San Jose Earthquakes at Colorado Rapids
Kickoff: 6:30 PT, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO.
Television: Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area
Radio: 1590 KLIV (English), 1370 KZSF (Spanish)
Places to Watch
Jack’s Bar & Lounge (San Jose), Hyde Park Lounge (San Jose), Double D’s Sports Grille (Los Gatos), Danny Coyle’s (San Francisco), SF Soccer Cafe (San Francisco)
Colorado Rapids Scouting Report
The Colorado Rapids (6-7-1, 19 pts.) enter Wednesday’s game against the Earthquakes fifth in the Western Conference, eight points back of the second-place Quakes. The Rapids have been impressive in their six home games this season, losing just once to the LA Galaxy (4-8-2, 14 pts.) on April 21. Most recently, the Rapids fell 1-0 at BC Place against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 16. Sebastien Le Toux scored in the 80th minute with Colorado playing a man up after Darren Mattocks was sent off in the 60th minute. Colombian international Jaime Castrillon leads the Rapids with four goals on the season. Martin Rivero commands the midfield for the Rapids and has a team-high five assists.
Of Note
-The Quakes come into tonight’s game having been on a three week break from MLS play. However the Quakes have played two U.S. Open Cup games. The Quakes beat the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL by a score of 2-1, with a brace from Sam Garza. The Quakes then advanced to the Quarterfinals with a fourth-round win over the NSAL’s Minnesota Stars. This marks the eighth time in club history that the Quakes have reached the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
- Quakes defender Victor Bernardez and forward Chris Wondolowski return to the Quakes following a slate of friendlies and 2014 World Cup Qualifiers for Honduras and the United States, respectively. Bernardez appeared in all four of Honduras’ matches, scoring a goal on June 2 in a 3-0 win over El Salvador, and playing the full 90 minutes in both 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, a 2-0 loss to Panama on June 8 and a 0-0 tie to Canada on June 12. Wondolowski appeared once in his five-game stint with the U.S. Men’s National Team, playing the final 10 minutes in a 0-0 tie against Canada on June 3. Wondolowski did not suit up in the USMNT’s 5-1 drubbing of Scotland on May 26, the 4-1 loss to Brazil on May 30, or the 3-1 2014 World Cup Qualifying victory over Antigua & Barbuda on June 8. Wondolowski was an unused substitute in the United States’ second 2014 World Cup Qualifier, a 1-1 draw against Guatemala in Guatemala City.
-Through games played on June 19, the Earthquakes are tied for second in MLS with 27 goals scored, matched only by the New York Red Bulls. The Quakes are second in the MLS with 29 assists on the year, behind only D.C. United with 31. With 17 goals conceded, the Quakes are tied for the second best goal differential in MLS at +10, behind Western Conference rival Real Salt Lake with +11.
-Approaching the midway point in the season, the San Jose Earthquakes (8-3-3, 27 pts.) are second in the Western Conference, five points behind Supporters’ Shield leaders Real Salt Lake (10-3-2, 32 pts.) with a game in hand. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7-3-4, 25 pts.) is third, followed by Seattle Sounders FC (7-4-3, 24 pts.) and the Colorado Rapids (6-7-1, 19 pts.).
-Shea Salinas is aiming to make his first appearance with the Earthquakes’ first team since April 14, 2012. The speedy midfielder left San Jose’s match against the New York Red Bulls with a fractured clavicle after being tackled on a corner kick by opposing defender Rafa Marquez. Salinas played 90 minutes and scored a goal in San Jose’s 3-1 Reserve League loss against Chivas USA on June 8 and could make his return to MLS action on June 20 against Colorado.
Earthquakes – Colorado Rapids Connections
-Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni played briefly in 1998 with Quakes midfielder Ramiro Corrales for the Miami Fusion and on the U.S. National Team with Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch on March 9, 2005 against Colombia.
-Earthquakes midfielder Brad Ring (2005-2008) and Rapids defender Drew Moor (2003-2004) both attended the University of Indiana.
-Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens played with Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch in 2007 with Chicago.
-Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan played with the Earthquakes from 2003-05 and played with Chris Wondolowski in Houston from 2006-09.
-Quakes midfielder Khari Stephenson, Rapids defender Tyrone Marshall, and Rapids forward Omar Cummings all represent Jamaica at the international level, with Stephenson winning 26 caps, Marshall winning 82 caps, and Cummings winning 28 caps
-Wondolowski and Rapids midfielder Jeff Larentowicz were both called up to the USMNT this January for its games against Venezuela on January 22 and Panama on January 25. Wondolowski and Larentowicz appeared in both games, both 1-0 victories for the U.S.
-Quakes midfielder Tressor Moreno and Rapids midfielder Jaime Castrillon both represent Colombia at the international level, with Moreno winning 32 caps and Castrillon winning 29 caps.
@SJEarthquakes – Official account of the San Jose Earthquakes (#SJEarthquakes)
@QuakesMatchday – NEW! this season, follow for live updates on game days
@ColoradoRapids – Official account of Colorado Rapids (#)
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