SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
CENTURYLINK FIELD, Seattle, Wash.
May 11, 2013 (WEEK 11, MLS Game #96)
1 p.m. PT (UDN; KONG/ROOT-NW; CSN-CA)
Back at CenturyLink Field for the first time in nearly a month, Seattle Sounders FC will take on San Jose Earthquakes in a crucial battle for both clubs as they look to move up the Western Conference standings. Sounders FC return home off a dramatic 1-0 win at Sporting Kansas City at midweek, their second win over their three-game road swing. The Earthquakes put an end to a six-game winless run, also at midweek, coming back for a 2-1 victory against Toronto FC at Buck Shaw Stadium.
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REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Jonathan Johnson; 4th: Jesus Cisneros
MLS Career: 149 games; FC/gm: 24.1; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 32; pens: 44
DISABLED LIST: SEA: Josh Ford
SUSPENDED: SEA: Marcus Hahnemann (through May 12)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: SJ: Victor Bernardez
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (11 meetings): Sounders FC 4 wins, 11 goals Ö Earthquakes 6 wins, 15 goals Ö Ties 1
AT SEATTLE (6 meetings): Sounders FC 3 wins, 7 goals Ö Earthquakes 3 wins, 6 goals Ö Ties 0
FUTURE MATCH: 7/13: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m. PT
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Chris Wondolowski-s goal in first-half stoppage time was all the Quakes needed for a 1-0 win March 23 at Buck Shaw Stadium.
- The Earthquakes have won the last four league meetings between the teams, including all three a season ago, with two victories coming at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
- But Sounders FC defeated the Quakes in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal in Santa Clara.
- Coaches record: Sigi Schmid vs. SJ: P31 W14 L12 D5 Ö Frank Yallop vs. SEA: P11 W6 L4 D1
LAST MEETING (MLS):
3/23: SJ 1, SEA 0 (Wondolowski 46+)
- The game's lone goal came seconds into first-half stoppage time. A long clearance skidded off the head of Seattle defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Chris Wondolowski brought the ball down with the outside of his right foot, ripping a shot from 22 yards that barely beat Sounders FC goalkeeper Michael Gspurning with a ricochet off the far post.
- SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (4-4-2): Jon Busch - Ty Harden, Jason Hernandez, Nana Attakora, Dan Gargan - Shea Salinas, Sam Cronin, Rafael Baca, Ramiro Corrales - Chris Wondolowski, Adam Jahn.
- SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (4-4-2): Michael Gspurning - DeAndre Yedlin, Djimi Traore, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez - Mauro Rosales (Alex Caskey 81), Andy Rose, Osvaldo Alonso, Steve Zakuani (Eriq Zavaleta 84) - David Estrada, Sammy Ochoa (Lamar Neagle 81).
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Seattle Sounders FC completed their Eastern road swing with a dramatic victory, getting the game-s only goal well into stoppage time for a victory against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday evening at Sporting Park. Sounders FC are in a tie for eighth place in the Western Conference with 9 points from 8 matches.
LAST MATCH
- The game-winning goal stunningly came four minutes into second-half stoppage time. From a throw-in deep in Sporting's end, SKC center back AurÈlien Collin missed his clearance attempt on Brad Evans' pass into the middle of the box, and Djimi TraorÈ was right there to take advantage, firing past goalkeeperJimmy Nielsen from short range.
- Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid made four changes to the team that settled for a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union at PPL Park. Zach Scott came into the back four for the suspended DeAndre Yedlin and David Estrada started for the suspended Lamar Neagle, and Osvaldo Alonso and Mario Martinez came into the midfield for Mauro Rosales and Alex Caskey.
- SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (4-4-2): Michael Gspurning - Zach Scott, Djimi Traore, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez - Brad Evans, Servando Carrasco, Osvaldo Alonso, Mario Martinez (Alex Caskey 90) - David Estrada (Mauro Rosales 85), Eddie Johnson.
TEAM NEWS
- Sounders FC return home from an undefeated three-game road swing, with victories in Colorado and Kansas City sandwiching the draw in Philadelphia.
- "It's important for our team. We have eight points over our last four games, so we're averaging two points a game, which is what we need to do to put ourselves back in the running," said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. "Now we've got a big Western Conference game, and we want to get points at home. Our fans see that we're fighting and clawing to get back to being the team we've been over the last four years."
- Sounders FC are undefeated in their last four games, recording shutouts in three of those. They have also scored four goals over the last three games, after scoring just once in the first five games of the season.
- "I thought we were very good tonight defensively. We didn't give them time or very many looks," said Schmid. "I didn't think Michael Gspurning was forced to make very many saves. He did well to hold onto a shot from Chance Myers in the first half."
- Making his seventh MLS appearance for Sounders FC, Djimi Traore netted his first league goal for the winner.
- "In the second half we found a way. I don't know if we deserved it, but it's important that we got the three points," said Traore. " I was surprised to receive the ball in that area, but I just did my best. To score at that time is very important for us. It's great for showing our character and it was a fun match to play."
- David Estrada was able to make his first start since March 30 in replacement of suspended striker Lamar Neagle, playing 85 minutes.
- "We didn't have a very good start to the season, and we knew we had to turn things around. One of the ways you can do that is by going on the road. It tests your character," said Estrada. "A lot of guys have had to step up that normally don't play, which has helped us. Now we're looking forward to bringing this momentum home to get three more points."
- Mario Martinez was also able to make a return to the starting lineup, his first appearance in the first XI since March 16, the second of two starts in the opening two games of the season.
- "We're a little short-handed with injuries and suspensions, but anyone who steps onto the field for us can do well. Whatever the matchups are, I think we can always do a good job," Estrada said.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes put an end to their six-game winless slide, coming back for a 2-1 victory against Toronto FC on Wednesday evening at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Quakes sit in a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with 14 points from 11 matches.
LAST MATCH
- Toronto FC took the lead in the 14th minute. Doneil Henry headed on Darren O-Dea-s long free kick and Justin Braun wrapped a left-footed volley around his marker to beat San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch from close range.
- But the Earthquakes yet again struck back. Rookie Adam Jahn tied the score three minutes into the second half, beating Toronto goalkeeper Joseph Bendik with a deft left-footed strike from 10 yards, freed up when Chris Wondolowski one-timed a quick throw-in from Dan Gargan.
- Wondolowski then broke the tie in the 81st minute, using his right knee at point-blank range to jam home Walter Martinez-s flicked header off a Marvin Chavez corner kick.
- Quakes head coach Frank Yallop made two changes to the team that played to a 2-2 draw with the MontrÈal Impact at Buck Shaw Stadium. Dan Gargan came in at left back for Justin Morrow, and Walter Martinez started in the midfield in place of Rafael Baca.
- SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (4-1-3-2): Jon Busch - Steven Beitashour, Victor Bernardez, Nana Attakora, Dan Gargan - Sam Cronin - Marvin Chavez (Justin Morrow 86), Walter Martinez, Shea Salinas (Rafael Baca 58) - Adam Jahn (Marcus Tracy 92+), Chris Wondolowski.
TEAM NEWS
- The Quakes snapped their winless streak at six games, the club-s longest since going a club-record 13 games without the full three points from June 17-Aug. 27, 2011.
- While it wasn-t as late as some of the Quakes- winners have been, it was another goal in the final 15 minutes to claim a win or a draw. Six of San Jose-s 12 goals this season have come after the 76-minute mark; A year ago, 22 of their 72 goals on the season came after the 76th minute.
- "It was great to see us win a game where we were a goal down. I made sure that [the boys] knew that you can-t let these types of games slip by. At halftime, I think I got their attention," said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop. "I felt that I needed to let them know the urgency of getting a win tonight. I thought the response in the second half was fantastic. We dominated the second half and I felt very comfortable that we were going to get back in the game."
- In addition, the Quakes have scored nine second-half goals this season, tied for fifth-most in MLS. Last season, the Quakes scored 44 goals after the halftime break, a full 11 goals more than the next club (D.C. United) in the category.
- "I meant business when I spoke at halftime," Yallop said. "It's my job to make sure they know how I feel. I just said to them, ëWe cannot let games like this slip by, where we don-t give everything we have.- It was, collectively, a meek performance [in the first half]. And I didn't accept that."
- Rookie Adam Jahn scored for a second consecutive match, his third in the last four games and the fourth of his first professional season, in nine appearances.
- "Adam is an amazing player; they don't call him 'Pillow Feet' for nothing. He is still so young to the game, but remains confident and cool under pressure," said Chris Wondolowski, who collected a third assist in the last two games. "It seems like every one of his goals has ignited a spark on our side and I can-t wait to see how great of a player he can become."
- After making his MLS debut the weekend before, Walter M·rtinez made his first MLS start, coming into the center of midfield.
- "I thought Walter played a terrific game. I thought he played very well when he was in the middle, very well wide on both sides. He-s a good addition to our squad," Yallop said. "It took him a while to get himself going and get himself tuned to how we do it here, but now I think he-s a full-on, full-fledged Earthquake and I was very happy with his performance."
- The trip to Seattle starts a run of five of six games away from Buck Shaw Stadium for the Quakes, with a home game vs. Colorado next weekend followed by four consecutive road matches.
- "We knew we had to take care of business," goalkeeper Jon Busch said. "For us, this was a must-win game. We've been close here the last couple of games, but we knew this was a game [where] we needed three points."
