MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Fall to the Houston Dynamo 2-1 on Wednesdsay Night

Published on October 15, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


HOUSTON -- The San Jose Earthquakes' playoff hopes all but disappeared Wednesday night as a 10-man Houston Dynamo claimed a last-gasp win at Robertson Stadium. The loss leaves the Earthquakes six points behind the Kansas City Wizards and New York Red Bulls for the two wild card slots in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs with only two matches remaining in regular-season play.

Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden scored both of his team's goals, on almost identical plays in which Holden was in the right place to corral a rebound off of the post and put it in the open net. San Jose forward Scott Sealy pulled the Quakes level midway through the second half.

San Jose held a one-man advantage for 79 minutes of the match. Houston forward Kei Kamara was ejected in the 11th minute for elbowing Earthquakes defender and captain Nick Garcia in the throat while jockeying for position during a throw-in.

Houston jumped out to an early lead in the sixth minute on Holden's first goal of the evening. Dynamo midfielder Geoff Cameron crossed the ball in from the left side of the San Jose defense for Kamara, whose sliding shot ricocheted off the post. Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon was forced to react to Kamara's attempt, leaving an open net for Holden's rebound goal.

Houston almost extended the lead in the 23rd minute, when Dynamo midfielder Corey Ashe worked a give-and-go with forward Brian Ching to get around Quakes defender Jason Hernandez. The speedy Ashe had a clear path to the goal, but Cannon came out and deflected Ashe's shot wide of the post.

Knowing that his team had to win to keep any playoff hopes alive, San Jose coach Frank Yallop substituted midfielder Ryan Johnson for defender Eric Denton in the 29th minute. Johnson took the field as a third forward, shifting the team to a 3-4-3 alignment.

The strategy succeeded in putting more pressure on the Dynamo defense, allowing San Jose to control the ball in Houston's half of the field and resulting in the Earthquakes' first shot of the match, a low attempt on goal from outside of the box by forward Arturo Alvarez in the 35th minute.

San Jose pulled even in the 68th minute with a goal from forward Scott Sealy. A slow Eddie Robinson backpass toward his own goal was nearly picked off by Johnson for an open run at goal, forcing Onstad to come out to the top of the box to muffle the threat with a sliding tackle. The resulting loose ball fell to Sealy, who quickly put a low shot into the empty goal.

The Earthquakes gave themselves plenty of opportunities in the remainder of the second half, but none found the back of the net.

Midfielder Shea Salinas almost put the Earthquakes ahead in the 72nd minute with a rocket shot from 10 yards out. Salinas' shot was aimed just under the crossbar at the near post, forcing Onstad to make a leaping save.

Cannon made a dramatic save in the 85th minute while backpedaling into position after the San Jose defense had apparently stymied a Dynamo attack. Houston defender Bobby Boswell found himself in possession of the ball just outside the box and launched a quick shot, catching Cannon off guard. Cannon, still backpedaling, fell to his right and reached out to knock the shot wide of goal.

Houston's winning goal came in the third minute of stoppage time in the second half. This time it was substitute Brian Mullan who sent the cross in for forward Nate Jaqua, with Jaqua's shot reflecting off the post and across the open face of the goal to Holden, who put it in for the game's final score.

The Earthquakes will next travel to Kansas City to face the Wizards on Saturday, October 18 (5 p.m. PT). The Dynamo will next face the Los Angeles Galaxy in Houston on Saturday (5:30 p.m. PT).

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 15, 2008


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