CARSON, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes held Chivas USA scoreless through the first of three periods, but Alan Gordon netted the decisive goal in the 18th minute of the second period of a 1-0 contest at The Home Depot Center on Monday.
The Quakes and Goats played three 35-minute periods on an auxiliary field at The HDC. It was San Jose's first preseason game of 2011 and Chivas USA's second. The Goats previously topped the Fresno Fuego, 2-0, last week.
San Jose's starters yielded one serious scoring threat, a shot from inside the 18-yard box that Jon Busch turned away. In the attacking third, Bobby Convey had the Quakes best chance, a left-footed dart from the edge of the area that Chivas USA keeper Zach Thornton dove to stop.
The Quakes made wholesale changes midway through the second period. Two minutes later, Chivas USA scored after a lobbed pass found its way over San Jose's backline and sat at Gordon's feet. Gordon took a touch and ripped a shot that goalkeeper Andrew Weber got a hand to, but the ricochet caromed off the post and in.
A host of soccer dignitaries, including US Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley and Los Angeles Galaxy's Bruce Arena, were on hand for Monday's scrimmage. The Quakes will return to The Home Depot Center on Thursday to face Arena's squad at 1 p.m.
Chias USA 1: 0 San Jose Earthquakes
Preseason scrimmage (105-minute match)
Feb. 7, 2011, Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary: CHV – Alan Gordon (Victor Estupiñan) 55.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Brad Ring (caution) 13.
San Jose Earthquakes - Jon Busch (Andrew Weber 35, David Bingham 70), Tim Ward (Steven Beitashour 53), Bobby Burling (Tim Ward 70), Brandon McDonald (Chris Leitch 53), Ramiro Corrales (Justin Morrow 53), Joey Gjertsen (Omar Jasseh 53, Trialist 80), Brad Ring (Anthony Ampaipitakwong 53), Chris Wondolowski (Tony Donatelli 53), Bobby Convey (Trialist 53), Ryan Johnson (Trialist 53), Steven Lenhart (Trialist 53)
Chivas USA – Zach Thornton (Sergio Arias 53), Zarek Valentin (Mariano Trujillo 53), Jimmy Conrad (Carlos Borja 53), Michael Umaña (Andrew Boyens 53), Ante Jazic (Jorge Flores 36) (Bryan De La Fuente 71), Paulo Nagamura (Gerson Mayén 53), Blair Gavin (Mike Lahoud 53), Simon Elliott (Ben Zemanski 36), Francisco Mendoza (Sal Zizzo 53) (Chris Cortez 85), Tristan Bowen (Alan Gordon 53), Alejandro Moreno (Victor Estupiñan 36) (Jesús Padilla 71)
