Throwback Tuesday - Taking Down Dom

Years and years ago, I took an MLS coach to task in an article for his playoff strategy - or lack thereof, as I saw it. 

Though the San Jose Earthquakes were indeed relocated, my worst fears for Dom Kinnear didn't happen. He did learn from his playoff setbacks and went on to win multiple MLS Cups with the Houston Dynamo. 

He also gave me a long, hard look the next time I interviewed him - one that made me guess that he'd read my article (it isn't online any more, but was at the time). However, Dom has always been polite and fair to reporters, and other than that unwavering stare, never said anything to me about my criticisms. 

Winning Cups is the best response, anyway. I still stand by what I wrote, however, and still think I'm right about a practical approach to the playoffs instead of the "Win every game, no matter what" view. 

The article is quite a trip down memory lane, to a time when the Quakes held more Cups than the Galaxy, when Steve Nicol and Alejandro Moreno weren't on the ESPN FC couch, when Herculez Gomez played for LA. How times have changed in a decade!

Starting just this year, Dom Kinnear is now back in San Jose, so I expect to see a revival of the California Clasico between the Earthquakes and the Galaxy.

Be warned - I used to think the whole point of writing online was not worrying about word count, and the article is long. This was way before Twitter, when I just might have posted, "D. Kinnear took a good team to the playoffs and threw away their chance at a title with poor strategy."  

But that would leave out all the juicy details. 

Preki post-Quakes

Here's some of Preki's thoughts after his team split points with the 'Quakes. There's not going to be any video of Frank Yallop, because he didn't do a post-game presser.

Chivas USA/Earthquakes rb

Chivas USA versus the new and improved Quakes in a major clash for points for two playoff desperate teams.

I ran into Sacha Kljestan's dad, Slavko, in the elevator. He looked at the Free Kick magazine, where his son is the coverboy and said, "Who is that guy?" The younger guy with him (a friend of Sacha?) said dryly, "Yeah, he must have an ugly dad."
I cracked up a little at that. Slavko shook his head at the magazine. "He needs a haircut, don't you think?" He turned to me.
By then, the elevator had opened and the pair had stepped out. "You tell him that," I said before the doors closed.
Quakes
* 1 - Joe Cannon (GK)
* 2 - Eric Denton
* 3 - Nick Garcia
* 4 - James Riley
* 6 - Darren Huckerby
* 7 - Ronnie O'Brien
* 10 - Francisco Lima
* 12 - Ramiro Corrales 14 out
* 17 - Arturo Alvarez
* 21 - Jason Hernandez
* 33 - Scott Sealy
Chivas USA
* 28 - Zach Thornton (GK)
* 3 - Jim Curtin
* 4 - Shavar Thomas
* 5 - Paulo Nagamura
* 6 - Francisco Mendoza
* 9 - Ante Razov
* 13 - Jonathan Bornstein
* 16 - Sacha Kljestan
* 19 - Jorge Flores
* 24 - Atiba Harris
* 37 - Kraig Chiles


Kickoff!
5 - Chivas USA have a corner. They take it short and get a throw. Quakes clear the danger.
7 - Ante caught offside. The Quakes have a pretty impressive traveling contingent sitting in the regular Riot Squad section. that's good to see. They're loud too, spurring the Union Ultras and the Legion to try to drown them out.
12 - Corrales is down. Apparently he stepped on Atiba Harris trying to make a tackle and his left ankle turned. He limps off after at least three minutes.
15 - Kelly Gray comes in for Corrales.
19 - Eeeek moment for the Quakes. Razov hit a long pass to Harris, but Garcia got there first. His backpass to Cannon almost didn't make it and Cannon had to run outside his box to play the ball.
20 - Chivas USA corner. It's cleared.
23 - The Quakes had the ball in the Chivas USA box and Alvarez was trying to turn but Curtin cleared the ball way out first.
Bad news for Ramiro Corrales. It's actually his knee that's the problem. He has a left knee MCL sprain.
25 - Harris is offside, again.
27 - Sealy gets undercut going for a header, and topples acrobatically. It's interesting that sometimes the most spectacular falls are where the player bounces back but just fine, and the ones that look like no big deal are often the worst.
29 - Razov earns a free kick right at the arc. Joe got burned by 'Te FK the last time the teams played here.
30 - 'Te went near post - and barely missed wide right.
34 - Jase Hernandez just had a nifty take-away tackle on his old teammate, 'Te.
37 - Riley gets a yellow for his takle on Flores.
39 - Bornstein heads a dangerous long ball out.
40 - Atiba Harris is down. It looked on the replay like Garcia caught him on the ankle as he was clearing a pass.
42 - Someone asked about the formation for CHivas - looks like a 4-4-2, with Flores breaking forward on the attack.
44 - Denton slidetackles a dangerous ball out.
45 - Sach with a shot off a feed from 'Te! Joe saves it.
45 - Too often, games where a lot is on the line end up like this - tightly contested affairs where not a lot happens - 000hhhh, Flores fights his way into the box, great job there, lays off a perfect little pass to 'Tiba - ugh, he shoots way wide.
46 - Chivas USA right off the bat with a chance, but a Quakes defender clears the cross into the box.
48 - Chivas USA moving the ball well around the perimeter of the Quakes' box. Joe finally claims an errant pass.
50 - Chiles cross in front of goal - no one. Oooh, deep Quakes pass nearly gets through while Zach is off his line.
52 - O'Brien with an outside shot. I could see that one coming. He dips his head slightly before he shoots.
'Te on the counter! Tries to finesse the ball low into the corner and misses wide.
53 - Shaver Thomas gets a yellow card for a tackle.
55 - Denten with a foul on Chiles deep. Chiles sends in the FK like a cross, but the Quakes clear. It gets served back in - over the line. Goal kick.
56 - Some in the pressbox think this is Huckerby's worst game since he joined the league. He's done little of note.
57 - Hernandez is given a yellow for a clumsy shoulder challenge. It's a FK in a dangerous spot, but Sacha doesn't do much with it. High over the bar.
60 - Alecko Eskandarin is in for Chiles.
63 - 'Te tumbles, but kicks out at Hernandez at the same time - gets called for the foul. Sach had a nice play to get 'Te the ball, but Hernandez was all over it.
66 - Bornstein rampages up for a shot - wide.
67 - Joe comes out for a cross - oddly, he hesitated a bit and made it more scary for his defender than it should have been.
68 - Attendance is announced as 12,209.
69 - Kelly Gray high on a FK, but it deflected and the Quakes have a corner. It's taken short, put out and another corner follows.
70 - Zach punches this one out, heaving his bulk through the crowd in the box.
73 - Offside! No goal for Alecko there.
75 - Quake corner - headed wide.
77 - Ooh! Joe saves a touch Harris shot, give ups the rebound, Mendoza chases it down and slips a pass to 'Te, who shoots wide of the far post.
81 - Quake FK - Zach catches.
84 - Ned Grabavoy comes in for Sealy.
89 - Crappy backpass gives Ante a chance in the box - Quake defense barely recovers.
90 + O'Brien gets a yellow for a bad tackle.
Quake corner. Alvarez header - over the bar.
Deep Quake throw. Huckerby fights his way into the box, but Zack saves the shot.
Final whistle
No late game heroics. The teams split the points.

Galaxy/Quakes running blog

Will the Galaxy break their unbeaten streak versus the San Jose Earthquakes? Or will the Quakes' new reinforcements strike back at their California rivals in their final meeting of the regular season? Predictions before kickoff, please.

The Telefutura announcers rightly note that records don't matter in a clasico. Also, that the Galaxy need to win to get back in the playoff picture.
Galaxy Startin IV
* 1 - Steve Cronin (GK)
* 3 - Greg Vanney
* 4 - Ante Jazic
* 7 - Chris Klein
* 8 - Peter Vagenas
* 10 - Landon Donovan
* 14 - Edson Buddle
* 21 - Alan Gordon
* 23 - David Beckham
* 26 - Ely Allen
* 28 - Sean Franklin

Earthquakes IV
* 1 - Joe Cannon (GK)
* 2 - Eric Denton
* 3 - Nick Garcia
* 5 - Ryan Cochrane
* 6 - Darren Huckerby
* 7 - Ronnie O'Brien
* 10 - Francisco Lima
* 12 - Ramiro Corrales
* 17 - Arturo Alvarez
* 21 - Jason Hernandez
* 33 - Scott Sealy

So after his rather nightmare debut. Eduardo Dominguez is not starting, but he is on the bench.
Kickoff!
1 - SJ defense cuts off the first Galacy foray into Quakeland.
2 - The Telefutura graphics are annoying, they cut right into the main picture. Someday someone is going to score right in the opening seconds and the viewers are going to get cheated because of the display.
5 - If Alvarez is part of a Quake defeat of the Galaxy today, he'll have beaten LA twice in a row with different teams.
6 - Sealy gets away with a foul on the attacking end. No surprise, since Abbe Olkulaja is the ref. Then Sealy is surrounded on another attack and gets a shot off that goes over the bar and hits the Galaxy net on the outside.
7 - Another SJ attack leads to a corner, but Okylaja blows the whislte on this one and the ball goes for a GK.
8 - GOAL! AA! The early pressure by the Quakes pays off! Sealy and Alvarez work a nice interplay which leaves the D in the box outnumbered and Alvarez slots it low past Cronin, who was coming out to try to pressure the ball. 1-0 Quakes.
9 - B uddle over the bar on a counter.
11 - Donovan on the attack, but his shot is deflected and Cannon picks the ball up.
12 - Buddle whistled for offside on an attack. He looks very unhappy at the call, but no replay to show validity or not.
13 - Ronnie O'Brien offside.
14 - Cronin out for a low cross - barely beats AA to it. The ball bounces away from Cronin, but Franklin clears it to safety.
16 - "Si se pudo" now the announcers discuss the SuperLiga and MLS success in ousting the Mexican teams. They don't mention the crappy reffing.
17 - San Jose looking more dangerous, while the little spurt by the Galaxy passed rather quickly.
18 - "Miserable" the announcers call the pass from Beckham, and it was, just after LD sprung Becks on a great pass of his own, threading three defenders. Becks was trying to reach Gordo, but the pass wasn't close.
19 - Cannon snatches as ball out of the air, despite the best efforts of Alan Gordon to get a head on it.
20 - No goal. It looked like an offside, but Ramiro Corrales looked for a flag and not getting one, went in alone against Cronin and shot past him - into the outside of the side netting. That could easily have been the second.
24 - Ely goes down in the box, where Buddle fed him a great pass. Hard to see if there was a foul, but he's certainly not getting a call from Okulaja.
25 - CK for the Galaxy, but Becks shoots over everyone in the box and the opportunity is lost.
27 - Now the Galaxy are getting a bit of purchase in the midfield, but the Quakes are fighting them every inch of the way, tooth and nail to hang on to their lead by denying the Galaxy even a sniff of the goal.
29 - Save! O'Brien crosses to AA, who sends a solid header on goal, but Cronin stops it.
31 - The midfield for the Quakes is strong and had moved the squad out of the defensive shell they've occupied most of the year.
33 - Ely give up a FK - dangerous, though a bit far. O'Brien slams it into outer space. Far, far over the goal.
34 - Quake counter messed up by a poor O'Brien cross.
35 - LD fouled by Hernandez. The FK reaches Gordon, but he can't get a good header off.
39 - Jazic gets off a good cross and Gordon heads it down in front of goal, but no one from the Galaxy can get anything on the ball to dink it inside before it goes out over the line.
40 - GOAL! Huckerby beats Klein on the wing, or Klein slips, and Huckerby charges in on goal alone, Vanney gets out to gut part of the angle, but Huckerby shoots straight at Cronin, who can't deflect it to safety, only to the far post, where it slips in. 2-0 Quakes.
42 - GOAL! Twice Becks tees up a cross for LD, who gets off a header that Cannon saves, but the rebound gets out to Becks again and his second cross again finds LD, who this time, pops the ball into the corner away from Cannon's save. 2-1 Quakes still lead.
45 - O'Brien nearly takes on four Galaxy players, but then loses the ball over the line.
Halftime - Well, the newbies on the Quakes are certainly making themselves welcome, scoring goals to give the team the lead. The new- look Quakes are playing all-around better, though, and could make a final run in what's left of the season.
As for the Galaxy - their now-usual mix of good and bad. Franklin is doing well on his return. Ely looks intimidated in front of goal and Beckham can follow a poor cross with the loveliest one. LD, meanwhile, pads his Golden Boot lead just a bit.
With the way the Galaxy can play, a second goal is very possible, if not even more, but whether it's the shaky defense that gives before the offense strikes is an open question.
In the pre-recorded interview played at halftime, LD is asked if he sees his team in the MLS final. He answers, basically. "No. Our team doesn't seem complete yet. Teams who advance in the playoffs have a good defense and we don't have that right now. We need to improve. With me, Edson and Carlos, we're going to score goals, so if our defense improves, we could do well."
46 - Heh, as the announcers complain about the amateur nature of Mike Randolph entering late as a sub, holding up the match slightly, they repeatedly call him Troy Roberts. So, professional indeed, not knowing the actual players on the team.
47 - Randolph (they finally get his name right) is in for Ely Allen.
48 - Cochrane picks up a yellow.
49 - CK for the Quakes as Cronin fumbles with the ball, and Klein is forced to kick it away to safety.
50 - CK again, but the Galaxy finally get the ball again.
51 - Huckerby is playing well, which probably pisses off John Carver, but Huckerby didn't like the Toronto turf.
52 - Another Ck for the Quakes, but the Galaxy clear.
54 - Beckham down in the box, no call, Gordon attempts a shot, Cannon catches and starts a counter that ends with a Sealy shot that barely misses high.
56 - Lima is also improving SJ a lot. He's in the mix of everything, denying the Galaxy a lot of passes and chances.
57 - A poor Cronin clear leads to an SJ corner, but Cronin redeems himself a bit by catching the service.
58 - huh, one of the announcers thinks the McBride deal was a bad one for the Fire. Doesn't think a young player should be traded. Ok.
61 - The Galaxy with a slightly better of a run of play for a bit, but no real chances yet.
62 - "Arturito!" but his shot is stopped by Cronin. AA seems thrilled to be back in San Jose. He's playing great.
63 - Long pass by Becks to Gordo leads to a FK chance, but the D of SJ rejects the service from Beckham. Becks is playing far, far back this half.
66 - Abbe won't stop play for a fallen and apparently injured Corrales, but LD finally does. There's no foul, because Franklin got to the ball first. Corrales limps for a bit, but seems to be walking it off.
68 - Sure enough, there is Corrales running on the field again.
70 - Buddle shot after fighting through the defense of SJ, but Cannon dives down for the ball.
72 - LD fights through about four SJ defenders in the box, but is cross gets cut off.
73 - O'Brien shoots just wide on an SJ counter attack.
74 - LD gets a yellow for a hand on Huckerby's back. That gives the home crowd reason to cheer.
75 - Buddle with a shot that goes high. Ruiz enters for Chris Klein. So the Galaxy are going with a defensive line of three players. Wow.
76 - GOAL! Buddle! Funny, because the announcers have been harshing on him all game. Cochrane helped inadvertently by falling over Nick Garcia and Buddle rocketed through the glimmer of daylight that remained.
78 - SJ looking to strike back - have a corner. Cronin catches.
79 - Randolph in the box, but the ball is out for a corner.
82 - The Galaxy are looking for the win - not protecting the road draw. It could pay off, or it could be fatal.
83 - Ryan Johnson in for O'Brien.
85 - Back and forth, but no solid chances for either side yet.
87 - Nick and Carlos get into it. Abbe comes over as the Ruiz taps Garcia on either side of the face.
88 - SJ corner. Galaxy clear, but the ball goes out for a deep throw.
89 - GOAL! Another SJ attack and Cronin saves one attempt, but the Galaxy fail to clear and the ball slips out to Cochrane, who drills it near post. 3-2 SJ. Announcers discuss how another ref might have red-carded Cochrane, who went on to change the game for SJ.
90 - Alan Gordon heads the ball over the goal.
90+ The Galaxy with a chance in the box, but can't put the ball on frame.
Final whistle.
The Quakes take away a victory, an especially sweet one given how they got the win in late in the game.

Double-A to San Jose

Arturo Alvarez is off to San Jose, while FC Dallas gets draft picks in exchange.
I'm not sure what to think of this move, except that the Schellas Hyndman regime apparently wasn't working for Arturo.
It's been a disappointing year for Alvarez - he came on strong at the close of the FC Dallas season before his silly foul in the playoffs cost Dallas a chance at the championship. Maybe he never got over that, or his teammates didn't or something, but he didn't have the same impact at the start of this season.
San Jose is in serious need of impact, so Arturo should get a chance there. Sometimes a fresh start really does work like a charm.

Off from the Wizards

And on to the wonderful world of San Jose. Scott Sealy is an Earthquakes player now. The forward was traded for allocation money, probably to help the club meet the salary cap now that Josh Wolff has returned.
Sealy scores goals, so that should help the Quakes, who can't seem to manage that very often.

More Joe

Joe Cannon seemed rather blue after the match in which the Earthquakes lost late to Chivas USA. What was interesting is that back during his LA tenure, a couple of reporters were honestly a bit worried about how hard Joe would take losses. I just figured he was a passionate competitor, plus everyone says goalkeepers are crazy, no?
This time, Joe didn't seem terribly upset, just kinda gloomy.

On when Lima joins the team:
I think next week, but obviously, a defensive mid is not going to solve all of our problems right now. We have nine goals in 15 games.
For us, it’s important to establish a style of play where maybe we can create a bit more.

What ails SJ?
We didn’t score again tonight. It’s funny. You look at teams like LA, who can constantly score, but then they’re constantly leaking goals, but then you look at the flipside. We’re not giving up many goals, but we’re also not scoring many goals. It’s tough. For us, you’d like to think that the offense is going to come around, but that hasn’t happened yet.

How that affects him:
You’ve got to do your job and just do what you’re paid to do. I know those guys are trying hard. But we’re not scoring enough. We have the foundation for guys who are going to be in this league and on this team for a while. We do a good job limiting chances. On the flip side, we need to search for new answers going forward. We’ve had injuries and national team callups, but I don’t think that should justify scoring, what, .66 points a game? I’m not picking on anyone on this team specifically, but we all need to do a better job of creating chances and obviously finishing them.

Positives of being back in SJ?
I’m an uncle now. My twin brother and sister in law just had a baby and family and friends are obviously the most important thing. It’s hard, really, though. It’s hard, when you’re a footballer, to enjoy life when you’re at 3-9-3, coming to work every day and looking at the standings. It’s the same pep talk, “If we can put two games together.” Pretty soon it’s going to be, “If we can put three games together.” It’s different. Last year, we had a ton of injuries and I thought we had a ton of reasons for not doing well. This year, we can’t score. It’s frustrating. I don’t think you can ask the defense to come into places like New England, DC, Chicago and Chivas and try to get 0-0 results every game. Goals are going to happen. They’re part of the game. Hats off to the guys in the back. They’re doing their jobs. We’ve been playing all right collectively. I feel like I’m getting into a groove. That’s why it’s disappointing for us not to get a result tonight.

The dirge of loss

I had to blink a little bit, listening to Frank Yallop talk about the tough loss - because it was a bit of deja-vu from last year. Frank actually seemed less stressed, though, and that's probably because San Jose execs are giving him time and space to turn things around with the Earthquakes.
Anyway, here are the articles I wrote covering them for one game. Game article. Post-game reaction.

Chivas USA/Earthquakes running blog

Hi all - I'm at the stadium for the second day in a row - got an assignment!
Chivas USA Starters: Guzan, Burling, Talley, Suarez, Marsch, Kljestan, Nagamura, Mendoza, Harris, Razov, Bornstein
SJ Quakes: Cannon, Riley, Garcia, Hernandez, Denton, O'Brien, Corrales, Gray, Guerrero, Johnson, Kamara

The Union Ultras have some new spiffy flags, but I don't see the Legion signs out at all. The Dutch would recognize the Union flags, as they have the same striping.
Kickoff!
3- O'Brien tries a throw-in and the ball slips out of his hands. It's been that kind of season for the Quakes.
5 - I guess the Legion are here. There's the big drum and the jumping, but just no signs.
7 - O'Brien passed to Kamara, who passed the ball back to O'Brien at the top of the area, but Ronnie couldn't get a shot off. I'm sure holding an elastic knee brace in his hand didn't help.
8 - Panchito is down, O'Brien foul.
9 - 'Tiba in the box - but the SJ defense stands him up there and eventually clear the ball for a throw.
10 - Gray fouls 'Te, bad - gets a yellow. Good FK chance here.
11- Joe catches 'Te's kick - it was accurate, but not a lot of chipotle on it.
12 - Actually, there's disagreement. Some in the pressbox think Gray's foul just now on Nags was worse than the one on Ante. I guess it depends on angle.
13 - SJ clear the FK
14 - 'Tiba is down. He doesn't get the call but he doesn't get up and eventually the ball is put out for him.
16 - Is O'Brien playing D? He drops way back for the ball. Finally Cannon gets it and sends a long ball over the top.
17 - 'Te and Tiba hooking up well on a run into the box. 'Te takes the first shot, a low one that Cannon dives for and gets a hand on. 'Tiba follows it up, trying to knock in a rebound, but Cannon grabs for the ball and hangs on even as 'Tiba falls on top of him. Close for Chivas there.
20 - Sach and Jesse are bossing the midfield, setting up Chivas USA chances. Nick Garcia is forced into a sliding clear of a low cross into the box. Chivas USA CK
21 - Suarez doesn't get much on the header and it deflects off a defender and SJ clear.
23 - Quakes are making a defensive line and just trying to hold it - clearing the ball a lot. There's very little possession or midfield play.
25 - Sach with a run into the box breaks the defensive line of the Quakes, but his little flick pass doesn't find a teammate and the Quakes are able to clear.
27 - A very short Quakes run of possession is gone when Corrales loses the ball in traffic.
28 - Chivas USA working the ball around, back and forth, side to side - they're basically doing the soccer hula on the field. But they don't manage a shot and the Quakes clear.
29 - Corrales is down, he got the worst of in a collision with Marsch. Corrales is back up.
32 - Burling shoulder-shoves Johnson away from the ball. Not easy to do. Both guys are good-sized.
33 - Chivas again on the attack - get a corner. The service leads to a Nags shot, but it's high.
35 - Corrales gets fouled, earning SJ a FK chance. O'Brien steps up and sends a spinning shot right to Guzan's gloves.
38 - Corrales nearly creates something out of nothing - he takes a crack at goal with only a peek of daylight from about 40 yards out. He beats a diving Guzan, but the ball comes off the post. Kamara comes in on the rebound with only Guzan to beat, but Kamara can't even get the ball on frame.
39 - 'Tiba in the box wanted a PK call, but only gets a CK out of it. It's cleared.
40 - Another Ck for Chivas USA. Burling hits crossbar with it.
42 - 'Te with a great pass to Bornstein making a run into the box, but a desperate tackle clears the ball out for another CK.
43 - CK leads to a shot by 'Te - he barely gets a toe on it, but it goes towards goal, until Cannon stops it just on the line. Very close.
44 - Quakes seem so surprised to be out of their own half that they do poorly on a throw-in and Sach gets the ball and is off to the races until another tackle gives Chivas USA another corner.
45 - Ball goes out for a GK. That's about the only time the Quakes are getting in Chivas USA territory.
45 + Nothing much going on - ooh, I spotted one Earthquake fan. A diehard I guess, out here by his lonesome on the fieldside seats.
Halftime - Chivas USA deserve their lead - oh wait - they don't have one. They deserve one though. I guess SJ has to feel lucky about that. They're in this match, for sure.
Ok, so the Quakes went the entire half without a shot on goal. I haven't seen a team so inept since, well, yesterday. On the other hand, the Quakes aren't down any goals, but they don't really have firepower to bring in on their bench.
46 - Chivas USA gets right back into the attack - Quakes get right back to defending. It's the irresistible force versus the immovable object.
47 - Another Chivas USa corner. Misses everybody and is cleared.
50 - SJ still can't advance much out of their half at all.
51 - 'Tiba gets a yellow for a foul on former Chivas USAer Jason Hernandez.
52 - Gray ignores his teammates making runs and sends in a low shot from outside that is wide.
53 - Going the other way, 'Tiba times in a run perfectly into the box to not be offsides - Cannon comes out, but 'Tiba smartly passes to 'Te, whose shot - is off the post! Quakes clear and escape.
55 - SJ build a little attack, leading to a Fk when Sach fouls Denton. It's taken quickly, but Chivas USA clear the cross.
56 - Chivas USA are afflicted with pass-too-much-itis. They do get a corner out of the latest attack.
57 - And then another. Talley gets a bit of a head on this one, after Cannon couldn't really punch it far, but Cannon catches that.
59 - Guerrero is coming out for Cunliffe, another former Chivas USAer.
60 - The crowd is doing the wave.
61 - Harris wide on a shot.
62 - O'Brien is on target from distance, but Guzan makes the save.
63 - I can smell a goal coming. The game is opening up. Players are tired and losing discipline.
64 - O'Brien finally breaks off his attack, after Marsch has been down for a while. Jesse limps up painfully, bu somehow jogs it off pretty quickly.
65 - Kamara with another outside shot, this one wide right.
66 - Justin Braun comes in for Panchito. He gets on a the ball right away and helps earn another CK for Chivas USA.
67 - Braun's a big kid, just what Chivas USA needs on corners. But the service dips short and it's 'Te who goes for it, putting his header wide of goal.
69 - O'Brien tries to volley the ball in from distance. Nothing doing.
70 - Denton with an excellent low cross into the box, where Gray tries to backheel the ball into the goal. Almost, but Guzan parries the ball away. Close for SJ. They nearly stole the game there.
71 - Kamara with a header, but Guzan catches it.
72 - Quakes with a little run of attacking play here - they just earned a corner. It's out for a goal kick nearly as soon as it gets in the box, though.
73 - 13, 561 is tonight's attendance.
74 - Quakes have a deep FK. O'Brien sends it wide right. The bend didn't drop enough for him.
75 - Braun is offside.
80 - SAVE! Sach in alone on goal and Cannon stones him. Gives up another corner, but that's out for a goal kick.
82 - Cunliffe barely misses wide left.
86 - Yellow to O'Brien, who seems furious about something. Grabs replaces Corrales.
88 - GOAL! Bend it like 'Te! He puts it into the side netting past a diving Cannon. Sweet shot.
Final whistle - Chivas USA win. Can't blog much - assignments are due.

Frank's feelings

Frank's take on the game.

Galaxy/Earthquakes running blog

Starting Galaxy lineup: Steve Cronin, Chris Klein, Sean Franklin, Abel Xavier, Mike Randolph, David Beckham, Alvaro Pires, Josh Tudela, Ante Jazic, Ely Allen, Edson Buddle,

Starting Earthquakes lineup: Joe Cannon, Adam Smarte, Ryan Cochrane, Jason Hernandez, Eric Denton, Ronnie O'Brien, Ned Grabavoy, Kelly Gray Ramiro Corales, John Cunliffe, Ryan Johnson.

The Riot Squad is set up in their own little section of the stadium, which seems like smart planning. The rest of the stadium, barring the uppermost deck is more or less all Earthquake blue. Three Quake starting players are former Galaxy guys - Ned, Kelly, and Joe. Steve's the only former Quake starting for the Galaxy.

Apparently they just played the Raider's music to welcome the Quakes - ACDC. Who knows which song?
3 - Denton slide-tackles Klein, saving a Galaxy attack into the box.
4 - The Casbah is opposite of the Riot Squad, and they're drumming, too, so there's quite a bit of sound, if not fury, to this match.
5- Galaxy FK to a G CK, Becks takes both. Corner cleared.
6- GOAL! Buddle scores. Beckham serves ball in, Tudela with a layoff header to Buddle, who volleys it straight out of the air, outside of the box on the right edge. Side netting. 1-0 Galaxy
9 - Now the Galaxy fans are louder. The Quake fans are understandably bummed.
11 - Quake CK. Cronin catches. He and Troy Roberts are from the area and have a bunch of family at the game. Well, to be specific, Troy also has his brother, Jamil, here on the Quakes bench.
14 - Xavier blocks a ball out for a throw instead of a corner. It starts a Galaxy counter, but the effort is snuffed.
15 - Quake fans are cheering, not because the team is on the attack but because the winning section gets a free burger coupons from In-n-Out. Section 213 won.
17 - Alvaro Pires is down. He's back up.
19 - Off the post! Ely Allen.
21 - The Galaxy are controlling the play, but the Quakes are organized on defense. Pires breaks through and his cross is blocked out for a corner.
23 - Off a throw, Ely to Klein to Ely to Buddle, whose shot is high.
25 - Pass to Johnson in the box - shot! Save Cronin, who takes his time getting up with it.
25 - Shot Becks! High. Buddle took the ball down and laid it off for Beckham, but he put too much mustard on it.
27 - Quake FT, becomes a corner. It's cleared.
30 - Competing drum themes from the supporters. It's like a drum-off.
31 - It's weird to be watching the game from an angle. If you're watching the game and can see the infield outline, the pressbox is located behind home plate. Not directly there, but generally.
33 - The cross of Klein gets cutoff for a coner. Becks pushes a steamer out of his way before taking it. Joe Cannon catches.
36 - Becks is walking, holding the back of his thigh. Could be a strain of some kind. Uh, oh.
37 - O'Brien FK nearly finds its target in the box, but the Galaxy clear.
39 - Quake corner. Cleared.
40 - Cunliffe fouls Jazic from behind - gets a yellow.
42 - Cunliffe on a break-away from a backheel by Johnson.
44 - Buddle earns another Galaxy corner, but it's cleared. Ball gets sent back in, Becks reaches it, but can't control the cross.
45 - Jazic is down. Smarte, who is making his MLS debut, pick up the yellow.
45 + Ball in the Galaxy box! Quakes can't get a shot off, though, and the Galaxy escape.
Halftime - The Galaxy should be up by more goals. The longer the Quakes are within reach, the more likely they'll grab a goal.
51 - Salinas is coming on for Cunliffe.
53 - Quakes are looking more lively, putting the ball in the Galaxy's half a lot more.
55 - Johnson gets behind the Galaxy D - but his cross misses other Quake attackers.
58 - Quake corner - nearly bears fruit.
59 - Joe Vide comes in for Smarte.
60 - Ely gets a yellow and Kelly takes a shot.
62 - Buffalo soldier gets a yellow for a tackle.
63 - Ryan Johnson then gets a yellow for a foul on Cronin, who went tumbling, but still kept the ball.
64 - GOAL! Ely to Ante, who crosses for Buddle who puts the ball away clean. 2-0 Galaxy.
65 - Shot by Salinas in the box - is wide.
66 - Ante's shot is weak and right at his old roommate, Cannon.
68 - GOAL! Buddle jumps for the Mike Randolph cross. Ante played Mike in. 3-0. Buddle hat trick.
72 - Official attendance is 39,872. It's the largest single-gme crowd in San Jose history. Some in the pressbox are asking about why doesn't Buddle get a call from Bob Bradley.
75 - Xavier is down. Jamil Roberts is in for Cochrane. At least the Roberts family gets to see one of their own in action.
78 - So far, the Galaxy are protecting this 3-0 lead much better than they did their last one.
79 - Becks stands over a FK and fakes everyone out by not going for goal.
81 - O'Brien FK, Corrales connects, but it's over the bar.
83 - Quakes searching for a consolation goal a bit frantically.
84 - If Cronin can keep the shutout, it will be his second on the season. His first came against the Quakes as well.
86 - Buddle! In behind the defense, misses just barely wide.
88 - The Galaxy makeshift midfield has performed well this game. Shot by Gray, just wide.
Becks is coming off. Troy comes in. The bros are facing off.
90 - The Galaxy fans are celebrating. One final Quake attack into the Galaxy box is held off.

Final whistle. A nice complete game by the Galaxy, even without some of their stars.

Quaking in their boots

Jeff Carlisle called this a blog in an email mentioning some new stuff he's up to, but it looks more like a full-blown website to me.

The Earthquakes may not have a permanent stadium yet, but it appears that Jeff and his pals are all over the Quake beat now that the team is back.

Theeeey'rrreee Baaaaaack!

Apparently there was some Earthquake blue among the Chelsea fans during the Galaxy game, hence the "We're Back! Beat LA '08" banner in the upper deck of the stadium.