MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes weekly update

April 26, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


After two straight road games, the Earthquakes return home to Spartan Stadium for a Saturday, May 1 match-up against 14-year old phenom Freddy Adu and D.C. United at 1:00 p.m. PT. The Quakes dropped their second game of the year on Saturday to the Colorado Rapids 1-0. The Earthquakes match vs. D.C. United will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and will be tape-delayed on KZSF 1370 AM (Spanish) following the San Francisco Giants game.

Earthquakes All-Time Record vs. D.C. United
MLS Regular Season: 10-8-2
Home: 5-2-2
Away: 5-6-0
Shootout: 3-0 (1996-99)
Overtime: 0-0-1 (2000-2003)
Playoffs: 0-0-0; U.S. Open Cup: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose - 31, D.C. United - 36

Injury Report/Suspensions
Out: Chris Ronér (R - ankle surgery); Eddie Robinson (L - ruptured tendon of left hamstring)
Questionable: Todd Dunivant (L - quadriceps strain)

Last Match

Colorado Rapids 1, Earthquakes 0; Saturday, April 24, 2004; Invesco Field at Mile High; Denver, Colo.

The San Jose Earthquakes fell 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids as a Chris Henderson first-half goal was enough to give Colorado the victory at Invesco Field at Mile High. In the tenth minute, Colorado appeared to take the lead when Kyle Beckerman redirected a cross into the net with his heel. The goal was disallowed, however, for offsides, keeping the game scoreless. The Quakes defense suffered a blow in the 22nd minute when center back Eddie Robinson suffered a serious leg injury while chasing down a Rapids attacker. Robinson managed to crawl off the field, but had to be carried back to the San Jose bench. In the 26th minute, Beckerman played the ball 50 yards downfield to Henderson, who ran onto the ball on the right side of the field with no defenders in sight. Henderson's low drive from inside the penalty area beat San Jose goalkeeper Pat Onstad just inside his right-hand post. The Earthquakes tried to answer the goal, pushing forward with urgency for the last 20 minutes of the half. Their best chance came in the 36th minute when De Rosario took a short pass from Donovan and then beat three Rapids defenders through the box before sending a shot just high and wide. In the closing seconds, the Earthquakes had perhaps their best chance of the game, but Troy Dayak's header was grabbed by Cannon.

Last Match vs. D.C. United

D.C. United 2, Earthquakes 1; Saturday, April 3, 2004; R.F.K. Stadium; Washington, D.C.

The defending MLS Cup champion San Jose Earthquakes dropped a tight 2-1 decision to D.C. United on opening day in the official kickoff to the 2004 Major League Soccer season. After a cautious start to the game by both sides, United broke open the scoring in the 12th minute through Moreno. After drawing a foul on the left attacking flank, it was Moreno himself who nodded home a header that bounced inside the right post off a service from Earnie Stewart. United's lead was short-lived, however, as the visitors grabbed the equalizer in the 19th minute on a penalty kick scored by midfielder Ronnie Ekelund. Midfielder Richard Mulrooney sent the ball down the heart of the United defense into the path of a cutting Brian Mullan. United goalkeeper Nick Rimando came off his line to anticipate Mullan, but collided with the player instead, resulting in a penalty. Ekelund stepped up to drill the spot kick into the up per left corner of the goal, tying the score at 1-1. Moreno helped restore United's lead in the 39th minute. Moreno sliced a pass into a seam in the middle of the San Jose back line that found Alecko Eskandarian. The No. 1 selection of the 2003 SuperDraft beat his defender to the ball and lofted a left-footed shot inside the far right post for his fourth career goal.

Misc. Notes

In May

San Jose possesses a 16-16-6 all-time record in the month of May. The Quakes were 2-1-1 in 2003 in May. In 2001, the Earthquakes went undefeated at 4-0-2 for the best month in club history.

New Coach, Same Start

The Earthquakes are currently 1-2-1 to start the 2004 season, the first under Dominic Kinnear as the head coach. The last time San Jose had a new head coach, in 2001 when Frank Yallop took over in the pre-season, the Earthquakes also started the season 1-2-1 before embarking on a four-game winning streak and a 12-game unbeaten stretch, both team records.

Robinson Injury Update

Earthquakes defender Eddie Robinson was forced to leave the Quakes 1-0 loss to Colorado on Saturday in the 22nd minute with a painful left hamstring injury. Robinson underwent a MRI on Monday and the results showed that he has ruptured the tendon of his left hamstring muscle. He will be out indefinitely due to the injury and is scheduled to consult team orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Michael Oberlander on Tuesday to determine a course of action.

Donovan And Mulrooney With U.S. National Team

Earthquakes forward Landon Donovan and midfielder Richard Mulrooney are with the United States National Team in Dallas, Tex. as the team prepares for its Wednesday's showdown with Mexico at the Cotton Bowl at 5:30 p.m. PT. The match will be aired live on Telemundo and Fox Sports World. Following the game, Donovan and Mulrooney will join the Quakes in San Jose on Thursday to complete preparations for Saturday's match against D.C. United.

Arturo's Back

Earthquakes midfielder Arturo Alvarez is back with the club after missing Saturday's 1-0 loss to Colorado while with the United States Under-20 National Team. Alvarez trained with the U.S. all week in Sunrise, Fla. and played in two of the team's four matches. Alvarez played 90 minutes in the United States 1-0 win over Haiti on April 21 at Lockhart Stadium. The second-year player sat out the teams 4-0 win over the Jamaica Under-20's on April 22, but then played 90 minutes and registered an assist and the game-winning goal for the U.S. in a 2-1 win over South Florida Select on April 24. Alvarez also picked up a yellow card before scoring the game-winner in the 38th minute. On a free kick, Alvarez powered the dead ball around the South Florida wall and into the upper-left corner of the goal.

Quakes In The Community

When: Tuesday, April 27th from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Where: Laurelwood Elementary School in San Jose
Who: Craig Waibel, Ian Russell, Jamil Walker & "Q"
Details: Earthquakes mascot "Q" will be present at the school from 1:00 to 1:30 to get the kids excited about the players arrival. Waibel, Russell and Walker will be hosting a school assembly and awarding prizes from the San Jose Earthquakes to the kids that participated in a school wide reading contest. The three players will then challenge the kids to show off their soccer skills.

When: Thursday, April 29th from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Where: Downtown San Jose
Who: Earthquakes President & General Manager Alexi Lalas
Details: Alexi will be participating in the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" fundraiser presented by the Santa Clara Valley YWCA. Lalas and other male community leaders and residents will walk in high heels from Caesar Chavez Park in downtown San Jose to the YWCA's "Villa Nueva" offices on South Third Street to bring awareness to the problem of sexual assault in the community.

When: Sunday, May 2nd from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Santa Clara County Fair Grounds - Cinco de Mayo Festival - Castrol Oil booth
Who: Midfielder Ramiro Corrales
Details: Corrales will be at the Castrol Oil booth at the Cinco de Mayo Festival located at the Santa Clara County Fair Grounds signing autographs and greeting fans.

When: Sunday, May 2nd from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
Where: Food Maxx, #461 - 1972 Tully Road, San Jose
Who: Midfielder Arturo Alvarez
Details: Alvarez will be signing autographs and taking pictures for fans at the Tully Road Food Maxx.

Kicks For Kids Reception

The Earthquakes will host a reception for all of their Kicks For Kids sponsors on Saturday, May 1 at Spartan Stadium before their match against D.C. United at 1:00 p.m. PT. San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and Vice Mayor Pat Dando will be present to thank the partners. The Mayors Earthquakes Kicks For Kids program gives businesses and individuals the opportunity to provide Earthquakes game tickets to non-profit organizations that serve at-risk and underprivileged children throughout the Bay Area. Since the program's inception, over 10,000 children have been recipients of sponsors generous donations.

D.C. Drought

While United defeated the Earthquakes 2-1 in the last game between the teams on April 3, D.C. has not beaten the Quakes in San Jose in nearly five years. The last time the Earthquakes lost to D.C. United in Spartan Stadium was on June 3, 1998 in a 4-0 defeat.

Quakes vs. United History

The Earthquakes and D.C. United went head-to-head on April 6, 1996 in the historic MLS Inaugural Game before 31,683 fans at Spartan Stadium. San Jose opened the season and league history with a dramatic 1-0 win. Since then, the Earthquakes own a 10-8-2 all-time regular season record vs. United, going 5-6-0 at R.F.K. Stadium in Washington, D.C. The Earthquakes took the season-series vs. D.C. United in 2003 with a 2-1 record. Despite trailing in the series, D.C. United has out-scored the Quakes 36-31 since 1996.

Leading Scorers vs. United

Midfielder Ronnie Ekelund has six points against United with three goals, including a penalty kick in the 2004 season-opener. Landon Donovan has five points on two goals and one assist vs. United in seven games in his career. Midfielder Ian Russell has four points vs. D.C., with one goal and two assists.

United Leaders vs. Quakes

Jaime Moreno leads D.C. United with 19 points against the Earthquakes in his career, including seven goals. Midfielder Ben Olsen has five points on two goals and an assist in 11 games while Eliseo Quintanilla has four points on two goals in four games.

Earthquakes - D.C. United Connections

Earthquakes defender Jeff Agoos played with D.C. United from 1996-2000, winning three MLS Cup Championships. While with D.C., Agoos played with current United assistant coach Mark Simpson ...United forward Ronald Cerritos played for San Jose from 1997-2001, winning one MLS Cup Championship. Cerritos is still the club's all-time leading goal-scorer ... United defender Ryan Nelsen attended Stanford University from 1997-2000 and played for the Cardinal Quakes defender Todd Dunivant ... Earthquakes midfielder Ramiro Corrales played with United defender Mike Petke on the MetroStars from 1998-2000 ... United defender Brandon Prideaux played at the University of Washington with the Earthquakes Wes Hart, Ian Russell and Craig Waibel.

Levesque To Seattle

The Earthquakes announced that second-year forward Roger Levesque has officially been loaned to the Seattle Sounders of the A-League for the remainder of the A-League season. Levesque will re-join the Quakes following the Sounders season. Levesque appeared in three games for San Jose during his rookie year in 2003 after recovering from a torn ACL. Levesque played in six regular season matches for Seattle in 2003, scoring two goals and notching one assist.

Halftime Success

If the Earthquakes enter the half-time break with the lead, recent history suggests they will keep it. Since the beginning of the 2000 season, the Earthquakes are 35-0-4 in games when leading at the half, including 8-0-1 in 2003.

Making The First One Count

The Earthquakes were 25-2-2 in 2001 and 2002 when finding the back of the net first. The Quakes only gave up leads two times in 2002, losing 2-1 to Los Angeles on July 4 and falling 2-1 to Kansas City on July 27. The team continued that trend in 2003, possessing an 11-0-1 mark in the regular season when they scored the first goal. Dating back to the 2000 season, the Earthquakes own a 39-2-3 record in their last 44 matches when they score the first goal of the game. The Quakes are also impressive in the playoffs when scoring first, posting a 6-0-0 record.

"We Believe" - The Story of the 2003 San Jose Earthquakes DVD on Sale Now

For the first time ever, Earthquakes fans can relive the Quakes incredible ride to the 2003 MLS Cup Championship with "We Believe, The Story of the 2003 San Jose Earthquakes." This special two-disc DVD set captures all of the drama and excitement from the Earthquakes unbelievable season. In addition to a 33-minute season in review that includes player interviews and game action, Disc One features an exclusive behind the scenes package as well as a highlight reel. Disc Two of this one-of-a kind set is the original television broadcast of the "Greatest Game In MLS History," the Earthquakes dramatic 5-2 win over Los Angeles in the Western Conference Semifinals on Nov. 9, 2003. Earthquakes fans can Believe Again with this extraordinary two-disc DVD set. Fans can purchase this special two DVD set on the Earthquakes website at sjearthquakes.com or by calling 408-985-GOAL.

Earthquakes vs. Sporting

The Earthquakes announced that the club will face the legendary Portuguese team Sporting Club of Portugal on Wednesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. PT. The game will mark the first-ever match between the Quakes and Sporting, which is currently second in the Portuguese first division. Advanced ticket prices for the Earthquakes vs. Sporting Club of Portugal game are $45, $35, $28 and $20. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Earthquakes Ticket Office at 100 North Almaden Ave. in downtown San Jose, by logging on to www.sjearthquakes.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at 408-998-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625-TIXS, 925-685-TIXS, or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including Tower Records, Rite Aid, and Ritmo Latino.

Earthquakes Office Has Moved

The San Jose Earthquakes corporate and ticket offices are now operating out of a new location. The new address is 100 North Almaden Ave. San Jose, CA 95110. The Earthquakes ticket number, 408-985-GOAL, and web address, sjearthquakes.com, will remain the same for your convenience.

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 26, 2004


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