SAN JOSE, Calif. -
When the Rolling Stones hit town, you expect a full stadium and a great show.
In a soccer sense, the same goes for Manchester United, and the Earthquakes got the full effect when they hosted the English Premier League power for the first time in the International Champions Cup North America.
Man United carved out a 3-1 victory in the friendly, but the Quakes acquitted themselves well, in terms of presentation and performance on the field.
But the Quakes weren't out there just to swap uniforms, even if some of the players on the opposite side are among the world's best.
"It's not every day you play against Manchester United, so you have to have fun," said designated player Matias Perez Garcia. "It was a magical night for both clubs to play here at Avaya. They are a great team and one you always keep an eye on when following world soccer. At the same time, once the whistle blows you just want to win and you do what you can to get the result."
After Juan Mata and Player of the Game Memphis Depay staked the Red Devils to a 2-0 lead, Quakes rookie Fatai Alashe enjoyed another magical moment, scoring off a Shea Salinas cross in the 42nd minute.
While there aren't feel-good losses at the higher levels of soccer, the Quakes made Man United earn the victory. It wasn't a stroll in the park for the touring 20-time England league champions who are looking to earn their first EPL title since the 2002-03 season.
Man United lacked its usual fitness level in its offseason, and the Quakes are in a tough stretch of their schedule.
"It went as I expected from a talent level standpoint," Alashe said. "Take nothing away from those guys, but we have a great group also that do well to compete against whoever it is we are playing that day. I think playing against Manchester United definitely helps the development process. We have guys that rally around each other and make you play better. It helps in matches like this where you play tough and stay competitive."
Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal seemed pleased with his team's attacking in the first half, but thought the Quakes' second-half substitutions outplayed his second unit. Man United's only positive in the final 45 minutes was a header goal by Andreas Pereira in the 61st minute, he thought.
"In the first chance we did create a lot of chances," Van Gaal said. "In the second half I think the San Jose Earthquakes was after 50 minutes the better team, so I think they did well."
The Earthquakes' newest signing, Marc Pelosi, nearly scored in his team debut, but his shot from 20 yards sailed just high.
He got caught in between two minds on the near-miss.
"I shot it and I think it was because I was deciding between shooting and dribbling where I was leaning back a little," Pelosi recalled. "I connected well, but it was just a little too high. I wish I scored that one."
After the match, Pelosi, 21, who was born in Germany, swapped jerseys with Schweinsteiger, making the request in German.
An acclaimed youth player, Pelosi helped the U.S. under-23 team to a third-place finish in the Toulon Tournament in May. He also captained the U.S. to the Round of 16 in the 2011 U-17 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. He was then pursued by numerous teams, eventually signing with Liverpool's youth academy. The Sunnyvale native competed with Liverpool's U-18 and U-21 clubs over the past four years.
To be in his hometown facing Man United felt a little surreal for Pelosi.
"My first game with Liverpool might have been against Manchester United Under-18. I got the winning assist, I remember. My agent is just, 'Oh, it's just crazy. You're playing them again.' I was like, 'I know. Once in a lifetime.' It was really cool. That was a good time."
Manchester United broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. Rooney sent midfielder Ashley Young down the left flank with a long through ball. Young cut the ball back and passed to midfielder Juan Mata, who sent a flick off the far post and in. Depay made it 2-0 of an intercepted pass five minutes later.
In the 42nd minute, Salinas slipped by his defender near the corner flag and laid a pass to Alashe, who slotted his first-timed attempt past keeper Sam Johnstone.
Quakes coach Dominic Kinnear felt his team could have stuck another one or two in the United net with a bit more patience.
"We had a couple of opportunities to get in there. I think we rushed ourselves a little bit, and that was one of the few times we got deep into their area," Kinnear said. "We had a little bit of composure and it paid off for us and great goal by Fatai."
Alashe gave Salinas credit for the goal. Plus, he liked how the team battled back after going down 2-0.
"That's one thing we pride ourselves in all year," Alashe said. "No matter how the game's going we try to stick together and keep working. .... Some of that we definitely wanted to key in on. No matter how it was going, stick together and keep pushing. Obviously that helped us get a goal back. You never know where it could have gone from there."
Kinnear had mixed emotions after the tough match.
"I think we kind of made it easy on them with the giveaways that led to some of the goals, but I think the guys put in a great effort tonight," Kinnear said.
