
San Jose also tied their single season franchise record of shutouts from 2005 with their twelfth on the year. Jon Busch has recorded six of those shutouts, and this is his second consecutive shutout, after a 0-0 draw in Columbus last Saturday. San Jose returns home next weekend to host the Houston Dynamo at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7 p.m. PT.
San Jose Earthquakes (12-8-7) vs. D.C. United (6-19-3)
October 9, 2010 – RFK Stadium
Attendance: 14,822
Scoring Summary: SJ – Chris Wondolowski (Tim Ward) 45; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (unassisted) 55.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Khari Stephenson (caution) 3; DC – Jaime Moreno (ejection) 8; SJ – Brandon McDonald (ejection) 8.
San Jose Earthquakes – Jon Busch, Chris Leitch, Jason Hernandez, Brandon McDonald, Tim Ward, Bobby Convey, Sam Cronin, Khari Stephenson (Brad Ring 59), Chris Wondolowski, Geovanni (Eduardo 75), Scott Sealy.
Statistics: Shots: 11; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 6; Fouls: 12; Offsides: 2; Corners: 3.
D.C. United – Troy Perkins, Devon McTavish (John P. Rodrigues 78), Jed Zayner, Clyde Simms, Jordan Graye (Danny Allsopp 59), Santino Quaranta, Kurt Morsink, Stephen King (Junior 55), Carlos Varela, Jaime Moreno, Pablo Hernandez.
Statistics: Shots: 10; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 2; Fouls: 10; Offsides: 3; Corners: 8.
QUOTES
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On the 2-0 win:
“We had a great goal from Wondo (Chris Wondolowski) right before the half, and in the second half I thought we played very well. I thought we did a good job defending against a team that was playing well offensively, and we are very pleased with the performance.”
On making the playoffs for the first time since the club’s return to MLS in 2008:
“We are very pleased to be where we are, and we know that there is still a job ahead of us. This team has done very well this season and we are all very happy with what we have been able to accomplish.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On his two goal performance:
“First goal, it was a great ball by Tim Ward, and I made a little run to the back post, it came to me and I was able to just bang it home. The second goal, Bobby Convey served in a good ball, I believe Troy Perkins got a little tip on it, and it came to me at the back post again. That one I didn’t really strike it that well, but it found the corner, and I’m pretty excited about it.”
On making the playoffs:
“It is huge. Once we make the playoffs, anything can happen, and we are playing very well right now. We will see who we end up having to play, we will bring our game and we will see what happens. We aren’t done here though, I want a ring.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER JON BUSCH
On qualifying for the playoffs:
“It feels great, the club hasn’t been there since its been back, and it is fantastic. Thank goodness we have Wondo (Chris Wondolowski), he deserves all the credit. The coaching staff has done a great job in keeping the guys focused all season long and tonight was just another example of a total team effort. Guys were doing all the dirty work, blocking shots, Wondo had two goals, everyone just worked hard for each other. That is a sign of a good team. I’m really happy for the guys who have been here for a long time, and it feels great to get in.”
On the record-tying 12th shutout of the season for San Jose:
“Again, that has very little to do with me, it has to do with the guys around me. I have never seen someone like Jason Hernandez block so many shots, he has been tremendous. (Chris) Leitch had a great game tonight, and Timmy (Tim Ward) has been solid since he came over from Chicago. It’s a total team effort and everyone has each other’s backs. All in all, that is what we are here for. Everyone works hard and works for each other, we will keep working forward."
