This Week
The San Jose Earthquakes (1-1-0, 3 Pts.) face their first road test of the 2012 season when they travel to take on Toronto FC (0-1-0, 0 Pts.) on Saturday, March 24. Kickoff at BMO Field is 10 a.m. PT, with the match airing live on Comcast SportsNet California, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
Earthquakes Schedule for the Week of 3/19/12
Monday, March 19 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Tuesday, March 20 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Wednesday, March 21 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Thursday, March 22 – Travel to Toronto, Ontario
Friday, March 23 – 1 p.m. – Practice at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario
Saturday, March 24 – 10 a.m. PT – Earthquakes at Toronto FC at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, LIVE on Comcast SportsNet California, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF
Sunday, March 25 – Return to San Jose
Injury Report
Out: Joey Gjertsen (R – knee surgery), Tim Ward (L – non-specific soft tissue injury).
Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC All Time
MLS Regular Season: 2-2-4
Home: 1-2-1
Away: 1-0-3
Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 10, Toronto FC – 11
San Jose’s Record in March: The Quakes are 6-10-0 all-time in March in MLS play.
Opponent Info
Toronto FC Scouting Report
Toronto FC was one of the last three teams to play its MLS opener, losing 3-1 at Seattle Sounders FC on March 17. TFC’s lone goal came from former Quakes forward Ryan Johnson, already his third of 2012 in all competitions. Despite the loss, TFC was still the talk of MLS last week following a 2-1 triumph over the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy in CONCACAF Champions League action at The Home Depot Center on March 14. The Reds thus advanced 4-3 on aggregate to the semifinal round as the lone remaining MLS representative. Johnson and Nick Soolsma accounted for the two TFC goals. The first meeting, played at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in front of 47,568 spectators, had ended in a 2-2 draw after the Galaxy rallied from an early two-goal deficit with Landon Donovan equalizing in the 88th minute to hold the slight edge heading toward their home leg in Carson. Johnson opened the scoring in that one as well for TFC, in the 12th minute with top draft pick Luis Silva doubling the advantage five minutes later. After opening the home portion of its league campaign against the Quakes on March 24, TFC will next face another home-and-home series against Mexican outfit Santos Laguna on March 28 and April 4, with the winner moving on to the CCL finals. Toronto FC head coach Aron Winter, now in his second season in charge, is former Dutch national team player (84 caps, Euro 88 title).
Undefeated in Toronto
San Jose is unbeaten in four matches against Toronto FC at BMO Field (1-0-3) since 2008. The Quakes’ first MLS match in Canada ended in a 0-0 draw on July 19, 2008. That result was followed by a 1-1 tie on Oct. 10, 2009. The Quakes then edged TFC, 3-2, on Sept. 25, 2010, with Chris Wondolowski scoring all three goals for his first MLS hat trick, and played to another 1-1 draw last Aug. 27, with Wondolowski again finding his way onto the scoresheet on an 87th-minute equalizer.
History of the Quakes – Toronto FC Rivalry
The Earthquakes are 2-2-4 all-time against Toronto FC, including an unbeaten 1-0-3 clip on the road … The two teams tied 0-0 on July 19, 2008, at Toronto’s BMO Field in the debut of former Quakes star Darren Huckerby … San Jose produced a 2-0 win on Oct. 25, 2008, in the regular-season finale for both teams … Toronto FC posted a 3-1 victory at Buck Shaw Stadium on July 11, 2009 …The Quakes earned a 1-1 road draw on Oct. 10, 2009, thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer by Cornell Glen … Toronto FC defeated the Earthquakes 3-1 again at Buck Shaw Stadium on May 29, 2010, though the Quakes returned the favor at BMO Field on Sept. 25 with a 3-2 decision as Chris Wondolowski registered all three goals … Both meetings in 2011 ended in 1-1 deadlocks … San Jose’s Simon Dawkins and Alan Gordon, then with Toronto FC but now with the Quakes, accounted for the scoring at Buck Shaw on April 9 … At BMO Field on Aug. 27, Eric Avila’s 32nd-minute goal was cancelled out by Wondolowski’s late equalizer in the 87th minute … The match on March 24 will be the only meeting in 2012 between the teams with the league’s unbalanced schedule … The Quakes will, however, visit Canada three more times this year, with two trips to Vancouver and their initial foray into Montreal to play the expansion Impact on Aug. 18.
Earthquakes Leaders vs. Toronto FC
Forward Chris Wondolowski has compiled four goals and one assist in four match-ups with Toronto FC over the last two seasons … The first three of those goals came in the form of Wondolowski’s first MLS hat trick to give the Quakes a 3-2 road victory on Sept. 25, 2010 … The only team that Wondolowski has scored more goals against in his career is Chivas USA (5), though he also has four markers against Chicago, New England and Sporting KC … Marvin Chavez had one assist against TFC as a member of FC Dallas in 2010 … Forward Steven Lenhart (with Columbus in 2009), defender Ramiro Corrales and midfielders Simon Dawkins and Shea Salinas have one goal apiece … Wondolowski and defender Jason Hernandez lead the team in appearances against Toronto FC with eight each … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is 3-1-3 with one shutout against Toronto FC for his career, and is 1-0-2 with the Quakes over the last two years.
Toronto FC Leaders vs. San Jose
Midfielder Eric Avila leads TFC in appearances vs. San Jose with six, and is the only current TFC player who has scored against the Quakes, having tallied the Reds’ lone goal in the 1-1 draw in the latest meeting on Aug. 27, 2011, in Toronto … Midfielder Terry Dunfield has one assist in his career vs. San Jose, as a member of Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011 … Goalkeeper Stefan Frei is 2-1-1 with no shutouts against the Earthquakes over the past three seasons … Reserve goalkeeper Milos Kocic is 0-1-1 in two meetings.
Earthquakes – Toronto FC Connections
Toronto FC was brought into MLS as an expansion franchise ahead of the 2007 season, with the San Jose Earthquakes rejoining the league a season later in 2008 after a two-year absence … On July 14, 2011, the Earthquakes acquired defender Nana Attakora, forward Alan Gordon and midfielder Jacob Peterson from Toronto FC in exchange for forward Ryan Johnson, allocation money, and an international player slot … Attakora and Peterson (Sporting KC) are no longer with the Quakes … Gordon’s only season in Toronto was 2011, when he played eight games before being traded to San Jose … Johnson played in San Jose from 2008 to 2011, scoring 17 goals in his Quakes career, including a team-best 11 in 2009 … Johnson, Quakes midfielder Khari Stephenson and TFC defender Dicoy Williams, all born in Kingston, Jamaica, have all suited up for the Jamaica national team … Johnson has seven goals in 18 career appearances for the Reggae Boyz, while Stephenson has three goals in 26 games played, and Williams has nine appearances … San Jose midfielder Sam Cronin was selected by Toronto FC with the second overall pick of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, and started 30 of 33 games played with TFC before being traded to the Earthquakes on June 21, 2010 … Cronin scored his only MLS goal thus far (6/13/2009 vs. NY) as a member of TFC, adding five assists … Fellow rookie midfielders Sam Garza of the Quakes and Luis Silva of TFC were standout teammates at UC Santa Barbara during the 2010 and 2011 seasons … Los Angeles native Silva (No. 4) and Garza (No. 6) accounted for two of the top six picks during the 2012 MLS SuperDraft … TFC midfielder Eric Avila is another California native from San Diego who played at UCSB (2005-07) … Quakes midfielder Simon Dawkins (Edgware) and TFC defender Richard Eckersley (Salford) were both born in England … Quakes goalkeeper David Bingham backed up Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei as a freshman at California in the 2008 season … Toronto FC defender Ty Harden played under current Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop as a rookie with the LA Galaxy in 2007.
Miscellaneous Notes
Earthquakes Fall 1-0 Against Dynamo at AT&T Park
The Earthquakes fell 1-0 against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at AT&T Park, a first-half penalty by Brad Davis the difference in the match. Davis netted Houston’s goal in the 14th minute after Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch was whistled for a foul inside San Jose’s box. San Jose wasn’t without chances in the loss, outshooting the Dynamo 22-8 over 90 minutes, including a 14-3 margin in the second half. Three San Jose players reached milestones during the match. Captain Ramiro Corrales made his 200th career start in San Jose, becoming the first player in club history to do so. Meanwhile, Colombian midfielder Tressor Moreno and Turkish forward Sercan Guvenisik made their first career MLS appearances.
Corrales Earns 200th Start for Quakes
Veteran defender and team captain Ramiro Corrales made his 200th career start for San Jose in a 1-0 loss against the Houston Dynamo on March 17. He thus became the 19th player in league history to draw 200 starts for one club. Corrales is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (218), starts (200) and minutes played (17,831). Now in his 11th season in San Jose, Corrales played in his 200th game for the Earthquakes on July 2, 2011, against the New York Red Bulls. He made his MLS debut as a 19-year-old on April 28, 1996, at the LA Galaxy.
Busch Joins 200 Club
Jon Busch became the second player on the current Earthquakes roster to make his 200th MLS appearance when he started against the Houston Dynamo on March 17. In his third season as the Quakes’ goalkeeper, Busch has now played in 200 MLS matches for Columbus, Chicago and San Jose, joining team captain Ramiro Corrales (275) in the 200 Club.
Moreno, Guvenisik Make MLS Debuts
San Jose newcomers Tressor Moreno and Sercan Guvenisik each made their MLS debuts against the Dynamo as second-half substitutes. Moreno came on for Khari Stephenson in the 63rd minute while Guvenisik replaced Sam Cronin in the 80th minute. The duo were both on the bench for San Jose’s home opener against New England on March 10, but did not get the nod from head coach Frank Yallop. Guvenisik originally signed with San Jose on Jan. 26, 2012 and Moreno followed suit one week later on Feb. 2. Guvenisik also made league history on Saturday, becoming the first Turkish player to appear in an MLS match.
Home Sellout Streak at Buck Shaw Continues
Although the San Jose Earthquakes saw their club-record streak of seven straight home sellouts come to an end against the Houston Dynamo at AT&T Park in San Francisco on March 17, their run remains intact inside Buck Shaw Stadium. The Quakes had extended their stretch of consecutive sellouts at their regular home venue in Santa Clara to seven with another capacity crowd on hand for MLS First Kick 2012 against the New England Revolution on March 10. The streak dates back to San Jose’s game against D.C. United on July 30, 2011, and also includes matches against Portland on Aug. 6, Colorado on Aug. 13, Chicago on Sept. 10, Sporting Kansas City on Oct. 1 and FC Dallas on Oct. 22.
Wondolowski Sees End to Career-Best Scoring Streak
With a 1-0 defeat to the Houston Dynamo at AT&T Park on March 17, Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski saw an end to his club-record streak of games with at least one goal scored. His 15th-minute game-winner against the New England Revolution at Buck Shaw Stadium on March 10 had extended his then-MLS-best run to six dating back to last season. From Sept. 24 to Oct. 22, Wondolowski scored in the Quakes’ last five matches of the 2011 campaign, with six strikes in all during that period. That five-game stretch tied Landon Donovan of the LA Galaxy for the longest in MLS in 2011, and was the longest active streak heading into 2012. The six games was the longest such run of Wondolowski’s MLS career, with a previous best of four consecutive matches. A tally against the Dynamo would have tied Wondolowski for the league record, shared at seven straight contests by Raul Diaz Arce (1997), Wolde Harris (2000) and Carlos Ruiz (2006).
Opara Named to U.S. U-23 Roster Ahead of Olympic Qualifying
Earthquakes defender Ike Opara was among 20 players named by head coach Caleb Porter last week to the U.S. U-23 camp roster ahead of CONCACAF Olympic qualifying from March 22-April 2. Opara was previously in camp with the U-23s from Feb. 19-29. He wore the captain’s armband and played all 90 minutes as the Americans blanked Mexico on Feb. 29, 2-0, at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Opara was unavailable to the Earthquakes against the Houston Dynamo on March 17, as the U-23 group convened in Nashville, Tenn., on March 13, with the deadline to finalize 20-player rosters set for March 20. The U.S. faces Cuba on March 22 (6 p.m. PT), Canada on March 24 (4 p.m. PT) and El Salvador on March 26 (6 p.m. PT) during Group A play at LP Field in Nashville. All three games will be televised by Universal Sports Network and Telemundo. The top two squads from two groups advance to the semifinal round, with the two semifinal winners earning berths to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, in July.
Earthquakes, Wondolowski Support Street Soccer USA
Two-time MLS leading goal-scorer Chris Wondolowski and Street Soccer USA, a non-profit organization that seeks to end homelessness through sports, have partnered to make a difference in the lives of the homeless in the Bay Area through the “One Goal at a Time” campaign. For every goal Wondolowski scores during the 2012 season, the Quakes star has pledged a $100 donation to Street Soccer USA (SSUSA), and is asking fans to join in his mission. Additionally, the Earthquakes Community Fund will match Wondolowski’s donations. Wondolowski, who has been a national ambassador for SSUSA since August of 2011, opened his 2012 scoring account with a goal in San Jose’s season opener on March 10.
Following Go-Ahead on New Stadium, Two Suites Remain
The San Jose Earthquakes have already sold 10 of 12 available field-level luxury suites for its new stadium, generating over $3.5 million in revenue for the project. For more information about the remaining suites, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/newstadium, email suites@sjearthquakes.com or call 408-556-7700. The San Jose Planning Commission voted 6-0 to uphold the Earthquakes’ Planned Development Permit on Feb. 22, paving the way for the club to break ground on its new stadium at 1125 Coleman Avenue.
Quakes President Dave Kaval’s Office Hours
Earthquakes President Dave Kaval’s office hours continue during the 2012 season. Fans can drop by his office at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220 in Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesdays between 3 and 5 p.m. PT. Participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to follow his blog, Kaval’s Kickoff, exclusively at www.sjearthquakes.com, and new this year, follow him on Twitter at @QuakesPrez.
New Quakes Jerseys and Other Merchandise Available for Purchase
Fans can purchase new San Jose Earthquakes jerseys and other merchandise by logging on to the club’s online store at earthquakes.yorder.it, or in person by visiting team headquarters at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220, Santa Clara, CA 95050. The Quakes’ first-choice kit in 2012 features a black top with blue trim, black shorts with blue trim and black socks with white hoops. The new No. 2 kit includes a blue top with black trim, blue shorts with black trim and blue socks with white hoops. The club’s third kit features a white top with black and blue trim, white shorts with black and blue trim and white socks with black hoops.
Earthquakes Youth Academy Update
Academy U-18s Earn Split in Southern California
The Earthquakes U-18s edged Chivas USA on March 18, a day after falling 4-1 at the LA Galaxy. Julio Cesar Cervantes opened the scoring against Chivas USA in the 17th minute. Following a 52nd-minute equalizer by the hosts, Jorge Soto grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 62nd. Cervantes also tallied the lone Quakes goal against the Galaxy after the home side had trotted out to a 4-0 advantage.
Academy U-16s Drop a Pair Down South
The Earthquakes U-16s suffered a pair of defeats over the past weekend, 2-0 at the LA Galaxy on March 17 and 2-1 at Chivas USA the next day. Both academy squads continue their lengthy road stretch in the Central Valley at Northwest Division foe Cal Odyssey of Clovis on March 24.
