Match report from mlsnet.com (including some quotes from Kinnear, plus lineups): http://www.mlsnet.com/content/04/sj0225gif.html Dunivant, Ching, day-to-day and did not play. Tighe got time at d-mid in place of Mulrooney at 60th minute. Donovan didn't play until 60th minute; got his goal in the 90th.
Way to go Tighe! Cochran also played 30 minutes in place of Dayak. Anyone else find it interesting that Ekelund went 90 while we took out Mulrooney? I hope Richard didn't pick up a knock.
I'm thinking maybe he kept Ronnie in to improve his fitness. Mulrooney had been with the Nats and is probably more fit right now.
Or maybe he kept Ronnie in with Tighe because he wants Tighe to learn from Ronnie so he can eventually replace him...
Or maybe it was just a matter that Ronnie hadnt been with the team due to Visa issues and Dom wanted to give him as much time with the other guys as possible. There are a lot potential of reasons for it. Its preseason, their isnt too much to read into it.
It looks like Dallas lost to Odd Grenland 2-1 on thursday in the game that was postponed on Wednesday due to lightning strikes. The only MLS team with a win so far
Dallas had to win the first game to have much of a chance of advancing. Doubt that they'll get much of a result against Dynamo. I was kind of hoping to see the Quakes get to play against some MLS oponents in the later rounds. I guess it'll be that much sweeter beating an all-Euro field...
Personally, I figure the MLS opponents will come later, and I can wait. I would love to see the Quakes take on Dynamo in this mini-tourney, who would be VERY stiff competition.
Re: Re: Quakes will participate in La Manga Cup again Boy, Ekelund looks like he's in GREAT shape right now. I've never seen him look like this so early in the season. http://www.sjearthquakes.com/photoarchive/2004/lamanga/225_ekelund.gif
Re: Re: Re: Quakes will participate in La Manga Cup again He's the guy on the right with the red sweater/jumper thing?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Quakes will participate in La Manga Cup again Actually, that's the guy we're scouting as the replacement for Krazy George.
Re: Re: Re: Quakes will participate in La Manga Cup again That picture is enough to make me faint...HOTTTTTIIIEESS! The hottest midfield tandom of the league!
I think you guys won 2-1. Congrats... Here is the link, but for some reason they haven't updated the standings for the group. But it was Walker and Levesque after you got done by 1 in the 31st min. http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/sport/fotball/article192699.ece
wow, both the Metros and Quakes qualified through to the next round. Quakes won group, and Metros as the top 2nd place finisher. Now if Dallas could only beat Dynamo Kiev by 3 goals .......... hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Walker=steal of the century! He just keeps getting better, do we let him rot on the bench as a super-sub or start him over DeRo? We're spoiled for choice people, Donovan, Walker,Ching ,DeRosario and Levesque. We'll lose Donovan and Mulrooney to WCQ, let's hope Walker doesn't get called as well. ---------Walker------DeRosario----------- Corrales--Ekelund--(insert name)--Mullan--- Waibel--Agoos--Dayak--Dunivant------ or Agoos--Robinson--Dayak--Dunivant-- Only 42 days until our home opener, can you believe that!
Why is there no match report on this 2-1 victory anywhere? MLSnet, sjearthquakes.com.... arrghhhh.....
From the Quakes: Earthquakes Win Group and Move Into Semifinals at La Manga Cup With 2-1 Victory Over Stabaek Ching Nets Second-Half Game-Winner; Walker Scores for Second Straight Game 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.” La Manga Cup San Jose Earthquakes 2, Stabaek 1 La Manga, Spain 1 2 F San Jose Earthquakes 1 1 2 Stabaek 1 0 1 Lineups SJ - GK Jon Conway, D Craig Waibel, D Ryan Cochrane, D Jeff Agoos (Wes Hart, 60th), D Ramiro Corrales, M Brian Mullan, M Richard Mulrooney (Tighe Dombrowski, 65th), M Ronnie Ekelund, M Ian Russell (Arturo Alvarez, 46th), F Dwayne De Rosario (Brian Ching, 60th), F Jamil Walker (Roger Levesque, 60th). STA – GK Jon Knudsen, D Morten Skjonsberg (Samir Fazlagic, 80th), D Mike Kjolo, D Christian Holter, D Inge Olsen, M Stian Ohr, M Henning Hauger, M Mads Jorgensen, M Samuel Wowoah, F Thomas Finstad, F Branimir Poljac (Peter Sand, 70th). Scoring Summary STA - Poljac (Unassisted), 32nd; SJ - Walker (Corrales), 34th; SJ - Ching (Levesque), 73rd. Cautions/Ejections SJ - Mullan (Yellow), 37th; SJ - Waibel (Red), 70th; STA - Skjonsberg (Yellow), 74th; STA – Fazlagic (Yellow), 87th. Statistics SJ STA Shots 14 11 Shots on Goal 7 7 Saves 6 5 Offside 6 1 Corner Kicks 2 3
Oh, and a couple comments on the match report: - When I read in the opening paragraph that the Quakes had a player red-carded, my first thought was "Waibel." Sure enough... - Looks like this ends any speculation about Wes Hart being with the team. He came in for Agoos (!) in the 60th minute. - Ching scores! Walker scores! Donovan didn't even play! Man, are we deep at forward. Gotta love it. - Is there an actual cup that goes with this tournament? Because there's always room in the trophy case...
It looks like Levesque is coming into his own and is trying to work his way into the starting 11. Excellent position for Dom to be in, too many choices. Not only are we kicking ass in Europe, the galaxative scum lost to a second division french team today or yesterday, 2-0. Hahahahaha Life is good!
It is good to see Waibel's play is business as usual. I think he will definitely be a liability this year!!!!!! You are right about the Hart speculation. Interesting on where he is going to fit in. Initial prognosis is he will help shore up the back line. All in all, this seems like a great start for the year. Two wins in two games! Fantastic!