Quakes suffer quick U.S. Open Cup exit
Snowstorm, RSL scoring blizzard undo San Jose in "play-in" match
Playing with a squad of mostly reserve players, the Earthquakes were outplayed in most aspects of the match. Kyle Beckerman scored a pair of goals and Yura Movsisyan added a third as RSL had a 3-0 lead by halftime. Andy Williams rounded out the scoring with a late goal.
The Quakes were under pressure early as RSL pushed forward from the opening whistle. In the third minute San Jose goalkeeper Preston Burpo rushed off his line to beat a streaking Robbie Findley to a penetrating through ball. Findley was put through on a nifty backheel from Movsisyan, but Burpo read the play and cleared the ball over the endline.
Burpo was busy in the next minute as RSL won a corner. Findley crashed the near post, redirecting a firm shot aimed for the inside of the post before Burpo dove to palm the ball wide of the frame.
San Jose continued to absorb the attacks from the home side, but a moment of concern came in the ninth minute. Ryan Cochrane and Jay Ayers collided in mid-air going up for a header. Both defenders fell instantly to the turf, while their teammates motioned frantically to the sideline for medical attention.
After nearly five minutes on the ground both Cochrane and Ayers were helped up and walked off the field and to the Earthquakes locker room under their own power. Quakes manager Frank Yallop was forced into the two substitutions, bringing James Riley and Jason Hernandez.
After play resumed it didn't take long for RSL to get another crack a goal. After pulling a couple of stepovers near the sideline, Chris Wingert sent a lob toward goal that sent Burpo backpedaling. The Quakes goalkeeper calmly punched the shot over the crossbar.
The ensuing corner kick fell to Movsisyan, whose diving header was batted away by a diving Burpo.
It wasn't until the 21st minute that Salt Lake beat Burpo. A corner kick taken by Williams found Matias Mantilla. The Argentinean dove to direct a weak header toward goal. The ball wasn't going to make it, so Beckerman rushed on and tapped the first goal of the game over a fallen Burpo.
Twelve minutes later San Jose defender Adam Smarte stepped up to Beckerman as the Salt Lake midfielder received the ball about 30 yards from goal. Beckerman promptly spun around Smarte and skipped a turf-burning shot inside the near post.
Within in the same minute RSL charged back down the field and Movsisyan slammed in a cross from Matias Cordoba, and RSL led 3-0.
Things looked to be unraveling further for the Quakes in the 39th minute when Burpo threw a clearance straight to Movsisyan. But as the Salt Lake striker dribbled toward goal, Burpo was able to pull the ball off his feet with the help of Riley.
The visitors' first shot on goal didn't come until the 56th minute. John Cunliffe found himself just inside the penalty area with space, but his chance was deflected away by an onrushing Chris Seitz.
In the 65th minute, San Jose's Ned Grabavoy nodded a header just inches wide of the post. Shortly thereafter, play was stopped so that the white MLS game ball could be switched out for an orange ball as snow began blowing around Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Cunliffe nearly brought a goal back for the Quakes in the 80th minute, firing a close range blast at the near post, requiring a difficult reaction save from Seitz.
In the driving snow Shea Salinas had his first chance at beating Seitz in the 85th minute. Salinas met a cross first-time, but sent his shot right at the RSL goalkeeper.
Andy Williams put a cap on the game as he poked RSL's fourth goal under a fallen Burpo in the 90th minute.
Scott McAllister is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
