TUCSON, Ariz. – The San Jose Earthquakes got their first taste of training camp in Arizona as the group worked through a two-hour session at the Kino Sports Complex Tuesday morning.
The latter half of the practice session featured a trio of short-field 10-v-10 scrimmages. The group split into three teams and played a round robin format with each game lasting 20 minutes.
FACEBOOK PHOTO GALLERY FROM DAY 1
Blue Team: Blais, Beitashour, Tiemstra, Opara, Davies, Corrales, Baca, Ring, Morrow, Stephenson
Orange Team: Busch, Krumpe, Arrieta, Hernandez, Emory, Salinas, Cronin, Ampaipitakwong, Kiffe, Diaz Pizarro
Green Team: Newton, Martin, Bernardez, Altman, Suggs, Chavez, Alexandre, McLoughlin, Moreno, Garza
The Blues went undefeated, topping Orange 2-0 and Green 1-0. Justin Morrow and Steven Beitashour each got on the scoresheet for Blue, Beitashour’s goal coming off a beautiful lofted pass by Brad Ring.
In the third game, Orange won 1-0 against Green thanks to a goal by Cesar Diaz Pizarro. The former UC Riverside forward polished off a loose ball after an Anthony Ampaipitakwong free kick ricocheted off the wall and onto Pizarro’s foot.
The squad closed its day with a regeneration session on the field at Kino Sports Complex.
SCRIMMAGE TIME
The Earthquakes will get their first crack an opposing team when they take on FC Tucson Wednesday at 11 a.m. MT at the Kino Sports Complex. FC Tucson recently played the New England Revolution, losing 2-1 over the weekend. The Earthquakes expect to give their trialists a good look during the match while.
SOCCER MONTH IN TUCSON
The City of Tucson is trying to recreate the vibe MLB Spring Training generates in the Phoenix area each year with its own version, a celebration of soccer. As part of the festivities, Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop and goalkeeper Jon Busch participated in a press conference along with Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes and forward CJ Sapong on Tuesday at the Desert Diamond Hotel.
FC Tucson has also organized a special viewing party of the movie Pelada for Wednesday night at Loft Cinemas. Tickets for hte 7 p.m. MT showing on sale at http://www.loftcinema.com/pelada.
