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MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Weekly Update

October 27, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


The San Jose Earthquakes wrapped up the 2008 season with a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC last weekend. Ryan Cochrane and Shea Salinas scored in the finale at Buck Shaw Stadium, as the Quakes wrapped up their season as the most successful expansion team of this decade. They finished the season with an 8-13-9 record and 33 points.

Last Match

Earthquakes 2, Toronto FC 0; October 25; Buck Shaw Stadium; Santa Clara, Calif.

The San Jose Earthquakes finished the season with a 2-0 win over Toronto FC on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium. Ryan Cochrane scored for the Earthquakes in the 49th minute and Shea Salinas scored for the second straight game, netting a penalty kick to close out the game. The home side dominated the match for long stretches, only to be repeatedly denied by TFC 'keeper Greg Sutton. San Jose finally found a way through four minutes into the second half, when Cochrane headed home Ronnie O'Brien's corner kick. Salinas then put the game away with a stoppage-time penalty. Despite making more lineup alterations, it was the home side that settled first. Darren Huckerby worked a one-two with Scott Sealy in the second minute, but the Englishman's subsequent cross was just too high for Ryan Johnson. A Corrales shot from just outside the box was tipped over the bar by the Toronto goalkeeper in the 12th minute, and Sutton had to be at his best again seven minutes later, batting away a Ned Grabavoy blast. The Canadian international then completed a trifecta of saves in the 29th minute, parrying away a fierce drive by Johnson. With the Quakes pouring forward, opportunities existed for TFC to nail San Jose on the break, but suspect passing out of midfield repeatedly stymied their efforts. Shortly after the break, the Quakes finally found a way past Sutton, with Cochrane nodding home O'Brien's corner kick from the right wing for his second goal of the season. Toronto showed a renewed sense of urgency, with a Rohan Ricketts cross nearly connecting with a TFC attacker. But it was San Jose which continued to create the better chances. O'Brien sprung Johnson on a breakaway in the 56th minute, but the Jamaican shot wide of the TFC goal. O'Brien nearly scored himself three minutes later, but his pile driver was palmed away by Sutton. The flurry was finished up in the 62nd minute, when substitute Alvarez saw his shot on the turn carom off the crossbar. San Jose made their last substitution of the night in the 67th minute, with Salinas replacing Huckerby. The Englishman was announced as the team MVP just before game time, and came off to raucous applause from the San Jose fans. San Jose finally put the game away in stoppage time. Another twisting run down the left wing by Salinas saw him upended in the box by Toronto defender Kevin Harmse. The rookie then rifled home the ensuing spot kick for his second goal in as many games, leaving the Quakes fans with one last reason to celebrate.

Misc. Notes

Best Expansion Team

The San Jose Earthquakes concluded the 2008 season Saturday night with a 2-0 win over Toronto FC to cap the best season by an expansion team this decade. Including the San Jose Earthquakes, four expansion teams have entered the league since 2005. In 2005, Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake earned four and five wins, respectively, while Chivas picked up 18 points and RSL 20 points. Last season, Toronto FC had six wins and 25 points for the entire season. The Earthquakes finished the year with the most wins (8) and points (33) for an expansion team this decade. They also scored more goals (32) and allowed fewer goals (38) than any of the four expansion teams this decade.

Unbeaten in Nine

The Earthquakes posted the league's longest unbeaten streak this season and the second longest unbeaten run ever by an expansion team. The Chicago Fire had an 11-game unbeaten run as an expansion team in 1998. The streak was the third-longest unbeaten streak in team history. The team posted a 14-game unbeaten run from July 20-Oct. 15, 2005 and a 12-game unbeaten run from April 28-July 4, 2001.

Shea Salinas Scores Again

Quakes rookie Shea Salinas finished off his first MLS season in style with goals in the last two games. He scored his scored his first MLS goal against Kansas City on Oct. 18 and followed that up with a penalty kick strike against Toronto FC on Oct. 25.

Cochrane Career High

Quakes defender Ryan Cochrane entered the 2008 season with two career goals in four MLS seasons. The former Santa Clara star netted two goals this season to set a career high for a season and equal his career total. He scored the game-winning goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 3 and then notched another game-winner on Oct. 25 against Toronto FC.

Attendance Update

The San Jose Earthquakes posted one of their best years ever for attendance. The Quakes averaged 13,713 on the season in 2008. That total is the third-highest average attendance in team history. In 1996, the team averaged 17,232, and in 1999, the team averaged 14,959.

Defense Rules

The Earthquakes allowed only 38 goals this season after shutting out Toronto FC 2-0 in their final match this season. They finished fourth in the league in goals allowed. On the road, the Quakes allowed 19 goals. Only two teams allowed fewer road goals, Chicago (16) and Houston (18).

Corrales in Record Books

Ramiro Corrales started and played 90 minutes Oct. 25 against Toronto FC to record his 127th start and 11,356 minutes as a member of the Quakes. He is now sixth all-time in club history in minutes and starts. Next on the list for minutes played for the Quakes is general manager John Doyle (1996-2000), who recorded 11,385 minutes. For starts, John Doyle is next with 129. With 142 appearances, Corrales is now tied for third on the all-time appearances list. He is tied with Wade Barrett (1998-2002, 2005), who has made 142 appearances.

Cannon in Quakes Record Books

Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon played 90 minutes Oct. 25 against Toronto FC to record his 131st career game as a member of the Earthquakes, tying him for seventh place with Ian Russell. He is now just behind John Doyle with 132 games. Cannon has also recorded 11,961 minutes, good for fourth all-time in Quakes history. His 131 career starts are also fourth all-time in San Jose history.

Cannon Among League Leaders

Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon ended the year as one of six players in MLS to play every minute of every game. He recorded 2,700 minutes in 2008, a total that ties his career high. He ranked fifth in the league in goals against average with a 1.27 mark and first in saves with 124. He finished fourth in shutouts with nine, one behind the league leaders.

Cannon Among the All-Time Leaders

Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon is among the all-time league leaders in Major League Soccer history in a number of goalkeeping categories. He ended the year third all-time in MLS in appearances (246), third in minutes (22,155), third all-time in saves (1026), second all-time in shutouts (65), fifth all-time in wins (92) and tied for seventh all-time in goals against average (1.30). For San Jose goalkeepers, Cannon is first in club history in appearances (131), first in minutes played (11,961), first in saves (558), first in wins (54), first in shutouts (35) and second in goals against average (1.26) and saves percentage (74.6). He also holds the team's all-time record for saves in a game with 12 on July 8, 2000 at Colorado.

Quakes in October

San Jose is 4-6-7 all time in October in MLS.

Quakes Above .500

The Earthquakes all-time MLS record is above the .500 mark. The Quakes all-time regular season MLS record is 142-138-56. They had the third-best regular season record in MLS history at the conclusion of the 2005 season at 134-125-47.

Making the First One Count

The Quakes scored first Oct. 25 against Toronto FC and earned a 2-0 win. The Earthquakes now own a 69-4-12 record in their last 85 matches when they score the first goal of the game. They finished 8-1-3 this season when scoring first. They lost to Columbus 3-2 on May 10 after scoring first. In 2005, San Jose went undefeated at 14-0-5 when scoring first. 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. In 2004, the Quakes went 8-1-1 when scoring first, the top mark in MLS. The Quakes gave up their lead and lost to Los Angeles on July 4, 2004 for the first time since July 27, 2002 against Kansas City. The Quakes are also impressive in the playoffs when scoring first, posting a 6-0-0 record.

Scoring First Under Yallop

During Frank Yallop's first tenure with San Jose, the Earthquakes were one of the best teams in the league when scoring the first goal. The team went 36-2-1 from 2001-03 when scoring the first goal of the game. 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. Yallop's team was 8-1-3 in 2008 when scoring first.

Halftime Success

The Earthquakes remain amongst the best in league history in holding onto a half-time lead after defeating D.C. United 2-1 on Sept. 6. Since the beginning of the 2000 season, the Earthquakes are now 53-1-8 in games when leading at the half, including 8-0-1 in 2003, 7-0-1 in 2004 and 7-0-3 in 2005. Despite holding a halftime lead on May 10 vs. Columbus, the Quakes fell 3-2. That game marked the team's first loss since 1999 when holding a halftime lead.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 27, 2008


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