This Week
The San Jose Earthquakes (8-3-3, 27 pts.) begin their quest for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title on Tuesday against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Stanford’s Cagan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT with a live audio and video stream available at www.sjearthquakes.com. Tickets for the match are $10 for Earthquakes season ticket holders and $15 for the general public.
Earthquakes Schedule for the Week of 5/28/12
Tuesday, May 29 – 7:30 p.m. PT – Earthquakes vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round, Cagan Stadium in Stanford, Calif., LIVE on www.sjearthquakes.com
Wednesday, May 30 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Thursday, May 31 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Friday, June 1 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Saturday, June 2 – TBD
Sunday, June 3 – Off
Injury Report
Out: Joey Gjertsen (R – knee surgery), Tim Ward (L – non-specific soft tissue injury); Doubtful: Shea Salinas (L – fractured clavicle).
Earthquakes in U.S. Open Cup Play
All-Time Record: 10-8
Home: 1-4 (5 GF, 6 GA)
Away: 9-3 (30 GF, 11 GA)
Shootout: 2-2; Overtime: 1-1
All-Time Scoring: 35 GF, 17 GA
All-Time Leading Scorer: Ronald Cerritors (4g, 1a)
Opponent Info
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Scouting Report
Fort Lauderdale (2-3-4, 10 pts.) enters Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup fresh off of a 7-2 second-round victory over PDL side Fresno Fuego at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on May 22. Four different Strikers scored in the contest, Aly Hassan contributing most of all with a hat trick while Polo Morales recorded a brace. The Strikers are 0-2-2 away from Lockhart Stadium this season and are currently fifth in the NASL with 10 points from nine games. In their last NASL outing, Fort Lauderdale jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute thanks to a goal from Mark Anderson before relinquishing the lead in the 69th minute for a 1-1 draw against the Atlanta Silverbacks.
History of the Earthquakes- Fort Lauderdale Strikers Rivalry
The Quakes and Strikers first met on July 12, 1977 at the Strikers’ Lockhart Stadium during in NASL regular season play … The Strikers defeated the Quakes 1-0 on that first meeting … From 1977-1983, the Quakes were 2-10-0 against the Strikers … The Quakes notched their first win against the Strikers on July 22, 1981, at Spartan Stadium … The Quakes won that match 3-2 behind a brace from George Best … The Quakes and Strikers have not played against one another since August 17, 1983 … The Quakes won that last meeting 5-3 at Spartan Stadium.
Earthquakes- Fort Lauderdale Connections
Quakes midfielder Khari Stephenson and Strikers defender Lance Laing have both earned full caps for the Jamaican national team … Quakes midfielder Jean-Marc Alexandre and Strikers forward Aly Hassan faced each other twice in college while Alexandre played for Lynn University and Hassan was at Nova Southeastern University … Alexandre’s Lynn University defeated Hassan’s Nova Southeastern on both occasions … Quakes forward Sam Garza (2010-11) and Strikers midfielder Alfonso Motogalvan (2005-08) both attended UC Santa Barbara … Garza and Hassan both represented the United States U-20 national team in 2008 … While playing for the Region III ODP team in 2008, Garza played against Brazilian side Flamengo’s youth team, which featured Strikers midfielder Peka … Quakes defender Sam Cronin (2009) and Strikers midfielder Nickardo Blake (2012) were both initially drafted by Toronto FC … From 2008-10, Quakes midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong and the University of Akron faced Strikers forward Darnell King and Florida Atlantic University three times in Sun Belt Conference play, with Akron winning all three games and Ampaipitakwong notching three assists … From 2005-08, Quakes midfielder Brad Ring and the University of Indiana had a 3-0-1 record against Strikers defender Scott Lorenz and University of Wisconsin-Madison … Quakes keeper Jon Busch (1994-96) and Strikers keeper David Martin (2006-09) both attended UNC-Charlotte … Busch, Ampaipitakwong, Quakes keeper Evan Newton, Quakes forward Ellis McLoughlin, Strikers defender Moises Orozco, and Strikers forward Abe Thompson have all represented the United States at the U-17 level … Thompson faced the Quakes three times during his MLS career with both FC Dallas and Sporting Kansas City … Quakes defender Justin Morrow (2006-09) and Strikers defender Jack Stewart (2001-04) both attended Notre Dame … Quakes midfielder Simon Dawkins and Strikers midfielder Patrick Otte both played their youth careers in England, with Dawkins playing for Tottenham Hotspur’s youth squad and Otte playing for Middlesbrough … Strikers head coach Daryl Shore faced the Quakes 19 times as an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire from 2000-10 … Shore’s record against the Quakes during this time was 6-4-9, including a loss in the 2003 MLS Cup final.
Miscellaneous Notes
Wondolowski, U.S. Men’s National Team to Face Brazil, Canada
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski and the U.S. Men’s National Team will face Brazil on Wednesday, May 30 (5 p.m. PT, ESPN2/Telefutura) at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Wondolowski didn’t suit up in the USMNT’s first match of five, a 5-1 drubbing of Scotland in Jacksonville, Fla. on Saturday, but could see the field midweek. Following Wednesday’s fixture, the U.S. will cross the border to take on Canada (4 p.m., NBC Sports/Univision) on Sunday, June 3 at Toronto’s BMO Field. Wondolowski will wrap up his USMNT stint with a pair of 2014 World Cup qualifiers, the first on Friday, June 8 against Antigua & Barbuda (4 p.m., ESPN/Galavision) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. and the last on Tuesday, June 12 at Guatemala (7 p.m., ustream.tv) at Estadio Mateo Flores.
FIFA International Break
The Earthquakes and MLS will observe a FIFA break beginning this week and extending through June 12. Immediately following that break, San Jose has its first bye week of the 2012 MLS regular season, which means the club’s next league match will come on Wednesday, June 20 at the Colorado Rapids (6:30 p.m. PT, CSN Plus).
Quakes Second in the Western Conference
Approaching the midway point in the season, the San Jose Earthquakes (8-3-3, 27 pts.) are second in the Western Conference, two points behind Supporters’ Shield leaders Real Salt Lake (9-3-2, 29 pts.). Seattle Sounders FC (7-3-3, 24 pts.) are next followed by the Colorado Rapids (6-6-1, 19 pts.) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5-3-4, 19 pts.).
Quakes Among MLS Category Leaders
Through 12 weeks of the 2012 MLS season, the Earthquakes are No. 2 in MLS in goals scored (27) and assists (29). With 17 scores conceded, the Quakes boast the top goal differential in MLS at +10.
Race for the Budweiser Golden Boot
Chris Wondolowski is tied with New York Red Bulls striker Kenny Cooper atop the 2012 Budweiser Golden Boot race with 11 goals. Thierry Henry is next with nine followed by MLS newcomer Saer Sene of New England and D.C. United’s Maicon Santos with seven apiece.
Take Advantage of the Red, White & Blue Mini Plan for June 30
Quakes fans can enjoy the best possible seating for the Earthquakes’ highly-anticipated meeting with the rival LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium on June 30, and three more home games of their choice at Buck Shaw Stadium this season in the Sideline section, by taking advantage of the Red, White & Blue Mini Plan. Packages start at $100 per person and include a commemorative Independence Day scarf. To learn more about this plan, click HERE, call (408) 556-7700 or email seasontickets@sjearthquakes.com.
Earthquakes Set to Host Swansea City on July 31
The San Jose Earthquakes have announced their 2012 international friendly, with Welsh side Swansea City of the English Premier League coming to Buck Shaw Stadium on Tuesday, July 31, for a 7:30 p.m. kick-off. Individual tickets for the match are on sale now, and can be purchased by visiting sjearthquakes.com or by calling Tickets.com at (800) 225-2277. Season ticket holders should use their Bonus Game “A” ticket for the contest. Swansea City, founded in 1912, is the first Welsh club to reach the Premiership since the league was formed. The Swans, who have lifted the Welsh Cup 10 times, went 12-15-11 this season, beating Liverpool on the last day of an impressive debut Premier League campaign to place 11th in the table.
Date Change for Seattle Return
The Earthquakes’ third and final meeting of 2012 with Sounders FC at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field has been moved to Saturday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m. PT. The game was originally scheduled for the following night.
Tickets on Sale Now for LA Galaxy at Buck Shaw Stadium
The Earthquakes are now selling tickets to both season tickets holders and the general public to their Oct. 21 match against the LA Galaxy at Buck Shaw Stadium. The match, presented by Wells Fargo, marks the end of San Jose’s 2012 regular-season home slate.
Wells Fargo Goals for Education
Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2012 through the Goals for Education program. With 27 goals through 14 games, the donated total for this season already stands at $6,750. Thanks to 40 goals in 2011, the partnership raised $10,000 for local youth soccer and athletic development programs a year ago.
Earthquakes Youth Academy Update
National Team Call-Ups for Academy Pair
Earthquakes Youth Development Academy U-16 players Amir Bashti (Cuprtino, Calif.) and JT Marcinkowski (Alamo, Calif.) played their first game with the U.S. U-15 Boys on Saturday, each earning a starting spot as the Americans cruised to a 5-0 win against Feyenoord. Bashti scored the fourth goal for the U.S., who will begin the Marveld Tournament in Holland on June 1. The U.S. was drawn into a pool with Dutch sides FC Twente, Feyenoord and Ajax, Spanish giants Real Madrid and German outfit Bayer Leverkusen.
TopDrawerSoccer.com Rankings
Earthquakes Youth Development Academy product Angel Heredia (San Jose, Calif.) is the No. 1 player in California and Hawaii in the class of 2014, according to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s rankings. Heredia is ranked No. 11 nationally in his class by TDS. Earthquakes goalkeeper Nedin Tucakovic (San Jose, Calif.) also made the list at No. 4. The Earthquakes are also well represented in the class of 2015 California and Hawaii rankings with Amir Bashti (Cupertino, Calif.) topping the list, JT Marcinkowski (Alamo, Calif.) at No. 5 and Remi Prieur at No. 7.
