Starting this early, as I'm probably the last mod headed down to Spartan... If you want the pregame thread, here it is... Not sure what PBP will happen in this thread given the match isn't televised, but I hope those of you out of towners at least get matchtracker coverage or something.
Three goals for Spokane! 2 by Ching (Gonzaga) and an OG from Waibel (L&C High School). I never said it was all good, but three goals none the less. DB
Says the match ended at the 73rd minute on MatchTracker...I am guessing it's because of the power...?
2 PK goals in 4 minutes? Based on the match tracker it seemed like that was just a bad double entry, and the real score is 3-1. But thats just my read, I dont know.
Just got home. Game ended in the 70-something-ish minute because it was getting too dark to play without power. Had to walk a really roundabout way to our car because the cops said there was an 'exploded transformer with lines down.' We didn't see anything suspect on our way away from the stadium, so who knows if that was the truth. It ended shortly after the PK that made the game 3-1.
Anything more to add Europa? It sounded pretty fiesty for a friendly. Too bad the Quakes fielded such a depleated team, but you have your own interests to worry about. cheers, hobbes
Ended early 3-1 and included a Ching PK and Waibel own goal. This game absolutely SUCKED. QUAKES sucked and Canada was doing a lot of unnecessary hacking. Their oversized dumb defenders were acting like big babies... FOR WHAT REASON!?!?!? GAWD that crap made me so mad!!!!! It was a friendly for god's sake! Canada is a skilled team (in my opinion). But they were very unattractive in their style tonite. This was the perfect opportunity to let the voices be heard about SJ needing a stadium but people just didn't get the whole we want a new stadium chanting that popped up quietly and sporadically around Spartan. Again, what a HUGE disappointment. There is absolutely NO WAY that the Quakes won any hearts tonite. They may have even lost some.
Just got back from the game. It looked and sounded like a transformer on the southwest side of the stadium blew just after the 60th minute. The game continued for about 10 or 12 minutes before being stopped on account of darkness. The signals were out at 11th street and 280 when I went through too. Oh By the way it was 3-1 Canada at the end. Canada outplayed the Quakes all over the field, especially in the midfield. The Quakes didn't seem to have their normal intensity. DeRo, playing on the wing, really tore Was Hart up down the left side. For Canada Radzinski and De Guzman looked strong but De Guzman looked like he would be good for at least one red during qualifying. Also After the Quakes PK it looked like a few of the Canadians were going to fight, each other!?! I think McKenna was involved but not sure who the other guy was.
They outplayed us. We really didn't get any shots off. It was weird for me. I didn't really care about the result. I wanted to see Onstad, Yallop, and DeRo do well, but I wanted to see my quakes win. I was cheering a little for everyone. I really wish the quakes had looked better though, even if only to prove ourselves as the season goes on. Everyone was chanting to put on Donovan, but I wanted him to save himself for the nats - I'd rather he had a break this week. Overall, kind of a 'meh' game for me, but mostly because I didn't care much about the result. There were a few rough plays, but nothing out of the ordinary. I only caught the end of some them from my seat (didn't see the foul that led to the PK) and don't feel like I can offer a real judgement about them.
I will say though that Dwayne played with absolute class and beautiful skill! And Jon Conway should be kicked to the freakin' curb....NOW!
Canada's first goal was off a weak deflection. Definitely looked like Conway could've/should've caught the ball. His distribution struck me as sub-par also. A roller to Hart set him up to fail. Goal kicks floated to midfield and nearly always led to a Canadian attack. On the plus side for the quakes, Alvarez, Dunivant and Dombrowski got minutes...
The own goal occured after a defensive miscue. But there were so many I can't remember who made this one. It look very dangerous with a Canada striker in on Conway alone who came out a little bit, but the striker crossed it instead and Wiabel running to get back in the play got a perfect touch right into the open goal. I didn't see the foul that created the PK but the guy next to me said it was a hand ball. The call was probably weak judging by Canada's reaction which drew a yellow for dissent. Bad news: Walker left early and limping. Good News: Dunivant played in the second half, but he looked a little rusty.
It's too bad that the referee called the game right as Donovan scored the Quakes' second goal. Oh well. Regarding the power-outage: It's been a while since a weird non-soccer incident hit at a Clash/Earthquakes game in Spartan (such as the gnat-attack in the north-end and west-side in '97, the sudden "We want George!" Spartan chant during a game that kept Krazy George from getting kicked out of the stadium in either '97 or '98, and the streaker in '99)... it brought back memories. GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G P.S. = It was great to see Frank Yallop on the sidelines again, albeit for the opposing team.
What a sad game. In a way, we were fortunate that it ended early--seldom have I seen the team play with less spirit. As soon as Jamil left the match, seems as though all the fire vanished from the offense. Lots of tentative play and missed chances. Oddly enough, the tempo picked up considerably after the power outage, when (for about ten minutes) the teams continued to run around in the fading light, Landon came on. But it was good that it was called when it was--clear that the lights were not coming back on, and we had time to get out. Attendance was lousy. I think there were quite a few first-timers (the Canada factor) and I hope some of the return, though I doubt they will. I also heard a number of people around me talking about the possibility that the team would be moved after the season. And when the power went out, the east side was loud with cries of "new stadium!"
The miscue was by Ryan Chocrane who continues to leave me quite unimpressed. Looks like Walker injured his ankle. As was mentioned Conway's distribution was embarrassing. Spartan Stadium was embarrassing, The small crowd was embarrassing and yes Canada embarrassed us. Our squad out there could not handle the pace and speed of thought that Canada brought to the match. The Quakes played without confidence and were taken out of their game.
The offside flag was up about two passes before Donovan got the ball. The power outage occurred because they shot off mylar streamers from the press box level after Ching's goal. The wind blew the streamers back over the west stand and they hit a transformer, causing it to explode.
Ah...but why did it happen at that moment? My husband thinks the lights were going on, and that's the reason. I thought the lights had been on already. Did anyone notice Conway making some strange gestures after goal three? Like he was trying to surrender? Coming up for air?