In their final exhibition match before the regular season kicks off, the San Jose Earthquakes were hoping to get a good run in, keep everyone healthy, and maybe even win the game. They accomplished all three things in their 1-0 win Saturday night against the USL-1 Portland Timbers at Buck Shaw Stadium.
Rookie forward Quincy Amarikwa scored in the 78th minute to give San Jose the win.
Earthquakes fans who showed up hoping to get their first glimpse of Bobby Convey instead got a good look at another midfield addition who could be making a major contribution this season, Simon Elliott. The New Zealand international started in a central midfield role, and played all 90 minutes for San Jose. The team said they hope to officially announce the signing of Elliot in the upcoming week.
Throughout the night, though they looked to be playing at exhibition-game speed, the Earthquakes had most of the ball, and almost all of the scoring chances, but couldn't seem to hit the target. Midway through the first period, within a five-minute span Ryan Johnson's looping header off an Arturo Alvarez cross missed wide left, a Darren Huckerby blast from 25 yards also missed left, then Alvarez split two defenders as he knifed in from the right wing, only to miss high from 15 yards out.
In the 37th minute, Huckerby cut in from the left wing and set up Ramiro Corrales at the top of the restraining arc, but Corrales' shot flew high. Four minutes later, it was Elliott letting fly from the same spot, also missing high.
Ryan Johnson, still recovering from a sprained ankle, started the game but was pulled after just 25 minutes in favor of Amarikwa. The draft pick from UC Davis almost got an assist just before the halftime whistle when he beat his defender on the end line and found Can Weaver 10 yards in front of goal, but Weaver's header went over the crossbar.
The second half started very much like the first, as Alvarez again shot wide left from 20 yards in the 53rd minute.
Pablo Campos came on in the 65th minute for Weaver, while Shea Salinas replaced Alvarez. A minute later, Salinas beat his man down the right wing, but his cross to Amarikwa inside the six yard box was volleyed wide right.
Portland did put up a struggle, but a 20-yard shot by Keith Savage went harmlessly wide right in 64th minute, before San Jose finally got their well-earned goal in the 78th minute.
Salinas began the play by bursting up the middle and blasting a shot from 25 yards out. Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin parried away the shot, but the rebound fell to Amarikwa near the left post. His header was almost scrambled off the line by the Portland defense, but the goal was given and San Jose had the lead they would not relinquish.
San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon picked up one a relatively easy clean sheet. In the 84th minute, Portland's Mutanda Kwesele fired wide left from top of the penalty area, and the Timbers would get not closer to scoring.
With one last preseason win behind them, the Earthquakes now look forward to playing host to New England next Saturday in the MLS season opener for both sides.
Andrew Miller is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
