SAN JOSE, Calif.
- Unbeaten in their last four games, the San Jose Earthquakes came into Buck Shaw Stadium on June 4 poised to keep their streak alive against the upstart Houston Dynamo. With just two points separating the teams in the Western Conference table, both sides were eager to get the upper hand on one another, exchanging several chances in the early going. The combination of Cam Weaver and Will Bruin for Houston kept Quakes defenders on their heels, but Jason Hernandez, Bobby Burling and Bobby Convey were up to the task.
While keeping the Dynamo scoreless in the first stanza, forward Steven Lenhart anchored a Quakes attack that gave the Houston defense fits. In the 69th minute, it was Lenhart who broke the scoring deadlock. With a heavy touch into the Quakes attacking half, Steven Beitashour lofted a ball ahead of the oncoming run of Lenhart. With the ball floating away from a darting Lenhart, the San Jose striker took flight to connect on a diving header, directing his finish past an outstretched Tally Hall.
The match, however, was far from over. Less than 10 minutes after Lenny’s finish, Jason Hernandez was forced to clear an inswinger from Brad Davis that was destined for right foot of Cam Weaver. In stoppage time, it was club newcomer Simon Dawkins who erased any doubt of a San Jose victory. With time winding down, Sam Cronin slipped a ball ahead of the darting run of Dawkins, who calmly tucked away his finish. The 2-0 Quakes win lifted San Jose over the Dynamo in the West and fueled a 2-1-1 overall record in the month of June.
