MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Weekly Update

Published on August 11, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


THIS WEEK

The Earthquakes return home this week to take on FC Dallas Saturday, Aug. 16 at Buck Shaw Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. PT on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF. Prior to the match, fans can drop by the Epicenter Fan Zone to enjoy A&W Root Beer Float Night festivities, presented by 7UP. Local celebrities will scoop, pour and pose for photos from 5:30 p.m. until kickoff. The recommended donation for root beer floats is $3 each with proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Last MLS Game

Earthquakes 2, LA Galaxy 2; Aug. 8, 2014; StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

Newly signed designated player Matias Perez Garcia and U.S. National Team forward Chris Wondolowski both scored in the first half to help the Earthquakes earn a valuable road point with a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center. Wondolowski recorded an assist in his third straight game, as San Jose stretched its unbeaten run to four games. The Quakes broke in front 18 minutes into the match on a perfectly executed counter attack. Sam Cronin picked up a turnover and found Shea Salinas as he moved into Galaxy territory. Wondolowski made a run behind the defense and received a pass from Salinas. The Quakes leading scorer moved around one defender before ripping a low shot to the far post for a 1-0 advantage. Jason Hernandez came through with another big block in the Quakes defensive box after a good attack by the Galaxy soon after the goal. Robbie Rogers got free on the left and unloaded a shot that was deflected right to Robbie Keane. Keane shot low, but Hernandez recovered to slide and block the shot to keep San Jose ahead. Gyasi Zardes equalized for the Galaxy on a counter of their own in the 29th minute. Landon Donovan started the break and then found Keane to his left. Keane hit a low shot that deflected off a Quakes defender to Zardes, who slotted a well-placed strike past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch. San Jose came right back with a goal in the 31st minute after another textbook counter. Salinas got the ball wide to Atiba Harris, who immediately crossed one to Wondolowski. Wondolowski flicked a ball to Perez Garcia at the top of the box and he unleashed a blast right through Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and into the back of the net for a 2-1 Quakes advantage. The Galaxy drew even just after halftime on a set piece. Stefan Ishizaki whipped a corner kick into the box and Omar Gonzalez found just enough space to sneak a header past Busch to make the game 2-2 four minutes into the second stanza.

Earthquakes in August

The Earthquakes are 36-29-10 all-time in MLS play in the month of August.

FC DALLAS INFO

Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas All-Time

MLS Regular Season: 25-16-11

Home: 15-16-5 (49 GF, 26 GA)

Away: 10-10-6 (37 GF, 33 GA)

Shootout (1996-99): 4-3; Overtime (2000-03): 0-0-0; Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0; U.S. Open Cup Play-In: 0-0-0

All-Time Scoring: San Jose - 85, FC Dallas - 59

Last Game

Earthquakes 2, FC Dallas 1; May 31, 2014; Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi's first career goal with the Earthquakes came in spectacular fashion - from 40 yards out - and paved the way for a 2-1 road win against FC Dallas. Blas Perez opened the scoring for FC Dallas in the 16th minute. Fabian Castillo located the Panamanian striker in the middle of the box and Perez capitalized, nodding the ball into the net from close range. Atiba Harris equalized nearly 10 minutes later with a close-range blast of his own. The Kittitian midfielder one-timed a shot to the lower corner for his second goal in as many games. Next came the Corsican cruise missile. Pierazzi took a pass from Khari Stephenson and sent a blistering, swerving shot past the outstretched hands of FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz and into the top corner of the net. The goal was his first in MLS after signing with the club on Jan. 7, 2014. Jon Busch came up with another clutch performance for the Earthquakes on Saturday. After FC Dallas was awarded a penalty moments at Pierazzi's strike, Busch dove to his right to stonewall Castillo's attempt from the spot and preserve San Jose's 2-1 lead. The 14-year MLS veteran ended the night with six saves.

History of the Quakes-FC Dallas Rivalry

The Earthquakes were 9-1-4 in the final 14 games against Dallas prior to San Jose's relocation to Houston ... The Quakes posted a seven-game winning streak during that stretch from July 20, 2002-Apr. 15, 2004 ... San Jose and Dallas met in an important match on Oct. 16, 2004, as San Jose needed a win or a tie to advance to the playoffs, while Dallas needed a win to clinch the final berth in the playoffs. The two teams played to a 2-2 tie at the Cotton Bowl, giving San Jose a spot in the playoffs, while Dallas did not qualify. Ramiro Corrales scored the Quakes second goal in that game ... On Sept. 27, 2003, San Jose's Dwayne De Rosario scored the fastest goal from the start of the game in MLS history, netting a goal 11 seconds into the match at Spartan Stadium against Dallas. De Rosario would go on to net a hat trick in the game, the second hat trick in Quakes team history ... The Earthquakes won both matches against FC Dallas last season ... The Earthquakes defeated FC Dallas in a 2-0 road win in the first meeting of this season on Mar. 26, and closed out the 2011 season with a 4-2 win at Buck Shaw Stadium on Oct. 22 ... In their first meeting this season, the two teams battled to a scoreless draw on July 7 at FC Dallas Stadium ... The Earthquakes followed up with a 2-1 win on July 18 at Buck Shaw Stadium ... The Quakes' plus-25 goal differential against FC Dallas is the highest against any team in the league ... San Jose is riding a six-game unbeaten streak against FC Dallas ... The Earthquakes were 1-1-1 against FC Dallas in 2013 ... FC Dallas won their first meeting of 2012 1-0 at FC Dallas Stadium thanks to a strike from Fabian Castillo ... The Quakes and FC Dallas tied 2-2 on August 24 after three red cards were issued ... The Quakes capped off the 2013 campaign with a 2-1 win at Buck Shaw Stadium in Ramiro Corrales last game of his career ... San Jose won their first meeting against FC Dallas in 2014 2-1 at Buck Shaw Stadium on May 10 ... The Quakes won their second meeting of the 2014 season 2-1 at Toyota Stadium on May 31 with French midfielder Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi providing a spectacular goal from 40 yards out.

Earthquakes-FC Dallas Connections

Earthquakes defender Clarence Goodson began his career as a member of the Dallas Burn in 2004 (they re-named the club FC Dallas one year later) ... Goodson was a No. 7 overall pick for Dallas in the 2004 SuperDraft and went on to record three goals and two assists in 74 appearances during his four seasons in Texas ... Goodson (2000-03) and FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz (2005-06) played college soccer at Maryland ... Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham (2008-10) and FC Dallas midfielder Andrew Jacobson (2003-2007) played college soccer for Cal ... Jacobson is from Palo Alto, Calif. ... Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas and Jacobson were teammates with the Philadelphia Union in 2010 ... FC Dallas defender Zach Lloyd and Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski have played together three times with the U.S. Men's National Team, against Chile on January 22, 2011, against Venezuela on January 21, 2012, and against Panama on January 25, 2012 ... Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas grew up in the Dallas area and played USL soccer in the summer for Dallas-Fort Worth Tornados in 2005 and 2006 ... Salinas also played with FC Dallas midfielder Andrew Jacobson for the Philadelphia Union in 2010 ... Earthquakes forward Billy Schuler (2008-11), FC Dallas midfielder Danny Garcia (2012), FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges (2011), and FC Dallas defender Zach Lloyd (2006-09) played college soccer at North Carolina ... Schuler and Hedges won the 2011 NCAA National Championship with North Carolina ... Earthquakes midfielder Sam Cronin (2005-08) and FC Dallas defender Stephen Keel (2001-04) played college soccer for Wake Forest ... Earthquakes forward Steven Lenhart and FC Dallas midfielder Adam Moffat were teammates with the Columbus Crew from 2008- 2010 ... Earthquakes midfielder Atiba Harris and FC Dallas midfielder Hendry Thomas were teammates with the Colorado Rapids in 2013 ... FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja coached Harris as the Colorado Rapids Head Coach from 2012-13 ... Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez and FC Dallas midfielder Hendry Thomas were teammates with the Honduran national team during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Earthquakes to Host A&W Root Beer Float Night, Presented by 7UP

The Earthquakes will host their Fourth Annual A&W Root Beer Float Night, presented by 7UP, on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. PT in the Epicenter Fan Zone prior to the club's clash with FC Dallas. Local celebrities, including the club's broadcast team of Anthony Passarelli, Kate Scott and Chris Dangerfield, have teamed up with the Earthquakes for the charity event to scoop, pour and serve root beer floats to fans with a recommended $3 donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Each fan that makes the recommended donation will also receive an A&W souvenir cup while supplies last. Last year, the Earthquakes raised $10,500 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as part of the third annual A&W Root Beer Float Night.

Perez Garcia Shines in Debut

San Jose's new designated player signing Matias Perez Garcia notched his first MLS goal in his Earthquakes' debut Aug. 2 against the LA Galaxy after starting and playing 83 minutes. The goal came in the 31st minute after Garcia received a back-heel pass from Wondolowski atop of the 18-yard box. With a first-time strike with his favored left foot, Garcia powered his shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, lifting the Earthquakes to a 2-1 lead heading into halftime. Perez Garcia is only the ninth player in Earthquakes History to score in his club debut. The last to do so was Kelly Gray on June 18, 2005.

Earthquakes to Score in Club Debut

Matias Perez Garcia became the ninth player in club history to score in his club debut with the eventual game-tying goal against the LA Galaxy on Friday at the StubHub Center. Here's a look at the full list:

Date

Player

Opponent

Result

Aug. 8, 2014

Matias Perez Garcia

at LA Galaxy

T 2-2

June 18, 2005

Kelly Gray

Real Salt Lake

W 3-0

April 12, 2003

Brian Ching

at Colorado

W 2-1

April 12, 2003

Todd Dunivant

at Colorado

W 2-1

April 7, 2001

Dwayne De Rosario

at LA Galaxy

W 3-2

June 11, 1998

Francisco Uribe

at Chicago

L 2-5

April 12, 1997

Ronald Cerritos

at LA Galaxy

W 4-1

April 12, 1997

Istvan Urbanyi

at LA Galaxy

W 4-1

April 6, 1996

Eric Wynalda

D.C. United

W 1-0

Earthquakes Extend Unbeaten Streak

The Earthquakes boast a season-best four-game unbeaten streak in MLS competition after a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy on Aug. 8. San Jose has compiled nine goals and nine assists during this stretch after being blanked in their three previous matches.

Wondolowski's Unselfishness Continues

Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski is known for his goal-scoring abilities, but it is his passing that has raised eyebrows. Wondolowski recorded his third assist in three games after back-heeling a touch outside the 18-yard box toward a charging Perez Garcia for the debutant's first MLS goal against the LA Galaxy on Aug. 8. An assist this week against FC Dallas will give Wondolowski the most assists in consecutive games in MLS this season with four. The Danville native has also notched two goals along with his three assists during this stretch.

Wondo Closing in on Assists Mark

Chris Wondolowski tied the club record for consecutive games with an assist after notching another against the LA Galaxy on Friday. Wondolowski is the 16th player in club history to have an assist in three-straight games and is aiming to become just the third to make it four games. Landon Donovan (2001) and Eric Wynalda (1996) hold the club mark at four-consecutive games.

Wondolowski and Perez Garcia Goal of the Week Nominees

Chris Wondolowski and Matias Perez Garcia were both nominated for 2014 AT&T Goal of the Week in Week 22 of the 2014 MLS season with their goals in a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy on Aug. 8. Wondolowski opened the game's scoring in the 18th minute after rifling his shot between three Galaxy defenders and under an outstretched Jaime Penedo. Perez Garcia's MLS debut goal came in the 31st minute with a one-time wonder strike from outside of the 18-yard box.

Busch Among League Leaders

Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch is having another stellar season for San Jose. After drawing 2-2 with the LA Galaxy on Aug. 8, he is tied for second in MLS in saves percentage with Real Salt Lake's Jeff Attinella at 74 percent, one percent behind DC United's Bill Hamid and Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando. He is also third in saves with 74 and third in goals-against average (1.10).

Loan Watch: Three Quakes' Players in Action for Sacramento

The Earthquakes' three loaned players were in action this past weekend for Sacramento Republic FC. Adam Jahn, Tommy Thompson and JJ Koval appeared for Sacramento in a 2-1 win over Oklahoma City Energy FC on Aug. 9 at Bonney Field. Jahn scored the game's opening goal in the 16th minute and Thompson and Koval came on as substitutes in the 64th minute.

Second Half Lockdown

Despite allowing a second half goal on Aug. 8 against the LA Galaxy, the Quakes still lead MLS with the fewest goals allowed in the second half. They have allowed just seven goals after the interval in 2014.

Backline Consistency

The Earthquakes have started the same backline in each of their last four games with Shaun Francis at right back, Victor Bernardez and Jason Hernandez in the middle and Jordan Stewart at left back; they are 2-0-2 during that stretch. The last time San Jose had the benefit of starting the same four defenders in four consecutive matches was in August of 2013.

Making the First One Count

The Earthquakes are 102-10-29 since 2001 when scoring the first goal. The club is 5-0-2 so far in 2014. They were 11-1-3 when scoring first in 2013. In 2012, San Jose was 14-2-2, their two losses coming at Vancouver (2-1) on May 5 and at Montreal (3-1) on Aug. 18. The club was 7-4-5 in 2011, 12-0-2 in 2010, 6-1-5 in 2009 and 8-1-3 in 2008. Prior to 2010, San Jose also went undefeated in 2001 (13-0-2), 2003 (11-0-1) and 2005 (14-0-5) when scoring first. The Earthquakes were 12-2-0 in 2002 when finding the back of the net first, only giving up leads two times in losing 2-1 at the LA Galaxy on July 4, and falling at Kansas City by the same score on July 27. In 2004, the Quakes went 8-1-1 when scoring first, the best mark in MLS. The Quakes surrendered a 1-0 advantage and dropped a 2-1 decision at the LA Galaxy on July 4, 2004, losing for just the first time since July 27, 2002, when striking first. The Quakes are also impressive in the playoffs when scoring first, posting an 8-0-1 record all-time.

Quakes Acquire Allocation Money for Gordon

The Earthquakes acquired allocation money from the LA Galaxy in exchange for forward Alan Gordon on Monday. Gordon, 32, departs as the ninth-leading scorer in club history after tallying 18 goals during his 64 games in San Jose. The target man joined the club as part of a trade with Toronto FC on July 14, 2011. He scored a number of memorable goals during his time with the Earthquakes, including the capstone on a pair of comeback wins against the LA Galaxy - both of which came in stoppage time, one at the StubHub Center on May 23, 2012 and the next at Stanford Stadium on June 29, 2013 with the Quakes playing a man down. Gordon had a career-year in 2012 while helping San Jose to its second MLS Supporters' Shield, posting career bests in goals (13) and assists (7). He had four goals and three assists in 24 games in 2013 and has none in 15 games so far in 2014.

#MilestoEpicenter Goes Global

Earthquakes fans around the world will soon be able to gauge their distance to the Epicenter of soccer after the club announced an expansion of its #MilestoEpicenter campaign. Billboards will be placed in a number of locations depicting the distance to San Jose's new stadium, including: multiple places around the Bay Area, New England, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Route 66, New York City, Miami and Las Vegas. The international boards include Mexico, Brazil, London, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and other locations around Europe.

Enter to Win #MilestoEpicenter

In addition to the billboard campaign, fans have a chance to win 2015 Earthquakes season tickets through the #MilestoEpicenter contest. To enter for a chance to win the grand prize of two 2015 Earthquakes season tickets, fans can either pick up a "Miles to the Epicenter" sign at the Quakes Front Office or download and print a paper one from the team's official website at sjearthquakes.com. Using the sign, fans can then write their distance from the Quakes New Stadium on the sign and take a photo of themselves with the sign. To enter the contest, fans have the option of emailing the photo to milestoepicenter@sjearthquakes.com or uploading the photo through the club website, sjearthquakes.com. All of the photos will then be displayed at sjearthquakes.com and the team's official Facebook page, facebook.com/sanjoseearthquakes. Fans can then share their submission with the hashtag #milestoepicenter and vote for their favorite photo. The photo that receives the most votes will win a pair of 2015 Earthquakes season tickets. The contest will run through the end of the 2014 MLS regular season on Sunday, Oct. 26.

ACADEMY NEWS

Earthquakes Pre-Academy Squad Wins Surf Cup

The San Jose Earthquakes (SJEQ) 00 Pre-Academy soccer team won the prestigious 2014 Surf Cup Tournament Boys U15 Division. The U15 team beat FC Golden State 3-0 in the U15 category final with two goals by Luke Andrews and one from Daniel Sanchez. The team finished the tournament unbeaten (6-0-0) while outscoring its opponents 15-2 to claim the organization's first championship in the international tournament.

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