Quakes hammer Fuego 6-0 in exhibition

Despite the name of their opponents, it was the Earthquakes who were en fuego last night. They scored early and often for a 6-0 win over the Fresno Fuego before a crowd of 3,724 at Chukchansi Park, with goals coming from Ryan Johnson, Darren Huckerby, Cam Weaver, Pablo Campos, and a pair from Arturo Alvarez.

The Earthquakes’ match report is available on their web site and the match was also covered by the Fresno Bee.

In other news, check out the profile of Ryan Johnson, by our own Jeff Carlisle, on MLSnet.com.

(Sorry for the late update. DSL problems this morning…)

Quakes facing questions at right back

When James Riley was chosen by the Seattle Sounders FC in last November’s expansion draft, it left something of a hole at the right back position. With the experienced Alex Zotina on trial the past few weeks, it was presumed that the Quakes would snap up the former Kansas City and Chivas USA defender, and slide him into the right side. Not so fast says San Jose manager Frank Yallop.

Read more…

Yallop expects mix of old and new to play against Fuego

While teams normally use preseason games to get their presumed starting lineup into shape, San Jose manager Frank Yallop has no such luxury ahead of Friday’s set-to against the Fresno Fuego, as a smattering of minor injuries will cause the Quakes’ head man to juggle his lineup even more than usual. Read more…

And the latest trialist is…Aki Riihilahti

The log jam that is the San Jose Earthquakes midfield could be getting even more crowded as Finnish international Aki Riihilahti is on trial with the MLS outfit, although contrary to some published reports, he has yet to sign a contract. Read more…

Ring likely to miss all of 2009

Any hopes the San Jose Earthquakes had that top draft pick Brad Ring would make an impact this season look to have been dashed, as CLS has learned that a long standing hip ailment will likely sideline the Indiana product for the rest of the 2009 season.

Read more…

New Wednesday boss makes Bay Area visit
English club looking for MLS, university connection

New Sheffield Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford sees big opportunities ahead for his club, including a potential development partnership with an MLS team. Photo: Jay Hipps, centerlinesoccer.com.

Last month, nearly 30,000 people attended a family reunion at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. They weren’t all blood relatives, but they all shared one thing in common: a love for Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.

Wednesday, one of the most storied clubs in England, was founded in 1867 and was the first in the country to employ a full-time, professional player. They’ve won four league titles, three FA Cups, and one League Cup, and reached both the FA and League Cup finals in 1993 with a young American named John Harkes running the midfield.  Read more…

Wednesday wrap

Just a couple quick items in the news for today:

• At Goal.com, Kyle McCarthy talks to Earthquakes GM John Doyle about the team’s prospects for ‘09. At this point, McCarthy notes, Doyle is “content with heading into the season with his current group of forwards, although he won’t rule out a move if the right player became available.”
• USA Today’s Beau Dure thinks that Bobby Convey is picking the right time to return to MLS. Dure also reports that one good thing came of Convey’s injury troubles at Reading: when he returned to the States for treatment, he met a physician’s assistant who is now his wife.
• The Antigua Sun reports that Peter Byers, who refused a contract offer earlier this year from San Jose, is set to return to the USL Montreal Impact.

Tuesday news day

It’s Tuesday and the Solar Powered Soccer Blog is back on the hunt for news after a long combined Valentine’s Day/Presidents’ Day weekend. Extra points to you if you created your own holiday mash-up by dating someone with an Abraham Lincoln-style beard and/or wooden teeth a la George Washington.

The news wrap kicks off with a stellar Bobby Convey interview over at Soccer365.com. Convey recounts the highs and lows of his career at Reading and his enthusiasm about reuniting with Frank Yallop in San Jose, who Convey played under when Yallop was a DC United asssistant coach. Convey also confirmed that, with Darren Huckerby established on the left side of middfield, he’ll be playing in the middle.

“I like it. I played there with the Under-20’s, with D.C. United a bit and with the National Team. It takes a little bit of getting used to, after playing out wide for so long. But after a few games, you get used to playing in there again and you have a little more freedom.

“Out wide, it’s more you have to beat your man and cross the ball,” said Convey. “Whereas, I think, playing in the middle gives you the opportunity to create more chances and score more goals. It’ll be interesting to get out there and see how they line it up… The best team to get on is the one where everybody has a good connection with everyone around you. That’s all that really matters.”

In other news:

• Soccer America provides some details on goalkeeper Joe Cannon’s new deal with the Quakes: three years, two of which are guaranteed, at approximately $190,000 per year.

• If you’re up for some Earthquakes-related reminiscing, check out Cal Poly coach Paul Holocher’s memories of his time with the Clash (from our own Embele Awipi) and new Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink’s recollections of his time as George Best’s roommate when they were both Quakes.

• In ex-Earthquake news, Scott Sealy has scored his first goal for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Landon Donovan is likely to be on his way back to the U.S. after his loan to Bayern Munich concludes in March, and Jovan Kirovski is pleased to have joined the Galaxy because he thinks they’re going to win a lot of games this year. (Actually, no — he’s excited because he’ll get to be on TV a lot. “It’s been fantastic so far, especially with (David) Beckham being involved, high profile all over the place, big games. It’s great to be involved with a team that’s all over TV.” Is he perfect for the Galaxy or what?)

• On a more somber note, you may be aware that the wife of long-time MLS midfielder Andy Williams was diagnosed with leukemia last year. In an effort to raise money to offset their medical expenses, a group called “Soccer Unites Utah” is auctioning off a variety of MLS and national team autographed balls and jerseys, including a pair from last week’s U.S./Mexico World Cup qualifier. Also due to be auctioned off are two vintage Earthquakes jerseys. You can find the full list here, or if you’d like to go straight to the auctions — new items will be added every day through February 23 — go here.

Quakes top Dynamo 2-0 in Central Coast finale

When the Earthquakes and Dynamo last squared off — October, 2008 — the Orange saw red when forward Kei Kamara was ejected in the 11th minute for violently elbowing Nick Garcia in the throat while challenging for a header. Today in San Luis Obispo, Kamara lasted 74 minutes before, once again, he was issued a straight red card after an altercation with the Earthquakes captain.

Kamara’s rash action ended Houston’s hopes for a comeback as San Jose sent the Dynamo down to defeat for the first time this preseason, 2-0, behind goals from Ryan Johnson and Cam Weaver.  According to a Dynamo press release,  Weaver’s first tally for the blue-and-black came in the 62nd minute as he volleyed home a cross from Johnson. Johnson added San Jose’s second seven minutes later, dribbling unopposed into the box before smashing a low shot past Houston keeper Tally Hall.

(The Earthquakes have now posted their own match report, here.)

• • •

MLS Central Coast Showcase (Preseason)
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo
February 15, 2009 – Alex G Spanos Stadium; San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Attendance: 1,587

Scoring Summary:
SJ – Cam Weaver (Ryan Johnson) 62; SJ – Ryan Johnson (unassisted) 69.

Houston Dynamo: Pat Onstad (Tally Hall 46), Mike Chabala, Andrew Hainault (Julius James 73), Eddie Robinson (Bobby Boswell), Craig Waibel (Stephen Wondolowski 70), Brad Davis (Corey Ashe 76), Stuart Holden (John Michael Hayden 62), Richard Mulrooney (Geoff Cameron 46), Brian Mullan (Erik Ustruck 78), Kei Kamara (red card 74), Chris Wondolowski.

San Jose Earthquakes: Joe Cannon, Alex Zotinca, Kelly Gray, Nick Garcia, David Hayes (Eric Denton 62), Darren Huckerby (Alfonso Motagalvan 81), Ramiro Corrales (Tim Merritt 81), Simon Elliott (Ned Grabavoy 62), Shea Salinas (Anton Peterlin 86), Quincy Amarikwa (Cam Weaver (Davide Somma 70), Ryan Johnson (Inigo Idiakez 70).

Misconduct Summary:
HOU – Eddie Robinson caution (reckless foul) 55; HOU – Kei Kamara ejection (reckless foul) 74; HOU – Bobby Boswell caution (reckless foul) 75.

More from SLO

Center Line Soccer’s Embele Awipi has checked in with some more observations from last night’s match in SLO and we’re passing them along as part of today’s overflowing Solar-Powered Soccer Blog.

Here’s what Embele has to say about last night:

• Kasey Keller looked really off, be it from the layoff or the cold and soggy field. He was, however, very vocal and will be a good leader for the Sounders.

• The Ryan Johnson-Cam Weaver combo looked dangerous. Two goals in 35 minutes, then Johnson clanked one off the cross bar. The second goal was all a combo of headers, Corrales to Weaver to Johnson.

• Total line change for San Jose in second half. The first teamers went home after the half. Seattle’s starters played for 60 minutes. Keller played whole game.

• Words can not do Amarikwa’s goal justice. Good run where he fought off a defender, then danced brilliantly around Keller, all in 33 seconds.

• Shea Salinas played the longest (60 minutes) before coming out. Ramiro Corrales was captain in the first half, Nick Garcia was in the second.

• Andrew Weber looked really good on his saves. Good reaction time and eye for the ball.

• Announced crowd 1,557. Cal Poly media relations insisted they have great weather in winter, just not during the CCS it seems. No rain during game but field was quite mushy.

• On a side note, the new stands on the West of the stadium are niiiiiice. Suites were sweet. I joked with Paul Holocher that if we couldn’t get the San Jose stadium on time, could we just borrow this one and take it to SJ bit by bit.

There are also additional game stories in the press, including the Seattle News Tribune (”Rivalry resumes as Earthquakes defeat Sounders”), the San Luis Obispo Tribune,   and a minute-by-minute recap on the Sounders FC blog.

• Former Real Sociedad and Derby County midfielder Iñigo Idiakez is on trial with the Quakes and appeared in the second half. (No, it’s not the guy you’re thinking of. That would be Inigo Montoya.)

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