The San Jose Earthquakes fell 4-1 on Saturday night to the Kansas City Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark and are now set for an Eastern Conference Semi-Final showdown with the New York Red Bulls.
San Jose will host the Red Bulls on Saturday, Oct. 30 at Buck Shaw Stadium. The game time will be announced early next week. Fans can purchase tickets online at or by calling 800-225-2277. For groups of 10 or more, tickets can be purchased through the Earthquakes Front Office by calling 408-556-7700.
BUY: SJ-NYRB PLAYOFF TICKETS
WATCH: SJ-KC HIGHLIGHTS
READ: WONDO TAKES GOLDEN BOOT LEAD
READ: QUAKES SAVORING NYRB MATCH-UP
MLS MVP candidate and Danville native Chris Wondolowski scored his league-leading 18th goal of the season in Saturday's losing effort. Wondo tapped home a volley in the 71st minute off assists by Geovanni and Ryan Johnson.
The goal was Wondolowski's 10th straight for the Quakes, a new MLS record. Wondo broke former Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz's mark of nine, a streak he compiled in 2002.
Wondolowski leads the chase for the Budweiser Golden Boot, one goal ahead of Galaxy forward Edson Buddle. The Galaxy wrap up their regular season campaign on Sunday against FC Dallas.
Kansas City forward Birahim Diop scored a hat trick to help lead the Wizards, scoring in the 36th, 60th and 76th minute. A fourth Kansas City goal came in stoppage time of the second half when a cross deflected in off Quakes defender Jason Hernandez.
San Jose Earthquakes (13-10-7) at Kansas City Wizards (11-13-6)
October 23, 2010 – CommunityAmerica Ballpark
Attendance: 11,518
Scoring Summary: KC – Birahim Diop (Jonathan Leathers) 36; KC – Birahim Diop (unassisted) 60; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (Geovanni, Ryan Johnson) 70; KC – Birahim Diop (Craig Rocastle) 76; SJ – Own Goal (Jason Hernandez).
Misconduct Summary: None.
San Jose Earthquakes – Jon Busch, Chris Leitch (Ramiro Corrales 46), Brandon McDonald, Jason Hernandez, Tim Ward, Chris Wondolowski, Sam Cronin (Eduardo 83), Khari Stephenson (Scott Sealy 62), Bobby Convey, Geovanni, Ryan Johnson.
Statistics: Shots: 11; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 4; Fouls: 11; Offsides: 2; Corners: 4.
Kansas City Wizards – Eric Kronberg, Roger Espinoza, Matt Besler, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Leathers, Korede Aiyegbusi (Craig Rocastle 46), Jack Jewsbury, Davy Arnaud (Kei Kamara 71), Graham Zusi, Chance Myers (Josh Wolff 74), Birahim Diop.
Statistics: Shots: 16; Shots on Goal: 7; Saves: 3; Fouls: 14; Offsides: 6; Corners: 4.
QUOTES
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On the result:
“Overall, I feel that Kansas City deserved to win. Typically we are very difficult to break down away from home, although tonight it looked pretty easy. We prepared the team exactly as we have all season, you play to win and we just didn’t show well tonight. Getting beat is one thing, but getting beat 4-1 never feels good and we will just have to move forward.”
On the playoff matchup with New York:
“Well, we had a good game on Wednesday and we won 3-0. It’s all about getting it right for that first playoff game (against New York), let’s just get ready for it. We know a bit about them, having just played them quite recently. With their new additions, they are going to be tough to beat, but hopefully we can get a good home win in the first playoff game and see what happens in the second one.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On tonight’s result:
“I thought after our goal we were really pushing hard for the next five minutes, then (Birahim) Diop hits a wonder strike, and they (Kansas City) get the momentum right back. Soccer is a funny game like that sometimes. New York are a good team, and no matter who we drew, we know we will have our work cut out for us and we are going to have to make sure to do all of the little things.”
On his record-setting season:
“It’s a complete honor, and I really appreciate the guys on this team. They have really played some great balls in all year. Tonight’s goal was a great example, it was a great ball in by Geovanni and a great ball to him by RJ (Ryan Johnson). I really appreciate that type of service and I am thankful that I have been able to benefit from my teammates all season.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER JON BUSCH
On the loss:
“Plain and simple, we just got beat. What else can you say, credit to them (Kansas City). Hopefully for us it’s a wake up call for the playoffs. We are a good team, but we can’t just show up and play. In this league no one can just do that, we have got to be better, everywhere. Every single one of us, it just wasn’t good enough. We just have to take this one and throw it away.”
On the playoffs:
“We just need to pick ourselves up and get back to work on Monday, because now is when it counts. It’s not about who we play, it’s about us. We need to get our mental state sorted and get ready. It doesn’t matter who it is, it’s the playoffs. We just need to get ourselves sorted out and get back to the way we play soccer.”
