The San Jose Earthquakes head on the road this week to take on the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, May 13. The matchup, which is the first of two against the Rapids this season, kicks off at 1 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on UniMas, KNBR 1050 and KZSF 1370.
The Quakes enter the match following a 3-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night. Chris Wondolowski scored his 124th and 125th career goals, and ninth and 10th against the Timbers, making him the top all-time scorer against Portland.
OPPONENT INFORMATION
Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 28-19-15
Home: 15-8-7 (50 GF, 35 GA)
Away: 13-11-8 (38 GF, 38 GA)
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 88, Colorado – 73
Last Game vs. Colorado
Earthquakes 1 – 2 Colorado Rapids; Oct. 13, 2016; Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
The San Jose Earthquakes fell to the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Chris Wondolowski buried his 12th goal of the season, but a pair of goals by Rapids midfielder Kevin Doyle were the difference on the night. The Quakes and Rapids spent the better part of the first half feeling each other out, with the first shot on goal not coming until the 21st minute. Wondolowski created space on the edge of the penalty area before driving a low left-footed blast towards goal. Rapids keeper Tim Howard was able to make a clean save with several Quakes attackers looming. In the 34th minute, the Rapids nearly took a 1-0 lead on a corner kick, but defender Jared Watts’ close-range header sailed over the crossbar. Five minutes later, Colorado broke the deadlock. Defender Marc Burch sent a pacey cross into the box where Doyle met it with a diving header, sending the ball into the top corner of the net. Quakes defender Victor Bernardez did his part to keep San Jose within one just before the break. Rapids forward Dominique Badji dribbled past keeper David Bingham before sending a shot into a seemingly open net, but Bernardez tracked back to control and clear the ball off the line. San Jose nearly found an equalizer in the opening few minutes of the second half. Wondolowski’s curling free kick was parried, but not corralled, by Howard, leaving an open rebound just yards from net. Halftime substitute Henok Goitom was the first to the ball, but sent his first-timed shot over the crossbar. Wondolowski leveled the score for the Quakes in the 57th minute. After he drew a penalty kick, Wondolowski calmly drilled the ball past his fellow United States international and into the back of the net. The Rapids took the lead back in the 73rd minute when Doyle converted a penalty kick of his own for his second goal of the game. San Jose bombarded the Rapids net with chances late in the match in search of an equalizer, earning several corners and dangerous free kicks, but were unable to convert. The loss eliminates the Quakes from playoff contention with two games remaining.
History of the Quakes – Rapids Rivalry
The two teams played for the first time in 1996 and the Quakes swept the four-game season series, outscoring Colorado 9-3 in the process … Ramiro Corrales’ first career start came against Colorado on May 8, 1996 … In 1997, Colorado won three of four and swept the Quakes in two games at San Jose … Colorado dominated again in 1998 and had a memorable win at Stanford where they edged the Earthquakes 4-3 in penalty kicks … The Earthquakes returned the favor and beat Colorado 4-3 in penalty kicks in the first match of 1999 and they split the season series 2-2 … 2000 saw the teams split the series again with the Earthquakes winning the first two meetings … On August 25, 2001, the Earthquakes scored three goals in four minutes for their second win of the year against the Rapids. Manny Lagos scored his second goal of the match on an assist from Junior Agogo. Two minutes later, Landon Donovan scored on an assist from Ian Russell. Then, in the 40th minute, Donovan assisted Agogo for the fourth goal. The Quakes added one more and then cruised to a 5-2 victory … In 2002, the teams split the series … In 2003, the Quakes opened the season at Colorado and Brian Ching scored 53 seconds into the match and the Quakes were victorious 2-1 … 2004 began an unbeaten streak in which the Earthquakes did not lose to the Rapids from 2004-2010. The Quakes were 8-0-4 during the streak before losing 1-0 on August7, 2010 … The two teams met again in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, but the Rapids beat the Quakes 1-0 on their way to winning the MLS Cup … The Quakes were unable to beat the Rapids in 2011, with the Rapids defeating the Quakes 2-1 on August 13, 2011 at Buck Shaw Stadium and the sides tying 1-1 on September 24, 2011 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park … The Earthquakes swept their three games vs. Colorado in 2012, outscoring the Rapids 10-3 in the process … Chris Wondolowski scored a hat trick against Colorado on October 6, 2012 … The Quakes and Rapids tied 1-1 at Buck Shaw Stadium in their first meeting of 2013 … The Earthquakes followed with a 2-1 win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on June 15, the club’s first road win of the season and the first game on the sidelines for interim head coach Mark Watson … San Jose capped their 2013 involvement with Colorado with a 1-0 win at Buck Shaw Stadium on Oct. 9 thanks to a goal from Chris Wondolowski … The Quakes and Rapids tied 0-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on April 19 in their first meeting of 2014 … The San Jose Earthquakes picked up their third shutout of the season in a 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids at Buck Shaw Stadium on Wednesday, May 7 … The Quakes and Rapids finished two consecutive matches in 1-1 draws (9/27/14; 5/8/15) with both being played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park … San Jose extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games against Colorado with a 1-0 win at Avaya Stadium on August 14, 2015 … The Quakes opened their 2016 MLS campaign with a 1-0 home victory over the Rapids on March 6, 2016 ... The Earthquakes and Rapids played to a scoreless draw at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in their second meeting of 2016 … In their final meeting of the year, the Quakes fell 2-1 to the Rapids in Colorado, ending a 14-game unbeaten streak against the club.
Earthquakes – Colorado Rapids Connections
Earthquakes forward Quincy Amarikwa and defender Marvell Wynne both played for the Rapids … Colorado defender Bobby Burling played for the Earthquakes from 2009–11, making 48 apperances for San Jose … Earthquakes midfielder Cordell Cato and Rapids defender Mekeil Williams were both born in Trinidad and Tobago and have featured for their national team … Earthquakes forward Marco Ureña and Rapids defender Dennis Castillo are both from Costa Rica … Quakes midfielder Tommy Thompson played alongside Rapids defender Mike da Fonte during his loan spell with Sacramento Republic FC in 2016 … San Jose midfielder Jahmir Hyka and Colorado forward Shkëlzen Gashi have both featured for the Albanian National Team … Rapids forward Alan Gordon played with the Earthquakes from 2011-2014, recording 18 goals and 10 assists in 64 appearances for San Jose … Quakes defender Kofi Sarkodie and Rapids midfielder Dillon Serna both played collegiately for the University of Akron.
EARTHQUAKES IN THE COMMUNITY
Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Sutter Health
Who: Earthquakes representatives and midfielder Shea Salinas
What: Get EQ Fit Closing Assembly
When: Monday, May 8
Where: Briarwood Elementary in Santa Clara
Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Sutter Health
Who: Earthquakes representatives and midfielder Shea Salinas
What: Get EQ Fit Closing Assembly
When: Wednesday, May 10
Where: Millikin Elementary in Santa Clara
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Attacker to Watch
Chris Wondolowski has scored 11 goals in 20 appearances against the Rapids as a Quakes player, tied for fourth-most among all players in league history. Nearly half of those goals have been game-winners (5).
Unwanted Guest
Since Dick’s Sporting Goods Park opened in 2007, the Quakes have lost just twice in their 12 visits to Colorado.
Recent Dominance
The Quakes have lost just once in their past 15 matchups against the Rapids, going 7-1-7 against the Colorado club since Sept. 24, 2011.
On Fire
Chris Wondolowski enters the match after recording two goals and an assist against the Timbers on Saturday, May 6, earning him an MLS Team of the Week selection. His team-leading five assists are tied for third-most in the league. Three of Wondolowski’s assists have been game-winners, tying him with Portland’s Diego Valeri for most in the league. He is also currently the only player in the league with at least four goals and five assists.
Continuous Impact
Defender Florian Jungwirth followed his Week 9 MLS Team-of-the-Week performance against Minnesota with two assists against the Timbers last Saturday, earning him his third league Best XI selection already in 2017.
New Signings Delivering
Off-season additions Jahmir Hyka, Florian Jungwirth, Marco Ureña, Danny Hoesen and Nick Lima have combined to produce 48 percent of the team’s offensive output so far this season (6 goals, 7 assists).
THIS WEEK IN EARTHQUAKES HISTORY
A look back on important moments in Earthquakes history that took place during the week of May 8 - 14
May 12, 1996 – The Clash broke their San Jose attendance record with crowd of 31,728 at the game against Los Angeles.
ACADEMY UPDATE
The Quakes Academy went undefeated in all of their games this past weekend. On Saturday, May 6, the Quakes U-12s won 2-1 and drew 2-2, the U-13s won 2-0 and the U-14s won 6-0 in their matches against San Juan SC. While facing Nomads SC, U-15/16s edged out a 1-0 win, while the U-17/18s won 3-0.
On Sunday, the U-13s and U-14s defeated Ballistic United SC 3-2 and 4-1, respectively, while the U-15/16s and U-16/17s beat San Diego Surf by scores of 1-0 and 4-0.
The Quakes youth teams will be back in action starting on Wednesday, as the U-12s face Ballistic United SC. During the weekend, the Academy will face off against the youth teams of Juventus Sport Club and EBU Bay Oaks.
BURLINGAME DRAGONS FC UPDATE
Burlingame Dragons FC opened their 2017 PDL campaign on Saturday, falling 4-0 to the Fresno Fuego.
The Quakes’ affiliate will see an action-packed week, starting with a Wednesday matchup against El Farolito in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup before making a trip into the city on Saturday to take on San Francisco City FC.
On Sunday, May 14, the Dragons will host their home opener of the 2017 PDL season in a Mother’s Day celebration that will include free tacos. The match kicks off at 4 p.m. and will be Earthquakes Hall-of-Famer Joe Cannon’s first in charge at Dragons Stadium. Tickets are $12 and are available online.
