SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Jose Earthquakes posted five wins before the World Cup break using the same blueprint: Score early and defend, defend, defend.
The Quakes had been 5-0 when they scored the first goal in 2010 -- at least until D.C. United rookie Andy Najar came into Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday and put a blemish on that perfect record.
Najar, the 17-year-old product of D.C. United’s academy, volleyed home a 54th-minute goal to forge a 1-1 tie with the Quakes.
San Jose had been hoping to hold on for their first home win since May 8 after Ike Opara struck in the 16th minute, but had to make do with their third tie in four matches.
The result was a quality fight-back for D.C. United, which began the season 1-8 with seven scoreless games but came into Saturday 6-1-1 in their last eight matches, including U.S. Open Cup contests and exhibitions.
United did not generate many chances against San Jose’s defense in the first half, even after Opara put the Quakes ahead, leading to the halftime insertion of 36-year-old Jaime Moreno, the MLS’ all-time leading scorer.
It didn’t take long for Moreno to have an impact; his long pass in the 54th minute sliced open the Quakes’ defense and allowed Stephen King to post up Opara on the left side of the penalty box. Once there, King wheeled around and delivered a cross to the far post. Najar beat his marker, Bobby Convey, to meet the ball and powered it over goalkeeper Jon Busch.
D.C. United (3-9-2) evened out this four-match “road trip,” which includes the World Cup break, with one game left at New York next week.
Najar’s strike evened out Opara’s third career goal, which came, as the first two did, off a corner kick. One reason the Quakes had moved Jason Hernandez to the right side is that it allows them to pair twin targets of center backs Opara (6'2") and Bobby Burling (6'5"), and it paid off Saturday.
After a Sam Cronin blast from distance required a tip over the bar by goalie Troy Perkins, Convey sent an inswinging corner kick to the far post. Quakes captain Ramiro Corrales and D.C. defender Juan Manuel Pena battled over the ball with no winner, with the deflection landing almost at Opara’s feet. The rookie used a Brandon McDonald screen to sneak the ball past goalkeeper Troy Perkins and the near post.
The Quakes (5-4-4), now have five scores from corner kicks on the season, but couldn’t find a second one and thus left two potential points on the table with the Western Conference standings getting tighter by the week.
After Najar tied it, San Jose attempted to reignite their offense by bringing in Arturo Alvarez in the 65th minute for his first action since before the World Cup break because of a tetchy hamstring. But Alvarez whiffed just moments later when Convey served a beautifully curling ball to the near post. Alvarez couldn’t get a touch and the ball skittered harmlessly through the area.
Perkins turned aside a blast from Quakes substitute Omar Jasseh in the 89th minute to preserve the deadlock.
Scoring:
SJ -- Opara 3 (unassisted) 16
DC -- Najar 2 (King 1) 54
Lineups:
D.C. United -- Troy Perkins, Devon McTavish, Dejan Jakovic, Juan Manuel Pena, Jordan Graye, Andy Najar (Thabiso Khumalo 89), Stephen King, Clyde Simms, Chris Pontius, Adam Cristman (Jaime Moreno 46), Santino Quaranta (Danny Allsopp 89).
San Jose Earthquakes -- Jon Busch, Jason Hernandez, Bobby Burling, Ike Opara, Ramiro Corrales, Steven Beitashour (Arturo Alvarez 65), Brandon McDonald, Sam Cronin, Bobby Convey, Ryan Johnson (Cornell Glen 73), Chris Wondolowski (Omar Jasseh 86).
Referee: David Gantar
Referee's Assistants: Greg Barkey; Cameron Blair
4th Official: Jasen Anno
Weather: Clear and 85 degrees
Attendance: 10,304
