Quakes try to quiet streak vs. LA
San Jose plagued by eight-game winless streak as they face the Galaxy
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SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. LA GALAXY
MCAFEE COLISEUM, Oakland, Calif.
Aug. 3, 2008 | 12 noon PT (TeleFutura; CSN-W; FSN-W)
WEEK # 19 | GAME # 125
It's the third California Clasico of the season as the Los Angeles Galaxy make their second trip north this year to take on the San Jose Earthquakes. The Quakes last won on June 7 - a span now of eight games without a victory. The Galaxy last won on June 14, now riding a six-game winless streak, though that victory was a 3-0 win against San Jose at McAfee Coliseum. The Earthquakes' return to MLS after a two-year hiatus came against the Galaxy in the season opener, a 2-0 LA victory in Carson.
REFEREE: Abbey Okulaja. SAR (bench): Paul Scott; JAR (opposite): Greg Boles; 4th: Yader Reyes MLS Career: 79 games; FC/gm: 29.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 11; pens: 21
INJURY REPORT: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - OUT: FW Gavin Glinton (R adductor strain); MF Ned Grabavoy (R groin surgery) ... LOS ANGELES GALAXY - OUT: GK Vito Higgins (R foot); DOUBTFUL: Joe Franchino (R ankle); Troy Roberts (L heel); MF Brandon McDonald (L foot); QUESTIONABLE: GK Charles Alamo (R knee); DF Sean Franklin (R knee)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: SJ: Ryan Cochrane, Ramiro Corrales, Jason Hernandez ... LA: Greg Vanney
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: SJ: Eric Denton, James Riley ... LA: Alan Gordon, Brandon McDonald, Alvaro Pires
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (40 meetings): Earthquakes 12 wins (4 shootout), 51 goals ... Galaxy 23 wins (4 shootout), 63 goals ... Ties 5
AT SAN JOSE: (20 meetings): Earthquakes 8 wins (1 shootout), 26 goals ... Galaxy 9 wins (2 shootout), 26 goals ... Ties 3
• This is the third of three meetings between the long-time California rivals, with the final two this year in northern California. This is the second at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland. The Galaxy have won the first two meetings this season, winning once at The Home Depot Center.
• Before the first meeting this year, the last time the teams met was in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals in 2005, the teams playing to a 1-1 draw at Spartan Stadium on Oct. 29, 2005 in a 4-2 victory on aggregate for the Galaxy on their way to the second MLS Cup in club history.
• The last regular season meeting between the clubs came two weeks prior, a 3-1 Earthquakes victory at The Home Depot Center in a game highlighted by the MLS Goal of the Year from San Jose's Dwayne De Rosario.
• In that season, the Earthquakes won three of the four meetings, all coming after the Galaxy took the first game of the season series that year.
• In their 10-year rivalry, the two teams met four times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, each team advancing twice - and each as a stepping stone to an eventual MLS Cup Final appearance (Galaxy in 1996 and 2005; Earthquakes in 2001 and 2003). The teams also met four times in the U.S. Open Cup - with the Galaxy winning each meeting (last in 2005).
• Coaches record: Frank Yallop v LA: P12 W4 L6 T2 ... Ruud Gullit vs. SJ: P2 W2 L0 T0
2008 (MLS):
4/3: LA 2, SJ 0 (Beckham 9; Donovan 37)
6/14: SJ 0, LA 3 (Buddle 6, 63, 68)
• The Galaxy spoiled the Earthquakes' return to Major League Soccer, with a 2-0 victory on April 3 at The Home Depot Center.
• It seemed as if the expansion team had a dream start when Ryan Cochrane headed home, but the flag was up for offside.
• Seven minutes later, David Beckham had his first MLS goal since coming to the league, sprung by Landon Donovan with a perfectly weighted through ball. Then in the 37th minute, the roles were reversed, as Beckham played provider, lobbing a ball over the San Jose backline for Donovan to run onto and loop home.
• On June 14 in Oakland, the Galaxy were in rampant mood from the start and rolled to a 3-0 victory.
• It took just six minutes to open the scoring. David Beckham floated a cross from the right, Josh Tudela provided a knockdown header and Edson Buddle hammered a full volley inside the left-hand post for the opener.
• After the break, the Galaxy put away the game with two goals in six minutes. In the 63rd minute, Ante Jazic was freed down the left touchline and swung in a pinpoint cross from the corner. Buddle stuck his head in front of Quakes defender Ryan Cochrane to nod home the second.
• Then in the 68th, Buddle completed his second hat trick of the season. Again it was from a cross, this time provided by Mike Randolph on the left flank, which Buddle clinically finished.
• Here's Gullit's team (4-4-2): Steve Cronin - Chris Klein, Sean Franklin, Abel Xavier, Mike Randolph - David Beckham (Troy Roberts 88), Alvaro Pires, Josh Tudela, Ante Jazic - Ely Allen, Edson Buddle. Substitutes Not Used: Michael Gavin, Vito Higgins, Bryan Jordan, Brandon McDonald, Julian Valentin, Greg Vanney
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - James Riley, Kelly Gray, Jason Hernandez, Eric Denton - Ronnie O'Brien, Ramiro Corrales, Ned Grabavoy, Ivan Guerrero (Ryan Cochrane 51) - Ryan Johnson, John Cunliffe (Adam Smarte 61). Substitutes Not Used: Dan Benton, Jamil Roberts, Shea Salinas, Joe Vide
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes saw their winless streak reach eight games despite playing to a draw for the third consecutive match, this time a 1-1 result with the New York Red Bulls at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Earthquakes sit in seventh place in the Western Conference with 15 points from 18 matches, six behind the Colorado Rapids.
LAST MATCH
• Both teams came into the match looking for the three points, each sitting at the foot of their respective conferences. The Red Bulls had just one win in their last seven league matches, while the Earthquakes were riding a seven-game winless run of their own.
• Both goals came in the opening quarter-hour. Just four minutes into the match, Dave van den Bergh sent in a cross from the left flank and San Jose defender Eric Denton, trying to deal with it, instead looped a header over goalkeeper Joe Cannon to hand the visitors the lead.
• But in their first home match in nearly a month, and first in Santa Clara in nearly two, it didn't take the Quakes long to level the match. In the 13th minute, Scott Sealy hit a shot on the turn that Red Bulls 'keeper Jon Conway could only push away, and Darren Huckerby swept in to tap home the rebound for his first goal since coming to MLS.
• Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop made one change to the team that played to a scoreless draw at Toronto FC. Nick Garcia came back from suspension, for James Riley.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - Jason Hernandez, Ryan Cochrane, Nick Garcia, Eric Denton (Ivan Guerrero 46) - Ronnie O'Brien (Shea Salinas 76), Ramiro Corrales, Francisco Lima (Jovan Kirovski 85), Darren Huckerby - Ryan Johnson, Scott Sealy. Substitutes Not Used: Ned Grabavoy, Kelly Gray, Michael Gustavson, James Riley
• "The first half was probably the best that we've played this year. We obviously gave them an early goal, but throughout the game, I never felt threatened even though they had, I think, one of the best players in the league on the field," Yallop said. "Finishing is the thing that we are struggling with right now, but that will come."
TEAM NEWS
• Yallop had given San Jose debuts to all three of his new acquisitions the week before in Toronto, but because of more visa issues, they were barely able to train with the team in the week leading up to the New York match.
• "(Francisco) Lima got back Friday night from Toronto and practiced on Saturday. He played great today and held his position well. Darren (Huckerby) was there until Thursday and also played great. I thought both guys played really well. With Scott (Sealy), the one header he normally buries he didn't, but I think that once he gets into his spot, he will score goals because he can."
• Even with the additions, Yallop said he is not done adding new pieces if he can - especially in attack.
• "We're always looking," he said. "I think, the three guys we signed have been terrific for us. If we can add one more ... You know, Ryan Johnson is a terrific player for this club -- wherever he plays he does his best and he tries hard, and I think he does well. (But) he's not a natural forward and a goal scorer. If we can add another quality forward, I think that will make us more of a force."
• While the Quakes are now eight points out of the top three in the Western Conference and the automatic playoff placings, Yallop was optimistic about the way his team was being constructed.
• "We're building a team here that's going to be good for many years, hopefully, and I think that we all, myself included, get carried away with the results we've had," Yallop said. "I look at the performances of individuals and the team, and we're not far off. I think that we've got a pretty solid team. We need to add in certain areas and juggle around the (salary) cap and all that stuff, but I thought we were the better team today with the ball."
• After playing as a center back in Toronto, Jason Hernandez once again moved to right back with Nick Garcia again available. Hernandez has been the most regular of all the Quakes' defenders, missing just one game (through suspension after being sent off June 18 vs. RSL).
• "It's been great for me personally, just establish myself and get a lot of minutes and help the team in whatever position Frank (Yallop) needs me to play. It takes a little time to adjust from hopping into center back or right back. I think for the most part, we've done a great job in lining up wherever we need, picking each other up and carrying on with the task."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy saw their winless streak reach six games in stunning fashion, losing 4-0 to FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday evening. The Galaxy still sit tied for second in the Western Conference with 23 points from 18 matches, level with the Houston Dynamo, now four points behind Real Salt Lake.
LAST MATCH
• FC Dallas had played to three consecutive draws and had just one win since May 24 -- a span of eight games -- while the Los Angeles Galaxy hadn't won in five games, playing to ties in their last two.
• The teams had last met on May 18, a 5-1 Galaxy win in Frisco, ironically Steve Morrow's last game in charge of the Hoops. It didn't take long for Kenny Cooper to show that game was in the minds of the FCD players, with two goals in three minutes.
• First, in the 15th minute, he cut across the top of the area from the right before lashing a low drive that took a slight deflection before sailing inside the near post. Then in the 17th minute, he dispossessed a defender before playing a one-two with Dominic Oduro, side-footing home a terrific strike from outside the area for his 11th goal on the campaign, one off the league lead.
• Oduro made the lead 3-0 in the 36th minute. Arturo Alvarez split the Galaxy defense with a pass from the center circle and Oduro raced in alone on goal, rounding Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin in the box before tucking home the ball from a tight angle. Abe Thompson completed the rout in the 89th minute, curling home a wonderful long-range strike into the upper right corner.
• Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit made one change to the team that played to a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls the previous weekend. Eduardo Dominguez made his MLS debut, coming into central defense for Troy Roberts.
• Here's Gullit's team (4-4-2): Steve Cronin - Chris Klein, Eduardo Dominguez, Greg Vanney (Alan Gordon 80), Ante Jazic - David Beckham, Alvaro Pires (Sean Franklin 46), Peter Vagenas, Landon Donovan - Edson Buddle, Carlos Ruiz. Substitutes Not Used: Ely Allen, Mike Randolph, Josh Tudela, Josh Wicks
• "It was almost déjà vu," Gullit said. "In the last game, we were very quickly up and they were chasing us. This time, it was us who couldn't cope with the heat. We couldn't do the things that we wanted to do and were chasing the game. It was a hard game for us."
TEAM NEWS
• In the opening 45 minutes, LA was outshot by FCD 10-4, but the Galaxy didn't put a shot on target. For the game, FCD outshot the Galaxy 25-11.
• "We didn't deserve to win," David Beckham said. "We didn't play well and didn't start the game well. Our attitude was bad before the game. So, nothing really positive to take from this game. The best team won on the day. Congratulations to them. We have a lot to work on. We have to forget this game now and try to stay positive for the game next weekend. We're disappointed."
• It was the third loss in five games for the Galaxy - and within that stretch they have allowed four goals twice (also June 29 vs. D.C. United).
• "There must be some lesson to learn from the game. At the moment, we're trying hard to find out what it is," Beckham said. "I think the biggest thing was our attitude in starting the game. We didn't start well and didn't play the ball around well. We were too deep all through the team and when you start off like that, it's tough for any team."
• Gullit had wanted to start Troy Roberts in central defense, but he was injured and so the Galaxy boss had to go into the game with one less available substitute.
• "We were also unlucky that Sean Franklin couldn't play. He wasn't even fit and I had to take him out," Gullit said. "Then, while we were warming up, Troy Roberts was injured also. Those were players who haven't played together much and that was difficult. I don't think we still have the pieces that we need (on defense). I think that we look good on the outside but I think in the center, we suffer a little bit, especially today."
• In addition, the Galaxy's three All-Stars - Beckham, Donovan and Edson Buddle - had traveled back from Toronto on Friday to California, then with the team on Saturday to Dallas.
• "There's always going to be a slight bit of that between me, Landon (Donovan) and Edson (Buddle)," Beckham said. "But the rest of the team has had a few days off to recuperate from the travel to New York. We're not going to look for an excuse with fatigue or anything like that. At the end of the day, as a team, we just didn't play well."
