Yallop satisfied with progress in season’s first half

By Jay Hipps

Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop is pleased with his side’s place in the standings, considering the many injuries that have dogged the team so far this season. Photo: John Todd, centerlinesoccer.com, isiphotos.com.

Despite the absence of Bobby Convey and Ike Opara — more on them later — the mood was upbeat Tuesday as the Earthquakes trained in preparation for Saturday’s key Western Conference match with Seattle. Not only will the match decide the winner of this year’s Heritage Cup, but a win by either side could have significant repercussions on the playoff picture. Read more…

San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Bobby Convey disappointed at not being selected to MLS All-Star team

By Robert Jonas

San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Bobby Convey, overlooked for selection to the MLS All-Star team, shows the form that has him second in the league in assists. Photo: Joe Nuxoll, centerlinesoccer.com

The San Jose Earthquakes have followed up two disappointing seasons with a strong 2010 MLS campaign. As it stands now, if the season were to end today, their current record would entitle them to one of the eight MLS Cup playoff berths heading into the postseason. The reasons for the successful turnaround from prior years are many, but chief among them is the team MVP-quality play from midfielder Bobby Convey.

So those that follow the Earthquakes carefully were surprised when the complete roster was announced for next Wednesday’s MLS All-Star game in Houston against Manchester United and Convey was not on the list. His initial exclusion from the Starting XI — a group that is voted on by the fans, players, coaches and media — could be excused due to San Jose not being a big-market MLS city. However, not being named by All-Star coach Bruce Arena as a substitute? Even Convey didn’t see that coming.

“I honestly don’t know what to say,” Convey told Center Line Soccer after getting the bad news. “All I can say is I’m second in the league in assists, and as a team we have completely turned it around from last year and to be in playoff contention. To be fifth in the league in points and not have one person on the All-Star team is pretty bad. For me it is obviously disappointing.”

While Arena is not solely responsible for selected the 13 additional players to the All-Star roster — commissioner Don Garber gets to make two picks of his own — the relationship he shares with Convey going back to their time together on the U.S. Men’s National Team was expected to work in the midfielder’s favor. After all, Convey is arguably in better form now than at any time during the lead up, and including, the 2006 World Cup. Read more…

31 Shots, 0 Goals as San Jose, Tottenham Draw in Exhibition

By Pete Ratajczak

The San Jose Earthquakes and Tottenham Hotspur played to a scoreless draw in front of an overflow crowd at Buck Shaw Stadium. Photo: Kelley L. Cox, isiphotos.com

Center Line Soccer’s complete coverage includes a photo gallery of the match and post game audio interviews with coaches and players.  

(Santa Clara)  Tottenham Hotspur came out Saturday afternoon to stretch their legs in the Santa Clara sunshine, playing a free-flowing exhibition against the San Jose Earthquakes that ended in a goalless draw.

Both teams got what they wanted out of the exercise: a sellout crowd, a clear, cloudless day, and (almost) no injuries. With a minimum of hard tacking, the game offered plenty of back and forth action despite the lack of scoring, and the largest crowd in Buck Shaw Stadium history, 10,712 was happy with the effort from both sides.

Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp said that the heat, 86 degrees at kick off, was “different than what we’re used to, for sure, but it was good to get (us) fit.”

“It’s only our second game,” Redknapp said. “The opposition made us work. They moved the ball, and I liked the way they played around the box. (San Jose showed) good ability. They passed the ball well, and made it difficult for us.”

“I thought, on a hot day, it was played in good spirit.” San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. “I think both teams tried to create chances and score goals. It’s funny that it ended 0-0; we had 15 or 16 shots, and decent chances.”

All 19 Earthquakes who dressed for the match saw action, and the boys in blue held their own against a club preparing not only for a Premier League season, but European Champions League play as well. Read more…

Oh, Canada! Sinclair scores twice to give Gold Pride the win over Philadelphia

By Giovanni Albanese Jr.

Christine Sinclair, a veteran of the Canadian National Team, scores twice on Canada Night in a 2-0 Gold Pride victory over the Philadelphia Independence. Photo: Joe Santos, centerlinesoccer.com

On Canada night at Pioneer Stadium on the campus of Cal State University-East Bay, FC Gold Pride was led by its Canadian duo of Christine Sinclair and Candace Chapman en route to a 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Independence Saturday night.

Sinclair scored two goals, one in each half, while Chapman spearheaded the strong defensive back line to preserve the clean sheet for its keeper Brittany Cameron.

Cameron, a Dublin, Calif., native, recorded her second win in as many starts in Womens’ Professional Soccer, and her first clean sheet. The win helped the Pride (10-3-1, 31 points) take a stranglehold of first-place, extending its lead over Philadelphia (6-5-3, 21 points) to 10 points with 10 games to go in the season.

Gold Pride went ahead in the 45th minute, just before halftime. Sinclair, who was in the thick of every significant chance the Pride had in the half, made a run into the box and volleyed home a Solveig Gulbrandsen cross to beat Independence keeper Val Henderson on the near side for the 1-0 lead they took into the half. Read more…