The Earthquakes host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Aug. 18 at Buck Shaw Stadium for Chris Wondolowski Bobblehead Night, presented by Wells Fargo. Kickoff is 7 p.m. PT on Comcast SportsNet California, Univision Deportes Network, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
San Jose’s Record in August
The Quakes are 34-28-8 all-time in August in MLS play.
Last Game
Earthquakes 0, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2; Aug. 7, 2013; BC Place in Vancouver, B.C.
After a scoreless first half, the Earthquakes allowed two goals in the second half to fall 2-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC. After a tight first half, the Quakes nearly broke through for the game’s first goal in the 55th minute. Clarence Goodson got on the end of a cross at the back post and headed one back across goal for Chris Wondolowski. The reigning Volkswagen MVP reached back for the ball but could only redirect it before Whitecaps FC midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and goalkeeper David Ousted combined to deflect the attempt and clear it away. Whitecaps FC scored the game’s first goal on a counterattack in the 60th minute. After gaining possession in their own half, Whitecaps FC quickly broke out and Reo-Coker found some space on the right wing. He sent a low cross to the center of the box and Camilo Sanvezzo slid to tap the ball into the far post for a 1-0 Whitecaps FC lead. Sam Cronin had a shot at the equalizer after some good combination play by the Quakes just minutes later. Cordell Cato found Alan Gordon with a cross at the back post and he headed it down for Cronin 10 yards from goal, but his shot was deflected by the defense and Shea Salinas’ follow up was saved by Ousted. Kenny Miller put Whitecaps FC up by two goals on a broken play in the 74th minute. Russell Teibert slid a ball to Reo-Coker, who fanned on a shot. But Miller pounced on the loose ball and put it past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch for a 2-0 advantage.
OPPONENT INFO
Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 20-20-7
Home: 13-4-6 (34 GF, 19 GA)
Away: 7-16-1 (23 GF, 39 GA)
Shootout (1996-99): 3-4; Overtime (2000-03): 0-0-4
Playoffs: 2-1-0; US Open Cup: 0-1-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 57, Sporting Kansas City – 58
Last Game vs. Sporting KC
Sporting Kansas City 2, Earthquakes 1; May 27, 2012; LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kans.
The Earthquakes rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit, but ultimately fell 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Simon Dawkins scored in the 72nd minute and despite holding 61 percent of the possession in the second half, the Quakes could not find the equalizer. Sporting KC came out strong in the first half, scoring just five minutes into the game. Kei Kamara found C.J. Sapong with a cross to the back post and Sapong powered a volley past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch. Just minutes before halftime, Kamara was involved again, as he rose high to drive home a header from eight yards out. Michael Harrington picked out Kamara with a cross and he finished to make it 2-0 heading into intermission. San Jose’s strong second half culminated in Dawkins’ goal with under 20 minutes to go. Ramiro Corrales knocked a header down to Dawkins, who took a touch around a defender, before curling a shot to the far post over a diving Jimmy Nielsen. Despite some late pressure, San Jose could not replicate their late comeback from Wednesday night in Los Angeles against the Galaxy. The Quakes scored three times in the final 15 minutes to beat the Galaxy 3-2 at The Home Depot Center on May 23.
Sporting Kansas City Scouting Report
Sporting Kansas City (11-7-6, 39 pts.) enters Sunday’s match atop the Eastern Conference. SKC is coming off a 3-0 win over the New England Revolution. Striker Kei Kamara scored a brace in that match while midfielder Benny Feilhaber tacked on the final goal. After returning from his loan to English Premier League side Norwich City, Kamara has scored seven goals for Sporting KC, second on the team to Argentine Designated Player Claudio Bieler. Meanwhile, midfielder Graham Zusi leads the team with six assists. Sporting KC has been one of the top teams on the road in the league this season with a +2 goal differential and a record of 5-3-3.
History of the Quakes – Sporting Kansas City Rivalry
The Earthquakes are 20-19-7 all-time against Sporting Kansas City, including 7-15-1 on the road and 0-1-0 through one meeting at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park … San Jose has not won at Kansas City since rejoining MLS in 2008 … The Quakes last won at Kansas City on Aug. 14, 2004, a 2-0 shutout at Arrowhead Stadium through a Landon Donovan brace, losing six straight in MLS play and eight straight there in all competitions since then … San Jose and Sporting, then known as the Kansas City Wiz (later Kansas City Wizards), were two of the 10 original clubs during the inaugural 1996 MLS season … The first meeting between the sides was a thriller on April 21, 2006, at Spartan Stadium … With the game tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, the Clash fell in a lengthy shootout by a score of 8-7 … San Jose’s first win against Kansas City came later that season on May 29, 2-1 at Spartan Stadium, thanks to an Eric Wynalda brace … The teams have faced off twice in the postseason … The Quakes won 3-2 at Spartan Stadium on Nov. 15, 2003, on a 117th-minute Landon Donovan goal in sudden-death overtime, during the Western Conference Finals en route to their second MLS Cup title … The two teams met again in the 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs for a two-game Western Conference Semifinals series … The Quakes took a 2-0 decision in their home leg on Oct. 24, but were then eliminated on aggregate following a 3-0 Wizards victory six days later at Arrowhead Stadium, with current Quake Khari Stephenson grabbing the opener and Jack Jewsbury scoring the all-important third goal in second-half stoppage time … Chris Wondolowski tallied the goal that sealed his first Golden Boot award during the 2010 regular-season finale on Oct. 23 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, his 18th of the year … The Earthquakes played in the second-ever MLS match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on June 17, 2011, falling 1-0 with C.J. Sapong re-directing a free kick from Graham Zusi for the only goal of the match in the 31st minute … San Jose fell 2-1 on the road against Sporting KC in their lone meeting in 2012 on May 27.
Earthquakes – Sporting Kansas City Connections
SKC forward Kei Kamara scored two goals in 12 appearances for the Earthquakes in 2008 … Kamara also played with current Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch (2006) while in Columbus and Chris Wondolowski (2008-09) in Houston … Earthquakes defender Justin Morrow and SKC defender Matt Besler played together at Notre Dame from 2006-08 … SKC defender Ike Opara played for the Earthquakes from 2010 to 2012, making 35 appearances and recording three goals … Opara (2007-09), Earthquakes midfielder Sam Cronin (2005-08) and Quakes forward Marcus Tracy (2005-08) attended Wake Forest, winning the 2007 College Cup for the Demon Decons … Earthquakes defender Clarence Goodson and forward Chris Wondolowski played alongside Sporting KC defender Matt Besler in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup … That trio has also played with SKC midfielder Graham Zusi … Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham (2008-10) and SKC goalkeeper Eric Kronberg (2004-05) played for Cal … SKC midfielder Paulo Nagamura played with Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon for the LA Galaxy in 2004-05 and with Earthquakes defender Dan Gargan for Chivas USA in 2008 … SKC midfielder Jacob Peterson appeared in nine games for the Earthquakes in 2011 after arriving in a trade along with current San Jose players Alan Gordon and Nana Attakora from Toronto FC on July 14, 2011 … Peterson played with Earthquakes defender Dan Gargan (2010-11) and Earthquakes midfielder Sam Cronin (2010) for Toronto FC … Peterson also played with Earthquakes midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy (2007-09) and Gargan (2007-08) for the Colorado Rapids.
Earthquakes Leaders vs. Sporting Kansas City
Forward Chris Wondolowski has four goals in six appearances … Forward Alan Gordon has two goals and one assist in nine games … Midfielder Marvin Chavez has one goal in five games … Defender/Midfielder Ramiro Corrales has one goal and four assists in 26 appearances … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is 5-9-6 with five shutouts, including 0-3-1 mark in a Quakes uniform.
Sporting Kansas City Leaders vs. Earthquakes
Forward C.J. Sapong has two goals and one assist in three appearances, including the game-winner on June 17 … Forward Kei Kamara has two goals and one assist in eight appearances … Midfielder Graham Zusi has two assists in five games … Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen is 2-1-1 with one shutout.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Sunday: Earthquakes 5K/10K Challenge, Presented by Stanford Hospital & Clinics
The club will host its second annual Earthquakes 5K/10K Challenge, presented by Stanford Hospital & Clinics, benefiting The Health Trust of Silicon Valley and the San Jose Earthquakes Community Fund, on Sunday, Aug. 18. More information and a registration link are available at www.quakeschallenge.com. The 5K/10K Challenge begins at 8 a.m. with three options for runners of all ages. All participants receive a race t-shirt and access to a post-race celebration. The event is co-produced by Threshold Racing and Firstwave Events, the same companies that organize the San Jose Turkey Trot, Santa Cruz Half Marathon, and the San Jose Metro Triathlon.
Wondolowski Bobblehead Night, Presented by Wells Fargo, Slated for Aug. 18
The Earthquakes will host Chris Wondolowski Bobblehead Night, presented by Wells Fargo, on Sunday, Aug. 18 when the club hosts Sporting Kansas City at 8 p.m. PT. The bobblehead, available to 5,000 fans at the gates on Aug. 18, will commemorate Wondolowski’s memorable 2012 campaign. The Earthquakes and Wells Fargo are teaming up for the third-consecutive year for a commemorative bobblehead giveaway. The 2013 version will pay homage to Wondolowski’s record-tying 27-goal season and second career Budweiser Golden Boot. That haul also included an MLS-record 11 game-winning goals and a career-high seven assists. For his efforts, Wondolowski was rewarded with the league’s highest individual honor, the Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player. As a lead up to the bobblehead giveaway, from July 12 through July 31, 2013, San Jose Earthquakes fans can visit a participating Wells Fargo banking location, open a new Wells Fargo consumer or business checking account, and receive an Earthquakes scarf. Offer is available at over 100 Wells Fargo banking locations throughout Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties. See your local Wells Fargo banker for complete details. © 2013 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.
Earthquakes-Sporting KC Match on Aug. 18 Moved to 7 p.m. PT
The Earthquakes have moved kickoff for their home match against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Aug. 18 to 7 p.m. PT, one hour earlier than previously scheduled. The match will air nationally on Univision Deportes Network. Tickets already printed and distributed for the match will still be valid, but holders should note the time change.
CONCACAF Champions League Schedule
The Earthquakes will play four CONCACAF Champions League matches in group play after qualifying for the tournament by virtue of their Supporters’ Shield win in 2012. The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, Aug. 7 – Earthquakes 0, Montreal Impact 1 at Saputo Stadium
Wednesday, Aug. 28 – 7 p.m. PT – San Jose Earthquakes at CD Heredia (Guatemala)
Tuesday, Sept. 17 – 7 p.m. PT – Montreal Impact at San Jose Earthquakes
Wednesday, Oct. 23 – 7 p.m. PT – CD Heredia at San Jose Earthquakes
Milestone Alert
The Earthquakes are three wins away from their 200th in club history while goalkeeper Jon Busch is one away from 100 wins in his 13-year MLS career.
Iron Man
The Earthquakes have one player that has played every minute of all 24 matches this season, Jon Busch. He has played 2,160 minutes. Sam Cronin is the only other player on the squad to start all 24 matches; he has logged 2,071 minutes in the process.
New Stadium Update
Due to unforeseen conditions at the stadium site, the Earthquakes are pushing back the opening date of their new stadium to the second half of the 2014 season. With the change in opening date, the team will play eight games at Buck Shaw Stadium, one game at Stanford Stadium and nine games at the new stadium next season. Season ticket packages will now consist of 18 games, with 17 regular season games and one bonus game. For more information about season tickets for 2014, please contact the Earthquakes Front Office at 408-556-7700. During the demolition phase, the construction team uncovered numerous concrete vaults deep in the ground, used munitions from the FMC factory, steel beams and hundreds of concrete pilings. Due to the high water table at the site, the excavated vaults also had to be drained of water, causing more delays during the grading process. To drain one of the holes, over 600 tons of rock had to be used.
T-Mobile 4G Power Zone Back for 2013
The Earthquakes have teamed with T-Mobile for the second year in a row to create the “T-Mobile 4G Power Zone” at all home games for the 2013 season. The promotion will give fans the opportunity to purchase great seats for only $17 – a discount of $10 off the day-of-game price, the most affordable Earthquakes tickets available to the public. Through the agreement, T-Mobile has rebranded the Corner Flag Section 107 at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara as the “T-Mobile 4G Power Zone.” For more information, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/tickets.
Quakes President Dave Kaval’s Office Hours
Earthquakes President Dave Kaval’s office hours will continue in 2013. Fans can drop by his office at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 201 in Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesdays between 3 and 5 p.m. PT. Participants will be seen on a first come, first served basis. Be sure to read his blog, Kaval’s Kickoff, exclusively at www.sjearthquakes.com, and follow him on Twitter at @QuakesPrez.
Season Tickets on Sale/Priority for New Stadium
Season tickets for the 2013 season at Buck Shaw Stadium are still available. By purchasing season tickets for the final season at Buck Shaw Stadium, fans can enter the queue for priority seating for the Earthquakes New Stadium. Season ticket holders are currently selecting their seats for the New Stadium. To purchase season tickets or for more information, please contact the Earthquakes headquarters at 408-556-7700.
Wells Fargo Goals for Education
Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2013 through the Goals for Education program. The club has raised $6,250 so far this season thanks to 25 goals. The Earthquakes raised $18,000 in 2012 after scoring a club record 72 goals.
