2015

Weekly Update: August 17, 2015

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The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 at Avaya Stadium on Friday night, recording their fifth shutout in the last six MLS matches at Avaya Stadium. Defender Clarence Goodson scored the lone goal of the contest, notching his second game-winning goal of the season. Forward Quincy Amarikwa, who tallied his second assist of the season and first with the Quakes, has now scored or assisted on each of the team’s last five goals. The Quakes’ most recent acquisition, Panamanian international midfielder Anibal Godoy, made his first start with the team and played 90 minutes in the shutout. 


The Earthquakes play two road games this week. In their first match, San Jose faces off against Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on Wednesday, August 19 at 5:30 p.m. PST. The game will be broadcast live on CSNCA and 1370 KZSF. The Quakes will then travel to take on D.C. United on Saturday, August 22 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The contest kicks off at 4:00 p.m. PST and will be broadcast live on CSN Plus, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.


Last MLS Game
Earthquakes 1, Colorado Rapids 0; August 14, 2015; Avaya Stadium, San Jose, CA

The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 in front of a sold-out crowd at Avaya Stadium on Friday Night. Defender Clarence Goodson tallied the lone goal in the 53rd minute, his second game-winning goal of the season. San Jose’s most recent acquisition, midfielder Anibal Godoy, made his MLS debut. The Panamanian international started and played the full 90 minutes, helping to blank their Western Conference foe. The Earthquakes also got a couple familiar faces back in the lineup, with Designated Player Matias Perez Garcia and Goodson each returning from injury. In the 22nd minute, Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas evaded several defenders on his way inside the Rapids penalty area and laid off a pass for forward Quincy Amarikwa. Amarikwa’s initial shot attempt was blocked, but his second shot forced a tough save by Colorado keeper Clint Irwin. The Earthquakes depth and versatility was tested early, as defender Jordan Stewart departed the match in just the 27th minute with a left ankle injury. Defender Shaun Francis, who started each of the past two matches, stepped in to replace him. Francis created a scoring opportunity in the 38th minute. He played a waist-high cross in front of net and Amarikwa’s glancing header went just wide of the far post. Colorado nearly took a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Midfielder Dillon Powers was on the receiving end of a long ball into the box and his header caromed off the cross bar. Just one minute later, San Jose grabbed the lead on a header by Goodson. Following a free kick by Salinas, Amarikwa took possession and lofted a cross to the back post. Goodson rose to meet it and headed the ball off the post and in. 


MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 Colorado Rapids

August 14, 2015 – Avaya Stadium
Attendance: 18,000

Scoring Summary: SJ – Clarence Goodson (Quincy Amarikwa) 63.


Misconduct Summary: SJ – Victor Bernardez (caution) 49; COL – Bobby Burling (caution) 65; COL – Sam Cronin (caution) 74; COL – Maynor Figueroa (caution) 84; SJ – Marc Pelosi (caution) 88.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham, Cordell Cato, Victor Bernardez, Clarence Goodson, Jordan Stewart (Shaun Francis 27), Anibal Godoy, Sanna Nyassi (Marvell Wynne 85), Chris Wondolowski, Matias Perez Garcia (Marc Pelosi 50), Shea Salinas, Quincy Amarikwa. 


SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 22; CORNER KICKS: 6; OFFSIDES: 1.


COLORADO RAPIDS: Clint Irwin, Bobby Burling, Sean St. Ledger, Drew Moor, Maynor Figueroa, Jared Watts (Marcelo Sarvas 46), Dillon Powers (Gabriel Torres 81), Sam Cronin, Vicente Sanchez (Charles Eloundou 62), Kevin Doyle, Juan Ramirez.


SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 17; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 1.


OPPONENT INFORMATION

Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 21-21-7
Home: 14-4-6 (35 GF, 19 GA)
Away: 7-17-1 (23 GF, 40 GA)
Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose –58, Kansas City – 59


Last Game vs. Kansas City 
Earthquakes 0, Sporting Kansas City 1; March 22, 2014; Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kans.

The Earthquakes lost their first match of the season 1-0 to Sporting KC night at Sporting Park. The Quakes, playing their fourth match in the past two weeks, battled KC to a scoreless tie at halftime, but allowed a goal early in the second half to fall to 0-1-1 in MLS play this season. Sporting Kansas City moved ahead 1-0 in the 57th minute on a penalty kick. After a cross in the box fell between a group of players, the Quakes were whistled for a hand ball in the box. Dom Dwyer stepped up and slotted it past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch to put Sporting KC ahead. Chris Wondolowski nearly equalized in the late stages as the Quakes attempted to mount a rally. Clarence Goodson rose up to redirect a loose ball into the center of the box and Wondolowski ran onto the ball and fired a shot that just missed the near post.


History of the Quakes-Sporting Kansas City Rivalry
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 … The Earthquakes took the 2013 edition of this matchup 1-0 on Aug. 18 at Buck Shaw Stadium with Chris Wondolowski scoring his fifth career goal against Sporting KC … In their only meeting of 2014, the Earthquakes fell to Sporting KC 1-0 after Dom Dwyer converted a penalty kick early in the second half. 


Earthquakes – Sporting Kansas City Connections
SKC defender Ike Opara played for the Earthquakes from 2010-12, making 35 appearances and recording three goals … Earthquakes defender Clarence Goodson and forward Chris Wondolowski have played alongside Sporting KC defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi for the USMNT … SKC midfielder Jacob Peterson appeared in nine games for the Earthquakes in 2011 after arriving in a trade … Quakes defender Marvell Wynne played with Peterson for the Colorado Rapids during the 2009 season … SKC midfielder Roger Espinoza and Quakes defender Victor Bernardez were both born in Honduras … SKC midfielder Soni Mustivar, defender Amadou Dia and Earthquakes midfielder Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi were all born in France … SKC forward Dom Dywer and San Jose defender Jordan Stewart are both from England … SKC defender Jalil Anibaba and Quakes forward Quincy Amarikwa both played together for the Chicago Fire in 2013 … SKC midfielder Bernardo Anor and Quakes defender Shaun Francis both played together with the Columbus Crew from 2011-2012 … SKC midfielder Connor Hallisey was born Granite Bay, CA … Sporting defender Amobi Okugo was born in Hayward, CA … Okugo and Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas both played together with the Philadelphia Union in 2010.


Earthquakes vs. D.C. United All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 16-13-6
Home: 8-4-6 (29 GF, 25 GA)
Away: 8-9-0 (25 GF, 33 GA)
Shootout (1996-99): 3-0; Overtime (2000-03): 0-0-2; Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0; U.S. Open Cup Play-In: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 54, D.C. United – 58


Last Game vs. D.C. United 
Earthquakes 1, D.C. United 2; July 11, 2014; Buck Shaw Stadium; Santa Clara, Calif.

Chris Wondolowski scored in his first game back from the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but it wasn’t enough as the Earthquakes fell 2-1 against D.C. United. San Jose peppered D.C. United’s goal with an 18-9 advantage on shots, eight of which were on target. However, United goalkeeper Bill Hamid was the difference with seven saves, several of which came from point-blank range. Eddie Johnson opened the scoring in the 12th minute from the penalty spot. Earthquakes defender Brandon Barklage was whistled for a handball in the area, and Johnson capitalized by slotting home his shot to the lower right corner. Luis Silva doubled the visitor’s lead in the 25th minute with a darting run to the near post and a flicked finish. Chris Rolfe played the cross in and Silva redirected the ball toward the far post with a slight touch for the goal. The Earthquakes pulled one back in the 39th minute with Wondolowski picking up his sixth goal of the season. Wondolowski took a pass from Khari Stephenson near the top of the box and curled a shot with his left foot. The ball deflected off a D.C. United defender and into the net.


History of the Quakes – D.C. United Rivalry
San Jose and D.C. United are two of the 10 original MLS teams from the inaugural 1996 season … San Jose beat D.C. in MLS’ historic inaugural match, 1-0, on April 6, 1996, before 31,683 fans at Spartan Stadium … In 2005, the Quakes were blanked by D.C. United at RFK Stadium, 3-0, on July 15, prior to reeling off a run of 11-0-3 en route to the franchise’s first MLS Supporters’ Shield … Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski scored a brace in a 2-0 win at D.C. United on Oct. 9, 2010, a result that clinched San Jose’s first MLS Cup Playoffs berth since the club rejoined the league in 2008 … In 2011, the Earthquakes won at RFK Stadium, 4-2, behind Steven Lenhart’s first MLS hat trick, with Lenhart also assisting on Simon Dawkins’ game-winner early in the second half … D.C. United returned the favor at Buck Shaw Stadium on July 30 as a Dwayne De Rosario brace gave the visitors a 2-0 victory … The result snapped a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) for the Quakes against D.C. United dating back to June 22, 2008 … In 2012, San Jose came back from an early one-goal deficit to defeat D.C. United 5-3 at Buck Shaw Stadium on May 2 thanks to braces from Chris Wondolowski and Steven Lenhart … In 2013, D.C. United defeated San Jose 1-0 at RFK Stadium … In 2014, D.C. United beat the Quakes at Buckshaw Stadium 2-1.


Earthquakes – D.C. United Connections
D.C. United forward Chris Pontius and Quakes forward Steven Lenhart are both natives of Yorba Linda, Calif. … D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud and Quakes midfielder Khari Stephenson were teammates with the Kansas City Wizards from 2004-05 … Arnaud was also teammates with Quakes forward Mike Fucito with the Montreal Impact in 2012 … D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell and Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski were teammates with the Houston Dynamo from 2008-09 … D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum went to Cal … D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson and Quakes midfielder Cordell Cato were teammates with Seattle Sounders FC in 2012 … Johnson and Quakes defender Clarence Goodson were teammates with the Dallas Burn in 2004 … Goodson (2000-03) and D.C. United defender Taylor Kemp (2009-12) both played at the University of Maryland … D.C. United forwards Facundo Coria and Fabian Espindola, as well as Quakes midfielder Matias Perez Garcia, were all born in Argentina … D.C. forward Jairo Arrieta and Quakes defender Shaun Francis both played on the Columbus Crew together in 2012 … Quakes forward Quincy Amarikwa and D.C. forward Chris Rolfe both played together for the Chicago Fire from 2013-2014.



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES


Clarence Goodson Earns Team of the Week Honors 
Quakes defender Clarence Goodson was named to the MLS’s Team of the Week for the fourth time this season after his performance against the Colorado Rapids on Friday. Goodson scored the lone goal in the game, making him the only defender in the MLS who has recorded multiple game-winning goals this season. 


Home Cooking
With the victory over Colorado on Friday, San Jose improved to 5-2-3 at home this season, including a 4-2-2 record at Avaya Stadium. 


Amazing Amarikwa
Earthquakes forward Quincy Amarikwa continues to prove the midseason trade to acquire him was a success. Despite not scoring in 14 matches to open the season with Chicago, Amarikwa has caught fire with San Jose, tallying four goals in six games and a game-winning assist against Colorado last week. He has now scored or assisted each of the Quakes last five goals. 


First MLS Start
On Friday, Quakes midfielder Anibal Godoy made the first MLS start of his career, playing all 90 minutes. The Panamanian international was signed on Aug. 6.

Lock Down Defense at Home
San Jose’s defense has been stellar at Avaya Stadium this season, allowing a total of four goals in eight MLS matches. With their clean sheet against Colorado on August 14, the Quakes have now shut out their opponents in five of their last six matches at their new venue [W 1-0 vs. VAN (4/11); W 2-0 vs. CLB (5/16); D 0-0 vs. DAL (6/7); D 0-0 vs. POR (8/2); W 1-0 vs. COL (8/14)].    


Drawing Free Kicks and Taking Them
Not only does Quakes midfielder Matias Perez Garcia take the majority of the team’s free kicks, but he earns them as well. Perez Garcia has drawn 64 fouls this season, the most in Major League Soccer.


Quakes Among MLS Leaders
Currently, several Earthquakes rank near or at the top of numerous statistical categories. Among them are: 
•    Matias Perez Garcia – 64 fouls suffered (1st in MLS)
•    Matias Perez Garcia – 4 game-winning assists (t-1st in MLS)
•    Matias Perez Garcia – 94 corner kicks (3rd in MLS)
•    Matias Perez Garcia – 6 assists (t-8th in MLS)
•    David Bingham – 80 saves (2nd in MLS)
•    David Bingham – 6 shutouts (t-4th in MLS)
•    David Bingham – 72.1 save pct. (7th in MLS)
•    Chris Wondolowski – 9 goals (t-8th in MLS)


Greatest Six-Year Span in MLS History
Including nine goals so far this year, Chris Wondolowski has tallied 95 goals since the start of the 2010 season, the most by any player over a six-year span in MLS history. Wondolowski still has the remainder of this season to add to his league record. Only three other players ever registered more than 80 goals in a six-year span – Taylor Twellman (91 from 2002-07), Roy Lassiter (88 from 1996-01) and Carlos Ruiz (81 from 2002-07).


MLS Goals Since 2010
Chris Wondolowski has been by far the league’s most efficient striker since 2010, leading the league in goals during that time span:


1. Chris Wondolowski - 95 goals
2. Robbie Keane – 66
3. Alvaro Saborio  - 64
4. Kei Kamara - 54
5. Thierry Henry – 51
6. Sebastian Le Toux - 50
T7. Landon Donovan - 48
T7. Fabian Espindola – 48
9. Dominic Oduro - 44
10. Dwayne De Rosario - 42


Kinnear Can Keep a Lead
Teams under head coach Dominic Kinnear are 124-11-43 when scoring first, a .817 winning percentage. As head coach of the Earthquakes, Kinnear has only lost twice when his team scored first, a 27-2-8 record overall.


Halftime Success
Since the beginning of the 2000 season, the Quakes are 108-4-23 when leading at the half, including a 4-1-2 mark so far in 2015. They were 6-0-2 in 2014, 6-0-3 in 2013 and an impressive 12-0-1 in 2012, with the only draw coming against Portland on Oct. 27 at JELD-WEN Field. In 2011, the club was 4-2-2, 7-0-2 in 2010, 4-0-3 in 2009, 6-1-0 in 2008, 7-0-3 in 2005, 7-0-1 in 2004 and 8-0-1 in 2003. Despite holding a 1-0 halftime lead on May 10, 2008, vs. Columbus, the Quakes were edged by the final score of 3-2. That game marked the team’s first loss since 1999 when holding a halftime advantage.


Making the First One Count
The Earthquakes are 107-13-31 since 2001 when scoring the first goal. The club is 5-1-1 so far in 2015, after going 5-1-4 in 2014. They were 11-1-3 when scoring first in 2013. In 2012, San Jose was 14-2-2, their two losses coming at Vancouver (2-1) on May 5 and at Montreal (3-1) on Aug. 18. The club was 7-4-5 in 2011, 12-0-2 in 2010, 6-1-5 in 2009 and 8-1-3 in 2008. Prior to 2010, San Jose also went undefeated in 2001 (13-0-2), 2003 (11-0-1) and 2005 (14-0-5) when scoring first. The Earthquakes were 12-2-0 in 2002 when finding the back of the net first, only giving up leads two times in losing 2-1 at the LA Galaxy on July 4, and falling at Kansas City by the same score on July 27. In 2004, the Quakes went 8-1-1 when scoring first, the best mark in MLS. The Quakes surrendered a 1-0 advantage and dropped a 2-1 decision at the LA Galaxy on July 4, 2004, losing for just the first time since July 27, 2002, when striking first. The Quakes are also impressive in the playoffs when scoring first, posting an 8-0-1 record all-time.


Earthquakes to Host Fatai Alashe Inaugural Goal Bobblehead Night on September 12
The San Jose Earthquakes will host a commemorative Fatai Alashe Inaugural Goal Bobblehead Night, presented by Wells Fargo, on Saturday, September 12 when the club welcomes in Seattle Sounders FC at 7:30 p.m. Fans will be given a coupon when they arrive to Avaya Stadium that they can redeem for a bobblehead upon exiting the stadium at the conclusion of the match. The bobblehead, available to 7,500 fans, will honor Quakes rookie midfielder Fatai Alashe scoring the first goal in Avaya Stadium history on March 22. This year marks the fifth consecutive season the Earthquakes and Wells Fargo have teamed up for a bobblehead giveaway.