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MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Win Group and Move Into Semifinals at La Manga Cup With 2-1 Victory Over Stabaek

February 28, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


La Manga, Spain (Saturday, February 28, 2004) — The San Jose Earthquakes earned a spot in the semifinals of the La Manga Cup and won their group by virtue of a 2-1 victory over Stabaek (Norway). After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, Jamil Walker equalized for San Jose and then Brian Ching scored the game-winner in the 73rd minute with the Quakes down to 10 men. The Quakes finished group play with a 2-0 record and outscored their opponents 5-2 in those two matches. They will play in the semifinals on Tuesday, March 2 against a yet-to-be determined opponent.

Stabaek started the game putting tremendous pressure on San Jose and keeping the Quakes off balance. Their pressure nearly paid off in the 5th minute when Stian Ohr broke down the right wing and slid a ball across the face of the goal. The ball got by the Quakes defense to the far post, but Thomas Finstad's shot was off the mark.

Four minutes later, Brian Mullan got behind the Stabaek defense and set up Dwayne De Rosario for the Earthquakes first opportunity. Mullan slipped De Rosario a pass at the top of the 18-yard box and he fired a low shot, but Stabaek goalkeeper Jon Knudsen was there for the save.

Stabaek broke the stalemate in the 32nd minute on a set piece. The Quakes defense cleared out the original cross, but the ball came out to Mads Jorgensen at the edge of the box. He fired a shot off the crossbar and the rebound came down to Branimir Poljac, who volleyed past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Conway for a 1-0 lead.

Walker struck right back for the Quakes just two minutes later to tie the score. Ramiro Corrales started the play on the left wing as he lofted a ball over the Stabaek defense from midfield. Walker broke past the last defender and blasted a left-footed shot past Knudsen at the near post.

Walker and Brian Mullan each had chances to break the tie in the opening moments of the second half. Walker intercepted a pass and moved in on the Stabaek net, before unleashing a long-range shot. Knudsen made the save, but the rebound fell to Mullan, who shot low to the near post, but Knudsen dove to smother the shot.

Mullan got behind the Stabaek defense a second time 10 minutes into the second half and nearly put San Jose in front. Richard Mulrooney drove a pass from the center circle to a streaking Mullan, who found himself one-on-one with Knudsen. He attempted to blast the ball past the Stabaek goalkeeper at the near post, but Knudsen got his hand on the shot and then collected the rebound.

The Quakes chances took a blow in the 70th minute as defender Craig Waibel was shown a red card for a hard tackle on the right side of the field.

However, three minutes after Waibel's ejection, Ching and Roger Levesque combined to net the game-winning goal for San Jose. Levesque received the ball at midfield and turned past a defender, before making a pass to Ching. Levesque continued his run, drawing a defender with him, and Ching turned the opposite way to make space for himself. The Haliewa, Hawaii native then curled a low shot into the far post to put the Quakes into the lead 2-1.

Notes

-Brian Ching played in his first game of the preseason against Stabaek on Saturday.

-Rookie Ryan Cochrane started and played the entire match in central defense, replacing Troy Dayak, who sat out the game with a stiff neck.

-For the second straight match Tighe Dombrowski, the Quakes fifth round draft pick, entered the game in the second half and saw time at left back.

-Todd Dunivant is nearly recovered from his strained left quadriceps muscle, but did not play against Stabaek. He should be available for training on Monday.

-Head Coach Dominic Kinnear gave the Quakes the day off on Sunday. Training will resume Monday morning.

Quotes:

Dominic Kinnear, on game: "I have to give Stabaek credit. They came out and pressured us hard for the first 15 minutes and made it difficult for us. But from the 15th minute of the game to the end, I thought that we took control of the game and deserved the result."

Kinnear, on team: "It is nice to see everyone moving away from the ball so well the past two games. That gives the player with the ball more options and we can keep possession better. Everyone is doing the right things and playing unselfishly to help the team perform well."

Kinnear, on scoring when down to 10 men: "Goals when you are down a man usually come from good individual play. On our goal, Roger (Levesque) made a great turn in midfield and got the ball to Brian (Ching). Brian then did well to get away from his man and finish. It was a great play by both of them."

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 28, 2004


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