Reserve League: Quakes score early, Chivas USA late in 1-1 draw

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes scored early and Chivas USA late as the two West rivals played to a 1-1 deadlock in an MLS Reserve League match at the Earthquakes Training Facility on May 14.

The Quakes (1-1-2, 5 pts.) struck less than two minutes after the opening whistle from the first shot of the game by either side. Sercan Guvenisik received the ball on the right wing, took a couple of dribbles into the penalty area and provided a short cross toward the near post that was met by Cesar Diaz Pizarro, with the rookie putting a low shot past Chivas USA goalkeeper Tim Melia.

Chivas USA (1-1-1, 4 pts.) would eventually equalize with essentially the last action of the afternoon. Playing a man up over the final four minutes of the contest following a second yellow-card challenge by Quakes midfielder Jean-Marc Alexandre, the visiting Goats earned a free kick on the right side in the third minute of stoppage time. Cesar Romero, a first-half substitute, struck a right-footed shot that curled into the upper right corner of the goal. San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham got his hand to it, but was unable to keep the ball out. It was Romero’s fourth goal in three Reserve League appearances this year.

The Quakes missed an opportunity to increase their advantage in the 27th minute, as Diaz Pizarro tried to return the favor to Guvenisik with a right-sided cross, only for the Turkish forward’s hard header to be caught off the grass by Melia. Chivas USA needed 41 minutes to produce its first shot on target, as a right-footed effort by Romero from outside the area was easily saved by Bingham.

After the halftime break, Guvenisik had two more chances to provide a Quakes second. In the 59th, he rounded the goalkeeper while cutting through the box from the left side, but before he could beat a final defender and take a shot, Melia had returned to his spot to make the save. Four minutes later, a ball over the top put Guvenisik in one-on-one toward goal, but his hard right-footed kick was turned away by Melia.

In between, Goats midfielder Laurent Courtois had an attempt float high over the crossbar, seconds before a combination play between Paolo Cardozo and Romero put the latter player in position to score, with Bingham going down to his right to corral the low right-footed shot. Cardozo later put a left-footed free kick over Bingham’s bar in the 71st.

San Jose was out-shot on the day, 14-10, though six of its 10 attempts were on frame. Bingham finished with four saves, while Melia had five.

The reserves for both sides now have some time off before contesting the return fixture of their Reserve League season series at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Friday, June 8, beginning at 11 a.m.

Reserves: San Jose Earthquakes 1, Chivas USA 1
May 14, 2012 – Earthquakes Training Facility, San Jose, Calif.

Scoring Summary:
SJ – Cesar Diaz Pizarro 1 (Sercan Guvenisik 1) 2
CHV – Cesar Romero 4 (unassisted) 93+

Misconduct Summary:
CHV – Jorge Villafaña (caution) 37
SJ – Ellis McLoughlin (caution) 44
SJ – Jean-Marc Alexandre (caution) 46+
SJ – Sam Cronin (caution) 58
CHV – Jorge Marquez (caution) 75
SJ – Jean-Marc Alexandre (ejection) 86

San Jose Earthquakes Reserves – David Bingham, ^Jed Zayner, Brad Ring, Ike Opara (c), Josh Suggs, Sam Garza (Sam Cronin 57), Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Jean-Marc Alexandre, Ellis McLoughlin, Sercan Guvenisik (Brian Randall 71), Cesar Diaz Pizarro.

Subs not used: Evan Newton, Jacob Hustedt, Raul Cardona, Julio Cervantes, ^Ivan Yanez.

San Jose Earthquakes Academy player
^Guest trialist
(c)Captain

Referee: Vicente Cortes
Referee’s Assistants: Said Ravanfar; Veronica Perez
4th Official: Michael Zapata
Weather: Clear, 63 degrees