The San Jose Earthquakes will cap off a three-game road stretch on Saturday, April 29 when they take on Minnesota United FC at TCF Bank Stadium. The matchup, which is the first-ever between the two clubs, will kick off at 5 p.m. PT and be broadcast live on NBC Sports Bay Area Plus, KNBR 1050 and KZSF 1370.
The Quakes are looking for their first win on the road in 2017 following a 2-0 away loss against the Houston Dynamo last weekend.
OPPONENT INFORMATION
Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC All-Time
MLS Regular Season:
0-0-0
Home:
0-0-0 (0 GF, 0 GA)
Away:
0-0-0 (0 GF, 0 GA)
All-Time Scoring:
San Jose – 0, Minnesota United FC – 0
History of the Quakes – Minnesota United FC Rivalry
This will be the first MLS match between the Earthquakes and Minnesota United FC. Both clubs have roots in the North American Soccer League (NASL), albeit in different incarnations of the league. The Quakes played in the league from their founding in 1974 to 1984, back when NASL was the original Division I soccer league in the U.S. On the other hand, the Loons played in the NASL from 2010 to 2016 during the league’s second iteration as the country’s Division II soccer league.
Earthquakes – Minnesota United FC Connections
Quakes forward Marco Ureña and MNUFC defender Francisco Calvo and midfielder Johan Venegas were all born in Costa Rica and have featured for their national team ... Minnesota sporting director Manny Lagos played for the Earthquakes from 2001-03, winning two MLS Cups with the club ... Loons head coach Adrian Heath and assistant coach Ian Fuller were on the coaching staff at Orlando City SC while Earthquakes midfielder Darwin Ceren played for the Florida club (2014-16) ... Minnesota assistant coach Mark Watson served as the Quakes’ assistant coach from 2010-13, as interim head coach in 2013 and then as head coach in 2014 ... Earthquakes midfielder Jackson Yueill was born and grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota ... Quakes midfielder Cordell Cato and Loons midfielder Kevin Molino were both born in Trinidad & Tobago and have featured for their national team ... San Jose defender Shaun Francis and Minnesota defender Jermaine Taylor are both from Jamaica. The two, along with Quakes midfielder Simon Dawkins, have played for the Jamaican national team ... Earthquakes midfielder Matheus Silva and Minnesota midfielder Ibson were both born in Brazil ... San Jose defender Marvell Wynne and Minnesota defender Marc Burch played together at the Colorado Rapids in 2014 ... Quakes midfielder Darwin Ceren and Loons midfielder Kevin Molino played together at Orlando City SC during the 2014-16 seasons ... MNUFC midfielder Sam Cronin played for the Earthquakes from 2010-14 ... San Jose defender Kip Colvey and Minnesota goalkeeper Patrick McLain both played collegiately at Cal Poly.
EARTHQUAKES IN THE COMMUNITY
Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Sutter Health
Who:
Earthquakes representatives
What:
Get EQ Fit Opening Assembly
When:
Monday, April 24
Where:
Linda Vista Elementary in San Jose
Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Sutter Health
Who:
Earthquakes representatives and midfielder Tommy Thompson
What:
Get EQ Fit Closing Assembly
When:
Wednesday, April 26
Where:
Trace Elementary in San Jose
Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Sutter Health
Who:
Earthquakes representatives
What:
Get EQ Fit Opening Assembly
When:
Thursday, April 27
Where:
Oliveira Elementary in Fremont
Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Sutter Health
Who:
Earthquakes representatives
What:
Get EQ Fit Opening Assembly
When:
Friday, April 28
Where:
Olinder Elementary in San Jose
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
History In Progress
Saturday’s match will be the first encounter between the Earthquakes and Minnesota United FC in Major League Soccer history. San Jose currently holds an 8-6-5 record in their first-ever match against teams currently in MLS.
First Of Two
The Quakes will play one additional match against Minnesota this year when they host the Loons in their last game of the regular season.
Last One, For Now
Saturday’s matchup will be the last of a three-game road stretch for the Quakes. They will have two more stretches this season with as many consecutive games away from Avaya Stadium (July 4 – 24 and Aug. 23 – Sept. 9).
Neck and Neck After Eight
Only a point separates the Quakes (9) and Loons (8) in the Western Conference standings through eight games played in the season thus far.
Road Record
Chris Wondolowski is one goal away from leveling Landon Donovan’s record for most goals scored on the road in MLS history (63).
THIS WEEK IN EARTHQUAKES HISTORY
A look back on important moments in Earthquakes history that took place during the week of April 24 - 30
April 27, 2005 – Troy Dayak Announces Retirement
San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame defender Troy Dayak announced he would retire following the 2005 season on April 27, 2005. An original member of the Clash from 1996-98 and with the Earthquakes from 2001-05, he scored nine goals and notched seven assists during his tenure with the club. Dayak helped the Quakes win MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003, and the Supporters’ Shield in 2005. He was inducted into the Earthquakes Hall Fame on Oct. 22, 2011.
ACADEMY UPDATE
Last weekend, the Quakes Academy returned to action following their participation in the 2017 Generation adidas Cup, defeating the EBU Bay Oaks Academy across the board; the U-12s won 9-1 and 9-2, the U-13s won 2-0 and the U-14s won 5-1. Meanwhile, the Quakes U-15/16s fell to the Sacramento Republic FC Academy 2-1, while the Quakes U-17/18s drew 1-1 with their Sacramento counterparts.
The Quakes Academy will resume play next weekend, taking on De Anza Force’s U-12s, U-13s, U-14s, U-15/16s and U-17-/18s on Saturday. The following day, the Quakes U-12s and will face San Joaquin Valley Soccer Academy, while the U-13s and U-14s will take on Ballistic United SC.
NEWS ARTICLES
Soccer’s Final Four returning to San Jose’s Avaya Stadium
By Elliott Almond, San Jose Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/18/soccers-final-four-returning-to-san-joses-avaya-stadium/
Cannon has a blast during induction
By Adrian Monroy, Los Altos Town Crier
https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/sports/192-soccer/55161-
Quakes hire Costa as new head scout
By SF Gate, Juan Reyes
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Quakes-hire-Costa-as-new-head-scout-11079331.php
MLS teams commemorate Earth Day 2017
By Alicia Rodriguez, MLSsoccer.com
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/04/22/mls-teams-commemorate-earth-day-2017
Earthquakes fall again on road, 2-0 in Houston
By Tom Dart, The Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/22/earthquakes-fall-again-on-road-2-0-in-houston/
Cropper, Bingham shine as New England and San Jose end goalless
By Staff, AP
http://www.espnfc.com/report?gameId=471685
Reno 1868 FC Forward Dane Kelly makes USL History
By Julian Del Gaudio, KRNV My News 4
http://mynews4.com/sports/content/reno-1868-fc-forward-dane-kelly-makes-usl-history
