This Week
The San Jose Earthquakes (15-6-5, 50 pts.) will host Chivas USA in a Western Conference clash on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Buck Shaw Stadium. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on NBC Sports, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
Earthquakes Schedule for the Week of 8/27/12
Tuesday, Aug. 28 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Wednesday, Aug. 29 – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Thursday, Aug. 30 – Off
Friday, Aug. 31 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Buck Shaw Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 1 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Sunday, Sept. 2 – Off
Injury Report
Out: Jean-Marc Alexandre (R – MCL sprain), Cesar Diaz Pizarro (R – groin strain), Joey Gjertsen (R – knee surgery), Jason Hernandez (R – hamstring strain), Shea Salinas (L – hamstring strain), Tim Ward (L – non-specific soft tissue injury).
Earthquakes All-Time Record vs. Chivas USA
MLS Regular Season: 3-6-5
Home: 2-3-2 (11 GF, 8 GA)
Away: 1-3-3 (7 GF, 10 GA)
Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 18, Chivas USA – 18
Chivas USA Info
Last Game vs. Chivas USA
Earthquakes 1, Chivas USA 1; May 13, 2012; Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Alan Gordon came off the bench to score an 89th-minute equalizer, earning the San Jose Earthquakes a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA on Mother’s Day at Buck Shaw Stadium. Gordon came on for Tressor Moreno in the 57th minute and left his mark late in the match with his second goal of the campaign. Fellow second-half sub Sam Garza created the chance, curling a cross to the near post where Gordon headed home the Earthquakes’ result. Meanwhile, Garza picked up his first career MLS assist in what was his second appearance for San Jose. After conceding a fourth-minute goal, the Earthquakes dominated the run of play the rest of the way. San Jose held 62.5 percent of the possession and outshot Chivas USA 24-5. The Earthquakes also tied a club record with 15 corner kicks, matching their output from Aug. 26, 2000 against the LA Galaxy at Spartan Stadium.
Chivas USA Scouting Report
Chivas USA (7-10-6, 27 pts.) enter Saturday’s game seventh in the Western Conference, 10 points out of the MLS Cup Playoff race. The squad has collectively scored seven fewer goals than any MLS team with 17 in 23 games this season. Colombian Designated Player Juan Pablo Angel has scored more than any for Chivas USA, finding the net four times in 15 games this season. Meanwhile, Ryan Smith tops the club’s assists list with three. Leading the way defensively has been MLS All-Star goalkeeper Dan Kennedy with seven shutouts and 81 saves, third most in the league.
History of the Earthquakes-Chivas USA Rivalry
The two teams met for the first time on April 9, 2005, at Spartan Stadium, playing to a wild 3-3 draw … During the 2005 season, San Jose and Chivas USA met on three additional occasions: a 1-1 draw on June 12 at The Home Depot Center, a 3-0 win for the Earthquakes on Sept. 10 at Spartan Stadium, and a come-from-behind 2-1 Quakes victory on Sept. 17 in Carson in which Alejandro Moreno notched the 93rd-minute winner against his current club … Following that four-game unbeaten run by San Jose to begin the all-time series between the sides, Chivas USA has held the edge since the Quakes’ return in 2008, posting a 6-1-2 record over nine matches … The Quakes’ lone win during the stretch came on Oct. 20, 2010, when Chris Wondolowski posted a hat trick over 17 minutes after only coming off the bench in the 40th minute, for a 3-0 result at Buck Shaw … Chivas USA got an 85th-minute winner from Mariano Trujillo for a come-from-behind 2-1 win in the last meeting at Buck Shaw on April 23, 2011 … Wondolowski had given the Quakes a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, with Moreno leveling the score for the Goats in first-half stoppage time … Chivas USA went on to sweep the 2011 season series with a 2-0 home shutout on July 6 … The two teams tied 1-1 in their first meeting of 2012 on May 13 with Alan Gordon providing a dramatic 89th-minute equalizer.
Earthquakes Leaders vs. Chivas USA
Forward Alan Gordon has six goals and two assists in 10 appearances … Forward Chris Wondolowski has five goals in 10 appearances … Wondolowski recorded one of his three career hat tricks against Chivas USA on Oct. 20, 2010 … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is 4-3-1 with three shutouts.
Chivas USA Leaders vs. San Jose
Forward Alejandro Moreno has five goals and three assists in 16 games … Midfielder Shalrie Joseph has two assists in 13 games … Midfielder Peter Vagenas has one goal and three assists in 18 appearances … Defender Ante Jazic has three assists in six appearances … Defenders James Riley has two assist in nine appearances … Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy is 3-0-1 with two shutouts.
Earthquakes – Chivas USA Connections
Quakes defender Jason Hernandez made 50 appearances for Chivas USA from 2006-07 … Chivas USA forward Alejandro Moreno produced eight goals and four assists in 31 games for San Jose during the Supporters’ Shield season of 2005 … Moreno was teammates with Quakes forward Alan Gordon on the LA Galaxy in 2004, forward Chris Wondolowski in Houston in 2006-07, forward Steven Lenhart in Columbus in 2008-09 and midfielder Shea Salinas in Philadelphia in 2010 … Gordon played for the LA Galaxy with Chivas USA assistant coach Greg Vanney in 2008, and scored one goal in nine appearances for Chivas USA during the 2010 season … Chivas USA defender James Riley made 24 appearances for San Jose in 2008 before being selected by Seattle Sounders FC during the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft … Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic played with the Canadian national team from 2004-06 and the LA Galaxy from 2006-07 under current Quakes head coach Frank Yallop … Jazic was teammates with Gordon on the LA Galaxy from 2006-08 … Quakes midfielder Sam Cronin played with Chivas USA midfielder Nick LaBrocca at Toronto FC for part of the 2010 season … LaBrocca was also a member of the 2008 Colorado Rapids with Quakes defender Tim Ward … Quakes midfielder Marvin Chavez played with Chivas USA defender Heath Pearce for FC Dallas in 2009-10 … Chivas USA assistant coach Carlos Llamosa played for two seasons with Jason Hernandez at Chivas USA (2006-07) … Hernandez and Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy were briefly fellow members of the 2005 New York/New Jersey MetroStars … Kennedy (2001-04) and Quakes rookie midfielder Sam Garza (2010-11) both played at UC Santa Barbara … Lenhart and Kennedy are both natives of Yorba Linda, Calif. … Garza (No. 6) and Chivas USA rookie forward Casey Townsend (No. 5) were selected one pick apart in the first round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft … Quakes midfielder Jacob Hustedt (2008-10) played with reserve Goats goalkeeper Patrick McLain (2007-11) at Cal Poly, with Garza and McLain opposing each other in the Big West Conference the past two seasons … Chivas USA midfielder Michael Lahoud played at Wake Forest with Cronin (2005-08) and Quakes defender Ike Opara (2007-08), with the trio guiding the Demon Deacons to the program’s first national title together in 2007 … Opara and Chivas USA defender/midfielder Jorge Villafaña were both members of the 20-player U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in late March … Quakes midfielder Simon Dawkins (Edgware) and Chivas USA midfielder Ryan Smith (Islington) are two Englishmen who were born in areas of London.
Community Events
Earthquakes Elite Clinic
Who: Earthquakes players Sam Garza, David Bingham, Cesar Diaz Pizarro, Brad Ring and Earthquakes coach Ian Russell
What: Elite Clinic
Where: Lavonya Dejean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA
When: Wednesday, Aug. 29
Details: Coach and players will run a 60-minute clinic for 150 kids and conclude with a 30-minute autograph session
Miscellaneous Notes
Earthquakes to Attempt to Break Guinness World Record for Largest Groundbreaking Ceremony
Earthquakes Club President Dave Kaval announced the club will break ground on their new stadium on Sunday, Oct. 21 and will try to break a Guinness World Record for the largest groundbreaking ceremony in the process. Fans are invited to the landmark occasion and can RSVP by visiting www.sjearthquakes.com/groundbreaking. Anyone planning to attend can park for free starting at 10:30 a.m. at the new stadium site on the corner of Coleman Ave. and Newhall Ave. Check-in for diggers begins at 11:30 a.m. To ensure participation, fans should arrive before noon. In order to break the Guinness World Record, the club needs 4,533 participants to dig for two minutes.
New Stadium Club Seats Sold Out
The Earthquakes announced on Saturday that club seats at the new stadium are sold out. With luxury suites and club seats sold out, general seating in the new stadium will go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 23. Current season tickets holders will have first priority to purchase tickets for the new stadium. The priority order will be set based on tenure as a season ticket holder. Season ticket holders will receive more information in the coming week regarding their specific account. In order to reserve a spot in the priority queue for the new stadium, fans can purchase season tickets for 2013, the final season at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Earthquakes are currently taking deposits for season tickets for 2013. Please call 408-556-7700 or visit www.sjearthquakes.com/2013 for more information.
Child, Mandaric to be Inducted to Earthquakes Hall of Fame
The Earthquakes announced last week that former star forward Paul Child and the team’s original owner Milan Mandaric have been named to the Earthquakes Hall of Fame. The two former members of the North American Soccer League (NASL) Earthquakes will be inducted to the club’s Hall of Fame at a ceremony during halftime of San Jose’s match on Sept. 29 against FC Dallas. To celebrate the occasion, 5,000 fans will receive a commemorative pin courtesy of XFINITY.
MLS Cup Playoff Tickets Now on Sale
Earthquakes 2012 MLS Cup Playoff tickets are now on sale at www.sjearthquakes.com/2012playoffs through the March to the Cup Mini-Plan. The mini-plan includes a ticket to three of San Jose’s remaining regular season home games – including the Quakes’ international friendly against San Luis FC on Thursday, Sept. 6 – and the club’s first MLS Cup Playoff home game since 2010. Prices start at $72 per package. For groups of 10 or more, call the club’s front office at 408-556-7700.
Quakes First in Western Conference, Supporters’ Shield Standings
The Earthquakes (15-6-5, 47 pts.) remain atop the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings following the club’s 4-1 win against the Colorado Rapids. San Jose holds a three-point advantage over Sporting Kansas City (14-7-5, 47 pts.) in the Supporters’ Shield race. Meanwhile, the Earthquakes are seven points ahead of Real Salt Lake (13-10-4, 43 pts.) and Seattle Sounders FC (12-6-7, 43 pts.) in the Western Conference table.
Guvenisik Hat Trick Leads Earthquakes Past Timbers, 3-1, in Reserve League
Sercan Guvenisik scored three times to lead San Jose past Portland 3-1 at JELD-WEN Field on Sunday in front of a Reserve League record crowd of 14,121. The first of Guvenisik’s three strikes came from 65 yards out, catching Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson off his line to give San Jose a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. He added a pair of second-half goals on Sam Garza assists to improve the club’s Reserve League record to 3-2-2 on the year.
Unbeaten Streak Continues at Buck Shaw
The Earthquakes extended their Buck Shaw Stadium unbeaten streak to 14 games after Saturday’s 4-1 win against Colorado. The Rapids were the last team to beat San Jose at their primary home venue, winning 2-1 on Aug. 13, 2011. The Earthquakes are 8-0-3 at Buck Shaw this season and 9-1-3 at home including matches played at AT&T Park and Stanford Stadium.
Corrales Moves to No. 5 on Club’s All-Time Assists List
Ramiro Corrales’ pair of assists in San Jose’s 4-1 win against Colorado leapfrogged the veteran defender past Landon Donovan and Eric Wynalda for No. 5 on the club’s all-time assists list. Corrales has 30 career assists with the Earthquakes, one behind Dwayne De Rosario for No. 4 on the list. At 35 years old, Corrales is second on the team with eight assists this season, one off his career best nine in 2002.
Ballouchy Makes San Jose Debut
Former Santa Clara Broncos All-American midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy made his Earthquakes debut in Saturday’s 4-1 win against the Colorado Rapids after subbing on for Marvin Chavez in the 80th minute. San Jose acquired Ballouchy in a trade with the New York Red Bulls for a 2013 international player slot and a conditional 2013 MLS SuperDraft pick on July 30.
Iron Man Morrow
Quakes all-star defender Justin Morrow has played every minute of San Jose’s 26 games this season. He is one of five players in MLS to see the field in each of his club’s 26 matches in 2012. The list also includes Colorado’s Matt Pickens and Drew Moor, Sporting Kansas City’s Jimmy Nielsen and Vancouver’s Lee Young-Pyo.
Wondolowski Approaching MLS Single Season Record for Game-Winning Goals
Chris Wondolowski is one game-winning goal away from tying an MLS record that he shares with former LA Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz. Wondolowski (2010) and Ruiz (2002) have each recorded nine game-winning goals in a single season. San Jose’s striker has scored the game winner in eight of San Jose’s 15 victories to date.
Wondolowski Closing in on Club Scoring Mark
Chris Wondolowski is six goals away from matching Ronald Cerritos’ club record for career goals scored. Cerritos scored 61 goals in 148 games over six seasons in San Jose. Meanwhile, Wondolowski has 55 goals in 98 games over five seasons for the Earthquakes. Additionally, Wondolowski’s goal against Montreal on Aug. 18 tied his club record for tallies in a single season with 18.
Top of the League
Through 26 games, the Earthquakes are No. 1 in MLS with 52 goals scored and 57 assists. With 33 goals conceded, the Quakes are also No. 1 in the league with a +19 goal differential. Additionally, San Jose leads the league with 33 second-half goals and a +19 goal differential in the second half.
Single Season Goals Record
The San Jose Earthquakes continue to close in on the club’s single season record for goals scored. After a 4-1 win against the Colorado Rapids, the Earthquakes have scored 52 goals in 2012 to lead the league. That total is the most scored in San Jose since the club returned to MLS in 2008 and three off the benchmark of 55 set by the San Jose Clash in 1997.
Earthquakes to Host San Luis FC in International Friendly on Sept. 6
The Earthquakes will host San Luis FC of the Mexican Primera Division in an international friendly on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are on sale at www.sjearthquakes.com or by calling 800-225-2277. The club is also offering a special two-pack: A Supporters’ Section ticket to the Quakes’ match against Chivas USA on Sunday, Sept. 2 as well as San Luis FC for $30 (savings of $14). The offer is available only by visiting www.sjearthquakes.com.
Fifth Annual Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation Banquet Set for Oct. 12
The Fifth Annual Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation Awards Banquet is slated for Friday, Oct. 12 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. featuring former Earthquakes defender Jimmy Conrad as the keynote speaker. The event also includes the Andrew Bedard “Spirit of the Game” Award given to an Earthquakes player for the charitable works throughout the year. For ticket, donation and sponsorship information visit www.ssvcf.org/annualdinner.html.
Wells Fargo Goals for Education
Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2012 through the Goals for Education program. With 52 goals through 26 games, the donated total for this season already stands at $13,000. Thanks to 40 goals in 2011, the partnership raised $10,000 for local youth soccer and athletic development programs a year ago.
