The San Jose Earthquakes season came to an end Saturday night with a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids in the Eastern Conference Championship.
Defender Kosuke Kimura provided the lone goal in the 42nd minute when his cross found the back of the net after Omar Cummings failed to get a touch. The Rapids advance to the MLS Cup Final next Sunday, Nov. 21 against the winner of tomorrow’s Western Conference Championship between FC Dallas and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
San Jose Earthquakes (1-2-0) at Colorado Rapids (2-1-0)
Nov. 13, 2010 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,779
Scoring Summary: COL – Kosuke Kimura (unassisted) 42.
Misconduct Summary: None.
San Jose Earthquakes – Jon Busch, Chris Leitch (Arturo Alvarez 57), Brandon McDonald, Jason Hernandez, Tim Ward, Chris Wondolowski, Sam Cronin (Eduardo 79), Scott Sealy, Bobby Convey, Geovanni (Khari Stephenson 72), Ryan Johnson.
Statistics: Shots: 8; Shots on Goal: 1; Saves: 5; Fouls: 10; Offsides: 5; Corners: 5.
Colorado Rapids – Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura, Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Anthony Wallace (Julien Baudet 78), Wells Thompson, Jeff Larentowicz, Pablo Mastroeni, Brian Mullan, Conor Casey (Quincy Amarikwa 89), Omar Cummings.
Statistics: Shots: 16; Shots on Goal: 7; Saves: 1; Fouls: 6; Offsides: 6; Corners: 2.
QUOTES
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On the match:
“I thought it was an even game, and obviously they scored their goal, and each team had some chances to score. I am really, really proud of the guys, not just tonight, but all season. They’ve proved to have a great spirit in the camp and I think we have some good footballers too. Unfortunately there always has to be winners and losers, good luck to Colorado, they deserved to go through. We were just a bit unlucky tonight, but, that’s soccer.”
On the 2010 season:
“What a terrific season for us. There is a lot to build on for next season and I will say it again, I’m proud of the way our boys kept going. They never got down on each other and it was a joy to coach.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On the match:
“You have to go out there and battle, play a full 90 minutes, and I actually thought we played pretty well at times. Sometimes in the playoffs, when teams are so evenly matched you need the ball to bounce your way and it kind of went their way tonight with that goal. It was a great cross by (Kosuke) Kimura and it caught the back post. It’s just one of those things, sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn’t.”
On the 2010 season:
“It was a crazy season, it’s one that I’ll always remember. It’s a great group of guys and that’s why I’m bummed to see it end. You see these guys in the locker room every day and it was a joy. Day in, day out I really enjoyed myself. Now we just have to regroup and come back next year.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER JASON HERNANDEZ
On the result:
“I think as a defense as a whole, we can hold our hats and say that their two best weapons Omar (Cummings) and Conor (Casey) didn’t beat us tonight, which is what we were focusing on. To give up a goal like that is more fortunate for them and unfortunate for us more than anything. You see crosses go in for goals, but it was a dangerous ball in I couldn’t quite reach it, Omar couldn’t quite get to it and Buschy (Jon Busch) couldn’t get to it. It’s a sign of good things happening for a good team. They had a game plan and executed it. They got a bounce that went their way, and to their credit they still created chances and tested Buschy. You just have to tip your cap and say it wasn’t there for us today.”
On the season as a whole:
“I think for someone who has been here since day one when the team came back it’s a lot of feelings and a lot of emotions that come from a season like this. It’s what we have always wanted, to be able to really fight for something at the end of the season and to really come together. I haven’t had such a great feeling being a part of a team in a long time. I hope that a lot of these guys are back next year because we can really hold our hat on this season showing that there are good things to come. Hopefully we can be back in the same spot next year in the conference finals and advance, so this season from top to bottom, we always believed in each other. I’m very proud to be a part of this team.”
