TUCSON, Ariz. – The San Jose Earthquakes played their second preseason match in Tucson to a 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday at Kino Sports Complex.
San Jose dominated the aerial game in the first half, winning several headers from the services of Shea Salinas and Matias Perez Garcia. In pursuit of the game’s first goal, the Quakes enjoyed the majority of possession behind Perez Garcia, who dictated the game’s tempo in the middle of the park.
San Jose jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute. Shea Salinas whipped in a corner service into the box only to find Perez Garcia floating unmarked near the back post. With a flick across goal, Perez Garcia led Trialist #1 to a ball inside the six-yard box. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Trialist #1 comfortably tapped the ball in for an early one-goal advantage.
With lineup changes for both teams in the second half, San Jose kept pressing for a second goal. Substitute midfielder Leandro Barrera proved dangerous on the left flank, whipping in countless services across the mouth of goal.
Vancouver countered San Jose’s pursuit of a two-goal advantage with opportunities of their own, ultimately leveling the score through the right foot of Kekuta Manneh in the 66th minute. Stretching the field on the left flank, Manneh cut in toward the middle of the park and maneuvered through a barrage of San Jose defenders to place his strike low into the right corner.
San Jose goalkeeper Bryan Meredith stringed together a number of big saves for San Jose in the final stanza, none more important than a 87th near post block. Looming on the Quakes back post, Vancouver midfielder Octavio Rivero received a pass from the midfield and squared himself to goal. A couple feet from the endline, Rivero rocketed his shot toward Meredith who redirected the ball over the cross bar.
The Earthquakes return to preseason action against the Portland Timbers on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 9:30 p.m. PT at Kino Sports Complex.
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MLS Preseason
San Jose Earthquakes 1:1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
February 7, 2015 – Kino Sports Complex
Scoring Summary: SJ – Trialist #1 (Matias Perez Garcia) 29; VAN – Kekuta Manneh (Sam Adekugbe) 66.
Misconduct Summary: VAN – Kendall Waston (caution) 34; SJ – Brandon Barklage (ejection) 83.
San Jose Earthquakes: David Bingham (Bryan Meredith 46), Marvell Wynne (Pablo Pintos 46), Victor Bernardez (Jordan Stewart 62), Trialist #1 (Ty Harden 46), Shaun Francis (Brandon Barklage 46), Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi (Innocent Emeghara 46), JJ Koval (Trialist #2 46), Matias Perez Garcia (Tommy Thompson 37), Cordell Cato (Kris Tyrpak 46)(Trialist #3 83), Shea Salinas (Leandro Barrera 46), Adam Jahn (Mike Fucito 67).
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Ousted (Paolo Tornaghi 46), Ethen Sampson (Tim Parker 46), Kendall Waston (Pa-Modou Kah 46), Diego Rodriguez (Christian Dean 46), Jordan Harvey (Sam Adekugbe 46), Matias Laba (Mitch Piraux 46), Ben McKendry (Russell Teibert 46), Dane Richards (Mauro Rosales 46), Robert Earnshaw (Nicolas Mezquida 46), Kalif Alhassan (Kekuta Manneh 46), Darren Mattocks (Octavio Rivero 46).
