The San Jose Earthquakes return home to face Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Avaya Stadium, presented by Wells Fargo. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CSN California, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.
Last Saturday, Sept. 17, the Quakes played to a scoreless draw at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to extend their unbeaten streak against the Colorado Rapids to 14 games. Goalkeeper David Bingham secured his seventh shutout of the season, moving him into a tie for second place on the 2016 MLS regular season leaderboard for shutouts. The Quakes have now captured at least a point in four of their last five road matchups.
OPPONENT INFORMATION
Earthquakes vs. Sporting KC All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 24-21-7
Home: 16-4-6 (37 GF, 19 GA)
Away: 8-17-1 (28 GF, 40 GA)
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 65, Kansas City – 59
Last Game vs. Sporting KC
Earthquakes 1, Sporting KC 0; April 24, 2016; Avaya Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at Avaya Stadium. Forward Chris Wondolowski buried a second-half penalty kick, his seventh goal in eight matches, to earn San Jose three points. San Jose got a chance to break the deadlock in the 25th minute. Midfielder Alberto Quintero broke free to set up an odd-man attack. He sprinted downfield and attempted a cross to Quincy Amarikwa, but his pass was intercepted by defender Nuno Coelho and cleared. Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham kept the match scoreless with a diving save four minutes later. Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer got a head on midfielder Benny Feilhaber’s chipped pass and Bingham fully extended to his left to tip the ball out of bounds. Wondolowski gave San Jose the lead in the 60th minute. Midfielder Simon Dawkins dribbled around keeper Tim Melia, but was taken down inside the box. Wondolowski drilled the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net, giving the Quakes a 1-0 advantage. Bingham snuffed out a few late chances for Sporting, finishing with five crucial saves and earning his third shutout of the season.
History of the Quakes – Sporting KC Rivalry
The San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City, 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 … The San Jose Earthquakes routed Sporting Kansas City 5-0 in their first meeting of the 2015 season at Sporting Park in Kansas City on Aug. 19 with a pair of braces by Chris Wondolowksi and Cordell Cato, and Anibal Godoy’s first career score … The Quakes shut out Sporting KC again in their last matchup up of 2015 on Oct. 16, with Godoy tallying his second goal of the season against them to lead San Jose to a 1-0 win at Avaya Stadium … San Jose defeated Sporting KC 1-0 at Avaya Stadium in their first matchup of 2016 behind Chris Wondolowski’s penalty on April 24.
Earthquakes – Sporting KC 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 midfielders Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi with 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 forward Dom Dywer as well as San Jose defender Jordan Stewart and midfielder Simon Dawkins are all from England … SKC midfielder Bernardo Anor and Quakes defender Shaun Francis both played together at the Columbus Crew SC (2011-2012) … SKC midfielder Connor Hallisey was born Granite Bay, CA … Sporting KC midfielder Paulo Nagamura and Quakes midfielder Matheus Silva are both from Sao Paulo, Brazil … SKC goalkeeper Alec Kann and SJ forward Quincy Amarikwa played together at the Chicago Fire from 2013-15 … SKC midfielder Brad Davis made 18 appearances for the Earthquakes in the 2005 season, scoring 2 goals … Quakes forward Chad Barrett and SKC midfielder Justin Mapp played at the Chicago Fire together from 2005-08 … Sporting KC midfielder Benji Joya was born and raised in San Jose.
EARTHQUAKES IN THE COMMUNITY
SoccerKraze Meet and Greet
Who: Earthquakes midfielder Tommy Thompson
What: Player Meet and Greet
Where: SoccerKraze; 797 W Hamilton Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
When: Thursday, Sept. 22, 1:30-3 p.m.
San Jose State Men’s Soccer Game
Who: Earthquakes Mascot ‘Q'
What: Meet and Greet and Halftime Show; San Jose State vs. UC Riverside
Where: Spartan Stadium; 1257 S 10th St, San Jose, CA 95112
When: Friday, Sept. 23, 7:00 p.m.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Déjà Vu
Saturday’s match marks the second at Avaya Stadium between the San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting KC this season after the home side secured a 1-0 victory on April 24, 2016.
Recent Success Against Sporting KC
Since 2013, the Earthquakes have amassed a 4-1-0 record against SKC, shutting them out in all four of their victories. The Quakes have outscored Sporting 8-1 in those five contests.
Shutting Them Down
No team in Major League Soccer history has shut out Sporting Kansas City more than the Earthquakes, who have done so a total of 20 times.
16 Years of Glory
The Earthquakes have not lost at home to Sporting Kansas City since Aug. 16, 2000 and have an 11-0-5 record with eight shutouts at home against Kansas City during that period.
Home Field Advantage
San Jose currently holds a 16-4-6 record against Sporting KC at home, keeping clean sheets in 14 of the 21 home matches dating back to 1996.
Bingham’s Wall
In 28 starts at Avaya Stadium, goalkeeper David Bingham has racked up an impressive 13-5-10 record with 14 shutouts. He is nearly unbeatable at the Earthquakes’ fortress this season, allowing just eight goals over 13 games with a 6-2-5 record.
Goals on Goals on Goals
San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski currently ranks second among all active players with eight career goals against Sporting KC. Quakes forward Chad Barrett is seventh with five goals.
Starts at the Top
Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear has earned 12 wins against Sporting KC in his coaching career, which ranks first among all active coaches and fourth all-time.
50 for Ceren
With an appearance on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City, Darwin Ceren will play in his 50th career game in MLS.
On the Leaderboard
Among the Earthquakes that rank near the top in various statistical categories in MLS are:
David Bingham – 75.4 saves percentage (5th in MLS)
David Bingham – 86 saves (9th in MLS)
David Bingham – 1.05 goals against average (t-4th in MLS)
David Bingham – 7 shutouts (t-2nd in MLS)
Alberto Quintero – 68 fouls suffered (t-2nd in MLS)
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 – 112 goals
2. Robbie Keane – 81
3. Alvaro Saborio – 71
4. Kei Kamara – 69
5. Bradley Wright-Phillips – 65
6. Sebastien Le Toux – 55
7. Fabian Espindola – 54
8. Thierry Henry – 51
T9. Dominic Oduro – 50
T9. Will Bruin – 50
Wondolowski Continues To Climb All-Time MLS Goals List
Chris Wondolowski knows how to find the back of the net. Here are the top-10 all-time goal scorers in MLS history:
1. Landon Donovan – 145 in 336 games
2. Jeff Cunningham – 134 in 365 games
3. Jaime Moreno – 133 in 340 games
4. Chris Wondolowski – 119 in 253 games
5. Ante Razov – 114 in 262 games
6. Jason Kreis – 108 in 305 games
7. Dwayne De Rosario – 104 in 343 games
8. Taylor Twellman – 101 in 174 games
9. Edson Buddle – 100 in 304 games
T10. Roy Lassiter – 88 in 179 games
T10. Carlos Ruiz – 88 in 182 games
Wondolowski Near Top Of MLS All-Time Game-Winning Goals List
Chris Wondolowski has a flair for game-winning goals. Here are the top-five game-winning goal scorers in MLS history:
1. Landon Donovan – 41 in 336 games
2. Jeff Cunningham – 40 in 365 games
3. Chris Wondolowski – 38 in 253 games
4. Ante Razov – 33 in 262 games
5. Jason Kreis – 31 in 305 games
Road Goals Leaderboard
Here are the top-five goal scorers on the road in MLS history:
1. Landon Donovan – 63
2. Chris Wondolowski – 60
3. Jeff Cunningham – 57
4. Ante Razov – 54
5. Jaime Moreno – 50
Goals for One Club
Here are the top-five goal scorers with a single club in MLS history:
1. Jaime Moreno, DC – 131
2. Chris Wondolowski, SJ – 115
3.Landon Donovan, LA – 113
4. Taylor Twellman, NE – 101
5. Jason Kreis, DAL – 91
Midfielder Marc Pelosi Undergoes Successful Surgery to Repair Chronic Tendonitis
San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Marc Pelosi underwent a successful surgery on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to repair chronic quadriceps tendonitis in his left knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. Tim McAdams and is expected to sideline the midfielder for four to six months.
Expansion Draft Details Announced as Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC Prepare for Inaugural MLS Season
Major League Soccer announced the details for the Expansion Draft as Atlanta United and Minnesota United FC prepare for their inaugural MLS seasons in 2017. The Expansion Draft will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET and consist of five rounds, allowing Atlanta and Minnesota to select up to five players each from the list of eligible MLS players. The 20 current MLS clubs will have the ability to protect 11 players from their rosters. These 11 protected players, in addition to Generation adidas players who do not graduate from the program at the end of the season and Homegrown Players on a club’s Supplemental or Reserve roster, will not be eligible for selection in the Expansion Draft. All remaining MLS players will be available for selection by the two expansion clubs. Each MLS club may lose a maximum of one player in the Expansion Draft. Once a player is selected from a club’s unprotected roster, that club is removed from the Expansion Draft process and may not lose any further players.
ACADEMY UPDATE
The Earthquakes Academy squads continued their recent success with strong performances against Juventus F.C. on Saturday, Sept. 17. The U18s team captured a 2-1 win and the U14s squad doubled up their opponent in a 4-2 victory, while Ricky Mendez recorded a brace to lead the U16s to a 4-2 win. Both the U13s and U12s teams also had good showings, holding Juventus F.C. to just one goal in 1-0 defeats.
The U18s and U16s will look to continue their winning ways this weekend with matchups against FC Golden State on Saturday and the LA Galaxy Academy squads on Sunday at Las Positas College.
