It's not been easy, but after 7 undefeated games in a row and a late goal by Huckerby tonight, the San Jose Earthquakes are finally not in the last position in the league's standings anymore!

Darren Huckerby finally won his battle against Jack Jewsburry - Photo: Nap - The Project FC

For the first time this season, the Earthquakes were starting the game without Ramiro Corrales (knee sprain - View our season's stats). This would probably have been a huge handicap just 2 months ago, but Frank Yallop now has enough players on the bench. In this case he even had two solutions. The defensive one would have been Kelly Gray as a second defensive midfielder with Francisco Lima.

Playing at home and counting on Lima's ability to do the job himself, the San Jose coach chose a more offensive option with Ned Grabavoy. The two center midfielders did a great defensive job, but Grabavoy didn't have the expected offensive impact.

As usual since Darren Huckerby arrived in San Jose, the danger came mostly from the two british wingers, Ronnie O'Brien on the right and Huckerby on the left.

After a very good first 25 minutes, San Jose, seemed tired and let the Kansa City Wizards come back in the game. Between the 25th and the 40th minute the game was balanced. Both sides' defenses looked solid and controlled the few interesting offensive moves.

5 minutes before the end of the first half, the Quakes finally seemed decided to make a difference before the break and found some energy to accelerate their game. They immediately put the Wizard's defense in trouble and, after a couple of good chances, James Riley passed the ball to the right to Ronnie O'Brien who, with a perfect cross, found Arturo Alvarez' head at the six-yard line. Alvarez didn't miss the opportunity (1-0, 44th)

Arturo Alvarez scored the first goal for his team - Photo: Nap - The Project FC

3 minutes earlier, Scott Sealy received a great ball from Huckerby and took a shot that Kevin Hartman (Kansas City's goalkeeper) could only stop with his chest. On the rebound, O'Brien's shot was deflected by a defender for a corner kick.

Overall, the Wizards were lucky to reach half time only one goal behind and the Earthquakes were going to regret the missed opportunities.

After the break, Kansas City seemed to be a totally different team. They controlled the game during 20 minutes, moving the ball very well and creating great chances. Only a solid defense and a great Joe Cannon delayed the event, but the visitors were going to score. It happened in the 64th minute, when Michael Harrington received the ball on his right wing and had all the time to control it and send a perfect cross into Davy Arnaud's run at the far post. Arnaud arrived right before Jason Hernandez could intercept the cross and pushed the ball into the net (1-1, 64th)

Probably as a consequence of their recent good streak of results and knowing that they could do much better than this, the local team, instead of sinking, took the control of the game again and, with a great determination, finished the game the same way they had started it.

With two pair of fresh legs (Ryan Johnson and Shea Salinas came in and were both involved in the winning goal) the Earthquakes shook the Kansas City's defense during 20 minutes and eventually were rewarded for their effort when Lima crossed from the left to Ryan Johnson at the far post. Johnson headed the ball towards the goal and Huckerby was there to push it in the back of net right before Hartman could catch it (2-1, 83rd)

Darren Huckerby after pushing the ball in the net for the winning goal - Photo: Nap - The Project FC

Kansas City then desperately tried to send long balls in the Earthquakes' 18. Most of them were gifts to the Quakes' defenders or Joe Cannon. However, the visitors had one last chance to steal a point in the stoppage time: Roger Espinoza, alone in front of Joe Cannon, forced the goalkeeper to a miraculous save. Cannon could only deflect the shot into Chance Myers feet. With the goal open 5 yards in front of him, the Wizards' defender who replaced Michael Harrington one minute earlier totally missed his volley and wasted the last opportunity for his team.

With 25 points, the Earthquakes pass Colorado (24 points) and join the Galaxy in the 5th position in the Western Conference, just 1 point behind Dallas (26 points) and 2 behind Chivas (27)

After a friendly game against Seattle (USL-1 - Future MLS) next Tuesday at Buck Shaw, the Earthquakes receive DC United on September 6th at 7pm and the Houston Dynamo on September 13th at 7pm. (SJ Earthquakes' Schedule)

Thierry Heumann (email)

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Reactions

Frank Yallop's press conference after the game: Scott Sealy about his adaptation to San Jose: Scott Sealy about his team not killing the game earlier:

 

Statistics

Attendance: 10,089

Goals:

SJ: Arturo Alvarez (44', Assist: Ronnie O'Brien), Darren Huckerby (83', Assist: Ryan Johnson)

KCW: Davy Arnaud (64', Assist: Michael Harrington)

Yellow Cards:

SJ: Francisco Lima (Reckless Foul, 46')

KCW: Kurt Morsink (Delaying a restart, 26')

Stats:

SJ: Shots 13; Shots on Goal 6; Saves 3; Fouls 12; Offsides 2; Corner Kicks 8.

KCW: Shots 10; Shots on goal 4; Saves 4; Fouls 11; Offsides 4; Corner Kicks 4.

 

Kevin Hartman
Jack Jewsburry	Aaron Hohlbein (Roger Espinoza, 86')	Jimmy Conrad (C.)	Matt Marquess
Kerry Zavagnin		Kurt Morsink (Carlos Marinelli, 45'))
Michael Harrington (Chance Myers, 89')			Claudio Lopez
Davy Arnaud		Josh Wolff

Asst: Darren Clark	Ref: Paul Ward		Asst: Emiliano Monje
	4th Official: Yader Reyes
Arturo Alvarez (Shea Salinas, 81')		Scott Sealy (Jovan Kirovski, 89')
Darren Huckerby			Ronnie O'Brien
Ned Grabavoy (Ryan Johnson, 67')		Francisco Lima
Eric Denton	Nick Garcia (C)	Jason Hernandez	James Riley
Joe Cannon

 

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