Wednesday, July 20, 2011

LIVE: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS at SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Beautiful day in San Jose at Buckshaw stadium.

Weather: Clear and 82 degrees

Referee: Paul Ward
Referee Asst: Darren Clark
Referee Asst: Phillipe Bierre
4th Official: Tyler Ploeger

Attendance:
?



Official Rosters

Vancouver Whitecaps (2-10-8, 14pts)
GK Joe Cannon
DF Michael Boxall
DF Greg Janicki
DF Jeb Brovsky
DF Jonathan Leathers
MF Shea Salinas
MF Gershon Koffie
MF Pete Vagenas - Captain
MF Camilo
FW Eric Hassli
FW Mustapha Jarju

Subs
GK Jay Nolly
DF Wes Knight
DF Bilal Duckett
MF Michael Nanchoff
MF Nizar Khalfan
MF Davide Chiumento
FW Omar Salgado


SJ Earthquakes (5-6-8, 23pts)
GK Jon Busch
DF Chris Leitch
DF Bobby Burling
DF Jason Hernandez
DF Ramiro Corrales - Captain
MF Jacob Peterson
MF Simon Dawkins
MF Brad Ring
MF Khari Stephenson
MF Ryan Johnson
MF Chris Wondolowski
FW Steven Lenhart

Subs
GK Andrew Weber
DF Tim Ward
DF Nana Attakora
MF Rafael Baca
MF Sam Cronin
MF Bobby Convey
FW Scott Sealy


3min: GOAL SJ QUAKES Wondolowski with a nice goal from the left in the box, assisted by Dawkins and Lenhart


8min: New Vancouver DP, Jarju, gets free at the top right of the box and blasts one across goal, sailing a little high. On the other end, Cannon nearly bobbles a shot across the goal mouth, looking a little nervous being back home.

15min: SJ moving up the ball well through the middle through Dawkins and up the right side, beating Leathers up the wing for a corner. Ball headed high in the air and Cannon cleans up easily.

17min: Vancouver on the other end working the right side through Salinas and Jarju loses the ball up top but showing signs of syncing better with teammates.

19min: Vancouver is fouled and continue to send searching balls up the wing.

25min: Whitecaps with several lazy passes and missed off the ball movement. If they can get it together, they might turn it around.

28min: Vancouver still sniffing around goal but that last pass is missing, still some mis-communication or too light of a touch. San Jose on the attack with a great long cross from the right back to the left wing, but Wondo can't bring it down.

30min: Lenhart on a break from a through by Dawkins, but Cannon stuffs him low in the box.

34min: Vancouver moving up the left very slowly and Busch almost misses a slowly rolling ball across the goal mouth. Both teams look a little off at the moment.

37min: Hassli fighting and trying to create up front. So far not much from Jarju.

39min: YELLOW CARD for Vancouver Whitecaps Jeb Brovsky for a push from behind. Going to b a long day from Whitecaps if Camilo and Jarju can't pick it up. So far, Salinas and Hassli doing most of the work.

42min: SJ SUBSTITUTION Dawkins out, Baca in

42min: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS GOAL Hassli as soon as the subs is made Hassli wins the ball on the left and slots the ball past Busch on the right.


45min: SJ YELLOW CARD to Brad Ring, resulting a curling free kick by Camilo that misses the goal wide right. Shortly thereafter Leathers with a run up the left side and the ball low across the goal to Camilo who blasts it wide left. He's getting closer. Could be a different game if he catches fire.

HALFTIME

46min: Dawkins out with a light hamstring pull. Quakes with early control of the ball. Baca with some early action with a cross from the left side of the box. Hassli trying to spirn gJarju but not quite on the same page.

49min: Vancouver with with some nice work by Koffie up the left, who eventually slaps one at goal from the left that Busch easily collects.

53min: Hassli almost nets another with a hanging header that nearly chips Busch.

55min: GOAL SJ Wondolowski header with a free kick assist from Peterson


57min: VANCOUVER SUBSTITUTION Jarju out, Chiumeinto in.

60min: GOAL VANCOUVER Hassli after Chiumiento slots the ball up the left side to Salinas, who performs some stepovers long the goal line to to drop the ball back from the left to the top of the box for Hassli to nail into the back of the net up the middle.


66min: SJ SUBSTITUTION Peterson out, Convey in. Peterson with a good game connecting with Wondo. Camilo still a step off today. If he and Chiumiento were in sync, this would be a scary game for SJ.

69min: Vagenas out with a hit to the face, but back on the pitch. Convey streaks up the left but is stopped by two Vancouver defenders.

73min: SJ YELLOW CARD to Leitch for a hand in the face of Chiumiento. Camilo with the free kick and it is low and hard and dummied by Vancouver Whitecaps and Busch has to pop it over the goal. Vancouver with the corner but can't make anything of it.

76min: Salinas with a nice run along goal line but can't get it across to his team, plus a little drama on getting up with Busch screaming at him to get up. Interesting to see what that was all about.

80min: Things are getting a little chippy and SJ makes a run up the left via Convey and wins a corner. VANCOUVER SUBSTITUTION Khalifan in, Hassli out.

81min: Vagenas with a lazy pass that starts a SJ counterattack. SJ SUBSTITUTION Sealy in, Stephenson out.

82min: Boxall with a horrific backward header sending Lenhart on goal alone, but he shoots it wide. Though Convey gets it up the left and sends it across to Lenhart on the right for a header that Cannon has to tip over the net. Corner for SJ, but Lenhart gets it to Wondo who flicks it to Cannon's open arms.

85min: Wow, Camilo on the end of a perfect long ball and Burling battles with him into the box, stopping a near goal for Vancouver.

86min: Khoffie with a nice ball slotted to the left corner for Camilo, who cuts inside and lays the ball across the goal but no one is there. Khoffie taken down from behind with a touch to the back of his heel and goes down.

88min: Khoffie gets the ball from way out on the left and lets one rip at goal and Busch has to leap for it.

4mins of stoppage time!

Wow, Wondo trying to dive and gets no love from the ref and then gets the ball again in the box, but Vancouver removes it from his foot. SJ YELLOW CARD to Corrales for a foul that wasn't that bad but he is irritated and kicks the ball away for card. Out next game, bad move by the veteran.

FINAL SJ EARTHQUAKES 2 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 2


What do you think? What do you expect out of Jarju in the line-up? Can Vancouver turn things around?

-Patrick Beatty

Saturday, July 9, 2011

LIVE: PHILADELPHIA UNION at SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Beautiful day in San Jose at Buckshaw stadium.

Weather: Sunny and 73 degrees

Referee: Elias Bazakos
Referee Asst: George Gansner
Referee Asst: Corey Parker
4th Official: Juan Guzman

Attendance:
9,794

Official Rosters

PHL Union (7-4-6, 27pts)
GK Faryd Mondragon - Captain
DF Sheanon Willaims
DF Danny Califf
DF Stefani Miglioranzi
DF Gabriel Farfan
MF Kyle Nakazawa
MF Brian Carroll
MF Justin Mapp
MF Keon Daniel
FW Sebastian Le Toux
FW Danny Mwanga

Subs
GK Zac Macmath
DF Juan Diego Gonzalez
MF Michael Farfan
MF Amobi Okugo
MF Zach Pfeffer
MF Roger Torres
FW Jack McInerney


SJ Earthquakes (5-6-6, 21pts)
GK Jon Busch
DF Chris Leitch
DF Bobby Burling
DF Jason Hernandez
DF Ramiro Corrales - Captain
MF Anthony Ampaipitakwong
MF Brad Ring
MF Khari Stephenson
MF Ryan Johnson
FW Simon Dawkins
FW Chris Wondolowski

Subs
GK Andrew Weber
DF Tim Ward
MF Rafael Baca
MF Sam Cronin
MF Justin Morrow
FW Ellis McLoughlin
FW Scott Sealy

Prior to the match, Philly's Mondragon was the first Union player on the pitch practicing and stretching. Good professional and what you want out of your captain. Tonight will be a challenging night for the Quakes as they are without forward Steven Lenhart, who is out due to yellow card accumulation. Attendance seems a little lighter than normal but as a fan told me, not having a stadium is still keeping some people from attending as regular season ticket holders. Interesting to see Baca already on the bench after being officially signed just yesterday. No Ruiz for PHL and not injured, could this be a sign of things to come with interest from Puebla?

What are you hoping to see out of the game today? Can the Quakes rally from a loss last week, while the Union are looking for a road win in the West?

1min: PPHL with the ball and working it out of the back, Mwanga already harrasing Burling and almost stripping the ball in the back.

2min: Busch with a bad pass that is out of bounds but Stephenson on the counter on the right side of the pitch but Philly win the ball back the other direction and Mapp is tripped up for a free kick for PHL just outside of the 18.

3min: Wondo wins th ball on the right side and crates some havoc up the right side before being stripped and PHL coutners up the right but fouls SJ. 1906 Ultras chanting and showing their team pride....great atmosphere! This is the thing you can't get from watching a game at home.

5min: PHL in control again up the left side with some interplay between Carroll, Farfan, and Daniel. Slowly working their way up the side with throw-ins. So far both sides have been in the attack but with few chances on frame.

7min: A bit of ping pong with the ball not well controlled by either team in the middle of the pitch. Mapp trying to assert some poise. PHL fouled and Dawkins looks to be getting sick of the physicality and coverage of him.

10min: Califf is already getting booed by fans for physical play. Lots of bumping going on.

11min: Dawkins gets the ball in the middle and slips in near the top of the box and lets off a shot that barely misses the bottom right corner of the PHL goal.

12min: Farfan on the return up the left wing sends a curling ball to the far right back post but no one is there. Goal kick SJ.

13min: Mwanga works the right sideline and the ball is tackled out for a corner, but the corner is weak and a lazy ball is played back and SJ are on the attack. Both teams going back and forth. Leitch sends a cross from the right back to Johnson on the left who rips one towards goal but Mondragon is well-positioned to stop the ball.

16min: Johnson again with a shot, even after some pushing with Califf goes uncalled. So far no real dominance by either team but at times, PHl has seemed more controlled. Busch with another ball that is poorly kicked.

18min: PHL in control again and Mapp with a burst of speed up the right outpacing his defender getting a shot off that Busch has to catch and hold over the end line with his body out of bounds.

20min: The game has slowed with some minor fouls by SJ and PHL. Mwanga falling down a bit and PHL on the attack but can't get it through the box even after Mapp blasts it into a defender from the right and Daniel follows up with a run along the backline from the left and slips the ball across the box, but with no result.

24min: Williams goes up for a ball with Johnson and the contact draws a foul against PHL at the top left of the box and the shot goes wide right of the goal.

25min: Williams causing problems for SJ with his crosses from the right back position. PHL on the attack and moving the ball around but Dawkins intercepts but PHl regains the ball.

27min: Leitch prevents a streaking Le Toux up the left from going at goal with a throw-in for PHL. PHL maintaining control of the ball.

28min: Some nice interplay at the top of the box between Daniel, Le Toux, and Mwanga with Mwanga ripping a shot from the top of the box that Busch cannot catch but the rebound is sent harmlessly over the players by Carroll.

30min: Wow, Daniel wins the ball in the middle and slips through several defenders and after waiting what seemed like too long slips a ball through the SJ defense at close range to Mwanga, who gets rounds the keeper but SJ defenders cover the box keeping PHL off the score sheet.

33min: Califf wins the ball up the left and crashes into Johnson to let him know he is there. Califf winning headers, but sometimes his headers are upwards not forwards.

35min: Nakazawa a beast today and Williams clears a dangerous cross from Leitch.

37min: SJ moving the ball from left to right to get Leitch ready to serve in a ball. No result but some good efforts by Leitch. Supporters still chanting and drumming. Great job!

39min: SJ gets a chance on one end but PHl defense earns a goal kick (though most supporters thought it was a corner) and PHL counters with Daniel a beast up the left side. Good positioning and use of the body.

42min: Mwanga with a cheeky backheel to drop the ball for Le Toux at the top of the box, but it bounces off a defender with Williams running it down for a throw-in. Ampaipitakwong takes a ball in the face on the right, which almost starts a SJ counter.

45min: Le Toux running at goal but Burling heads the incoming ball over him and to Busch's hands, nice defending by SJ.

HALFTIME:
SHOTS: PHL 5 SJ 2
SHOTS ON GOAL: PHL 3 SJ 1
SAVES: PHL 1 SJ 2
FOULS: PHL 3 SJ 5
CORNERS: PHL 1 SJ 2
OFFSIDES: PHL 1 SJ 0

Said Hi to the 1906 Ultras and congratulated them on making the atmosphere what it is. Great job by them and the Casbah. I see a supporters group has made it out from Philly too.

46min: SJ on the attack with Mondragon having to bunch a Leitch cross out.

47min: Mapp with a run up the middle and Mwanga is slipped the ball in the box but can't convert with defenders around him. On the other end of the pitch, Johnson lets loose with a shot that goes across the goal from the left hitting the top right corner post. Game is opening up in the second half for both sides.

50min: Boos rain down on referee Bazakos as he calls a foul against SJ after a PHL and SJ player collide going up for a ball in the air.

52min: Nakazawa with a sweet through ball for Mwanga who rips a shot and Nusch saves it. Le Toux with a low shot on his left after a spin and Busch makes a divign save. Jumping up afterward screaming at his defense.

54min: Mapp trying to run through defenders in the middle of the field and goes down with push, earning the foul and a torrent of boos for the ref from the fans. Still no result on either end, though Busch has been busier than Mondragon.

58min: PHL SUBSTITUTION MF Michael Farfan for MF Keon Daniel

59min: SJ SUBSTITUTION FW Ellis Mcloughlin for MF Anthony Ampaipitakwong

60min: Williams wins a race with Johnson and gets underneath him, earning a foul and the ball for PHL.

61min: Wow, Le Toux up the left side sends a low ball that goes all the way across the goal mouth to an oncoming Williams at the right post, which is just tapped away by a sliding Corrales.

62min: Nakazawa with the ball and it meets an onrushing Le Toux who lets loose a shot right at Busch. PHL showing some life. PHL on the attack and Busch misclears again with the ball going out of bounds.

64min: YELLOW CARD on Johnson. After getting frustrated with defending by Miglioranzi, Johnson lashed out and caught him in the face.

9794 in attendance!

66min: Corrales fouls PHL and sets up a PHL free kick from the right and the fans chant "ref you suck". Followed by another foul by Johnson that results in outrage by the fans.

68min: Mapp with a cutting run through the middle of the pitch with Michael Farfan running across the box and getting a shot off.

70min: PHL MF Roger Torres in for MF Justin Mapp

72min: SJ earns a free kick but can't convert with it (as well as fouling PHL in the box). Unless something changes, PHL may get out of here with a point.

73min: Michael Farfan ends up with ball at the top of the box and takes several shots before deflecting off SJ and earning a corner that Busch smothers.

75min: Burling trips up PHL at the top of the box, giving PHL a free kick from the top of the penalty box. Dangerous moments for SJ. Le Toux curls the ball in hard but defender in the way and it goes for a corner.

76min: Dawkins with a ball slipped towards goal but no one on the same page.

79min: PHL SUBSTITUTION FW Jack McInerney in for FW Danny Mwanga.

80min: SJ SUBSTITUTION MF Rafael Baca in for MF Simon Dawkins. Baca was just signed yesterday and already making his debut!

82min: Torres gos up for a ball and heads it just over goal. Le Toux was in front of him also hoping to get a head on it.

83min: McLoughlin slid at PHL in the box and earns PHL a free kick literally from the tip of the penalty box. Not a good play. Wow, blistering shot by PHL's McInerney from the left that just misses the bottom right corner. SJ get very lucky.

88min: Le Toux with a shot on goal that results in a long throw by Busch to Baca, who earns a free kick in PHL's third. YELLOW CARD to SJ Jason Hernandez who takes out PHL's Roger Torres.

3mins of stoppage time!

Wow, Le Toux with the ball in the PHL box and McInerney calling for it, but he gives it to Torres, who can't get through the defense. On the counter, Williams stops Wondo from a close call at the bottom left corner.

Wondo works the endline and earns a corner...but its right to Mondragon.

FINAL PHL UNION 0 SJ EARTHQUAKES 0

What did you think? Who had a standout game? What do you think of the debut of Baca for SJ? What could PHL have done differently to have put this match away? Can SJ recover their form at Columbus on July 16th?

-Patrick Beatty